6 Best Shopping in World Trade Centre Area and Burj Dubai, Dubai

The Dubai Mall

Burj Dubai Fodor's choice
The biggest mall in the world (3.77 million square feet and more than 1,200 stores) should need no introduction. There is everything you might possibly need or expect here, from high-end designer labels to mainstream fashion, gadgets galore, Bloomingdale's and Galleries Lafayette department stores, a gold souq, ice rink, aquarium, and underwater zoo, indoor roller coaster, Kidzania theme park, international restaurants, and more. You can also access the world's tallest building and the world's largest fountain display from the mall, and an easy walk across the water will take you to Souk al Bahar, a modern but traditionally styled mall with sleepy ambience, and tremendous restaurants.
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Art Space Gallery

World Trade Centre

The DIFC holds many galleries, and is a hub for investors and enthusiasts. It has built a reputation as a leading creative area in the city, and is also the home of Art Dubai together with the smaller Art Nights at the Gate Village. It's hard to choose just one gallery above all others, as each has its niche, but Art Space is a good place to start. With a changing roster of exhibitions of Middle Eastern artists, it is at the forefront of the growing interest in contemporary arts in the region: a great stopover for current and budding collectors.

City Walk

Burj Dubai
This sleek development by the same developers who brought us the Dubai Canal manages to project that outside-in feel, perfect for Summer window shopping. It's very cleverly designed to look more like a strip, and covered with purpose-painted street art and stencilling. Stores here are both quirky designer as well top end, providing a point of difference for Dubai, where usually shopping tends to veer toward mainstream. There is an excellent selection of restaurants in the area, some of which are franchised by Michelin-starred chefs (all without liquor license).
39 Al Safa St., Al Wasl, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-317--3999
www.citywalk.ae

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Mall of the Emirates

MOE is one of Dubai's largest shopping centers at more than 2.5 million square feet, and has more than 630 shops and department stores, with a comprehensive combination of designer and main street brands, fashion, housewares, and souvenirs. Department stores Harvey Nichols and Debenhams have their largest stores in the Middle East here, and more than 60 stores have made their Middle Eastern debut in this mall. A large Carrefour supermarket sells food, inexpensive clothing, and other domestic essentials. The complex was designed to be more than just a retail heaven, with sporting events, arts, and entertainment in addition to shopping. You might want to hit the slopes at Ski Dubai (the first indoor slope in the Gulf area), and there's also a multiscreen cinema complex, Magic Planet (a children's adventure and play area), and a community theater. There are two hotels connected to the mall, and a large variety of restaurants, cafés, and casual dining in two food courts.

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Momentum

World Trade Centre
While the rest of Dubai is about all what is new and shiny, Momentum's specialty is vintage timepieces. They also have a range of very rare new pieces and unusual accessories, making it a true collectors destination. Sales are only part of the business. Momentum also promote Dubai Watch Week, and are associated with Dubai's only watch collectors community. With dedicated horologists rather than just jewelry salespeople, this is also the best place in Dubai to get your watch fixed, completely overhauled, or even sold (by consignment).

The Courtyard

The Courtyard is a collection of design studios and art/furniture importers set around a pretty cobbled, covered atrium with internal falaj (an Ancient Arabic water feature). The facade of each enterprise features architectural designs from around the world—including Roman temples and Arabic barjeels. Of note is Total Arts, a cathedral-like vaulted gallery, the work of Dariush Zandi, a local architect and designer who supports local artists by giving them work spaces and exhibitions.