6 Best Shopping in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Products at this higgledy-piggledy shopping area span from mundane essentials to mass-produced souvenirs There is also a large range of the latest designer copies and fakes, mainly clothing and accessories. Some of these are accessed via secret stairways or off-site stash piles making the illegal quest all the more exhilarating for some. Goods spill onto the walkways of this small commercial quarter of shops and kiosks, and all the activity makes for an electric environment. Karama is popular with expat workers who aren't on big tax-free salaries, and tourists on the lookout for bargain clothing or gifts to take home to their families. There's a range of cheap eateries around the market—tasty Indian and Pakistani fare, Filipino and Arabic cuisine—making it a great place for budget travelers.

This gallery is run by interior designer Alison Collins, who moved to Dubai in the 1970s and raised three children in this Bastakia mansion. She converted the property during the regeneration of the quarter (now called the Al Fahidi district), and since then it has become a major venue for emerging artists from around the Arab world. Exhibitions change constantly, lasting about two weeks each, and genres cover the whole gamut of visual arts, from oil painting to tapestry. Majlis also has an artist-in-residence program and an excellent commercial gallery.

Some may call it an architectural wonder; others will find the whole experience bizarre. Wafi is a long, sprawling set of pyramid-shaped buildings, with extravagant detailing like stained glass ceilings and statues of Egyptian gods and pharaohs. Shopping is eclectic and predominantly high-end. Beneath the mall is a souk with a stunning courtyard restaurant (Khan Murjan), and there are a good range of other excellent restaurants (with licences to serve alcohol), and plenty of cafés and a food court for those on a budget. Entertainment includes a few kid zones, minigolf, and an attached leisure center with pool, lazy river, and gym.

With an ever-changing calendar of thought-provoking exhibitions from artists around the region, XVA provides an interface between visitors and contemporary Islamic art. The owners play an important role in marketing the arts throughout the emirate, organizing numerous arts fairs and cultural soirees. The gallery is a consulting agency for commercial organizations, has corporate events, and also operates a boutique hotel and eatery.