Must-see shopping in Middle East

  • Elbabour Galilee Mill

    Nazareth

    The other-worldly aroma inside this spice emporium, run by the same family for four generations, has to be inhaled to be believed. Shelves, sacks, bins…

  • Educational Bookshop & Cafe

    East Jerusalem

    The only English-language bookstore in East Jerusalem, the Educational Bookshop attracts journalists, aid workers, activists and intellectuals. There's a…

  • The Dubai Mall At Night, Dubai UAE

    Dubai Mall

    Downtown Dubai

    With around 1300 shops, this isn't merely the world's largest shopping mall – it’s a small city, with a giant ice rink and aquarium, a dinosaur skeleton,…

  • Nahalat Binyamin Crafts Market

    Tel Aviv

    Open on Tuesdays and Fridays, this is the city's premier arts and crafts market. Expect a plethora of stalls selling paintings, ornaments and other…

  • Mirzam Chocolate Makers

    Downtown Dubai

    The art of crafting fine chocolate is taken very seriously at this high-tech 'Willy Wonka' factory, where all stages from roasting to handwrapping take…

  • Mémoire du Temps

    Byblos

    This family were pioneers in extracting the fish fossils that have garnered worldwide attention; dropping in here for a gaze is a Byblos must-do. They are…

  • Jomeh Bazaar

    Tehran

    All levels of this car park are transformed every Friday morning when traders from across Iran and Central Asia and members of the general public lay out…

  • Kingdom of Perfumes

    Manama

    One of the joys of perfume shopping in the Gulf is watching the mesmerising way a perfumer can mix seemingly random oils to produce the very smell you…

  • Orient 499

    Beirut

    Entranced by Middle Eastern design, Frank Luca and Aida Kawas decided to establish this atelier and boutique, where they design and make some objects …

  • Umm Raami's Shop

    The Ancient City

    Marguerite van Geldermalsen, of Married to a Bedouin fame, sells silver jewellery from this stall nearly opposite the cave in which she once lived with…

  • Asmaa Collectionz

    Muscat

    Spicing up a piece of bland furniture with a display of traditional silver jewellery, the owner of the Asmaa brand realised that the table would be more…

  • Amouage Vistors Centre & Factory

    Muscat

    Tours of this home-grown, internationally renowned perfumier can be arranged at the company's factory near the Burj Al Sahwa Roundabout. The copper…

  • Wafi Gourmet

    Marina Breakwater

    Offering beautiful Medjool dates stuffed with pistachios, cashews, almonds or oranges; gorgeous marzipan, baklava and other Middle Eastern sweets; take…

  • Elia Photo Service

    Jerusalem

    Browse through dramatic historic B&W photos of the Old City and other sights in Jerusalem from before 1967, shot by well-known Armenian photographer Elia…

  • Bani Hamida Weaving Centre & Gallery

    Jordan

    This women's cooperative in Mukawir village (by the side of the road leading to the castle) is run by the Bani Hamida Centre and is a good place to buy…

  • Sarona

    Tel Aviv

    The city's most refined market, swanky Sarona includes two main areas – an outdoor shopping mall and an indoor food market. The outdoor area has offices,…

  • Salari Studio

    Southeastern Iran

    In an underlit, one-room cavern, beret-sporting artist Mehdi Salari creates beautiful calligraphic paintings that are sold mainly to exclusive Tehran…

  • Mango Tree

    Tel Aviv

    This lively, open-air jewellery atelier specialises in create-your-own pieces – most of which are crafted on the spot – plus ready-to-wear selections. The…

  • Tajrish Bazaar

    Tehran

    When it comes to classic Iranian shopping experiences, browsing the food stalls at this photogenic bazaar in upmarket Tajrish pretty much nails it. It's…

  • Halva Kingdom

    Jerusalem

    Grinding sesame into paste since 1947, this irresistible stall is hard to miss thanks to its crown-shaped sign, huge wheels of halva and attendant…

  • EK Ceramic

    Jerusalem

    Several generations of the Kouz family have sold high-quality Armenian-style ceramics out of this shopfront. And this will be the last. No offspring will…

  • Iran Termeh

    Tehran

    Head upstairs from the ground floor stall on the main artery of the bazaar to discover women creating gorgeous table runners and other decorative fabric…

  • Madina Made

    Saudi Arabia

    The products in this shop are of real quality and are guaranteed to be made in Medina by locals. Purchasing something here means supporting the small…

  • Bottejeghe

    Tehran

    Nailing a trendy Iranian fashion look with attractive shirts, gilets and jackets in cotton, linen and soft wool, Bottejeghe also sells a rainbow selection…

  • Tanedorost

    Tehran

    Organic cotton and other fabrics are used for clothes at this rustically stylish Iranian fashion store serving both men and women. It does good shirts,…

  • Jarir Bookstore

    Jeddah

    Jeddah's best bookstore, with the city's widest selection of English-language books including guidebooks, maps and excellent titles on local and national…

  • Hossein Fallahi

    Esfahan

    In this studio it's possible to watch the master at work, peering through a magnifying glass as he applies tiny brushstrokes of paint, applied with a cat…

  • Haj Khalifeh Ali Rahbar

    Yazd

    The best and most famous of Yazd famous sweets can be found in this centenarian-old store. Customers survey the samples, write down what they want on the…

  • Souk Madinat Jumeirah

    Dubai

    More tourist-geared boutique mall than traditional Arab market, this handsomely designed souq is part of the Arab-village-style Madinat Jumeirah resort…

  • Yas Mall

    Yas Island

    Bright, spacious and hosting 370 shops, Yas Mall is the star of Abu Dhabi's shopping scene. Look out for the growing plant wall and the two 12m-high tree…

  • The Avenues

    Kuwait City

    The largest shopping mall in Kuwait, and the second largest in the Middle East, is quite an experience. Within its different zones, it has long palm tree…

  • Nature Shop

    Dana

    With a wide range of quality crafts inspired by nature, workshops and a food-drying centre for making organic food, this shop is well worth a visit…

  • Souq Al Jubail

    Sharjah

    Herb-infused honey, dates, nuts and dried figs make for great foodie gifts and treats, while the long lines of stalls piled high with fruit and vegetables…

  • Dubai Festival City Mall

    Dubai

    Southeast of the airport, near Business Bay Bridge, this 350-store behemoth has all the standard shops, plus Ikea – a draw for locals and expats. Its main…

  • Beautiful Henna Centre

    Al Bateen & Al Mushrif

    Henna application (on hands and feet) is a traditional ritual of local bridal preparation, though these days it's not limited to weddings and is…

  • Shamshirgarha Bazaar

    Shiraz

    For foreign visitors, one of the most interesting parts of the covered alleyways of Bazar-e Vakil is coming across the Shamshirgarha Bazaar. Housed under…

  • Barka Factory for Omani Halwa

    Oman

    Barka is renowned for its halwa, Oman's traditional sweet, which is made in industrial quantities at an attractive-looking factory (with spangled pillars)…

  • Villaggio Mall

    Doha

    In this Venetian-themed mall, you can shop under a 'sky' of fluffy white clouds, eat pizza at Paul, and take a ride on a gondola (QR10 per person) along…

  • Jordan River Foundation

    Amman

    Supporting top-notch worthy causes by selling equally top-notch crafted items, this shop is an Amman institution. The showroom supports handloomed rugs…

  • Artists' Colony

    Jerusalem

    One of the city's oldest streets, this cobblestone alleyway is lined with small artists' galleries and workshops producing jewellery, paintings, Judaica,…

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