Sharjah
One of the oldest souqs in the UAE, Souq Al Arsah once crawled with traders from Iran and India and local Bedouin, their camels fastened to posts outside…
Must-see shopping in Middle East
Doha
Doha's first shopping mall is a relatively low-key affair, with a mixture of midrange international brands and independent local outlets. Look for the…
Beirut
The historic Beirut markets were destroyed during the Civil War; their place has now been taken by this swish complex that includes shops, eateries and a…
Tehran
This gallery and crafts shop in a handsome century-old mansion in north Tehran represents several well-established, as well as up-and-coming, Iranian…
Beirut
Diverse collections by the latest class of designers, produced under the auspices of Lebanese fashion star Rabih Kayrouz, are on sale in the Starch…
Oman
Bedouin women, still wearing their traditional peaked-mask costume, sell handicrafts from a small goat-hair tent by the side of the road here. Items begin…
Madaba
Selling an extensive range of crafts, including mosaics, ceramics, textiles and clothing, this shop, attached to the restaurant of the same name, stocks…
Manama
The country's true mega-mall, City Centre Bahrain has something for everyone. If international brands have a presence in Bahrain, you'll most likely find…
Dubai
The Syrian couple behind Urbanist dedicate the shop's shelf space to hand-curated items rooted in both tradition and modernity, and Western and Middle…
East Jerusalem
This non-profit outfit empowers Palestinian artisans by promoting and selling traditional handicrafts, including embroidery, basketry, weaving, carving…
Nizwa
With a traditional diet that relied heavily on dates, Omanis have a particularly sweet tooth. A favourite confection is halwa, a thick, gelatinous sweet…
Oman
Neighbouring the fort, Sohar's revamped heritage souq boasts a covered walkway with a fine wooden ceiling and an arcade with shops that sport wooden doors…
Tehran
Come mingle with well-off Tehranis at one of north Tehran's most popular malls. It's a slick consumer experience, packed with international fashion brands…
Tel Aviv
This curated Israeli design shop is a visual break from the eclectic clutter of household objects that characterises Jaffa’s flea market. Specialised…
Dubai
The modern-Middle Eastern design of this locally adored boutique mall is as much a draw as the shops, which include rare gems like the first UAE branch of…
Nizwa
At the farthest reach of Nizwa's enormous souq complex, the Date Market showcases the region's many date varieties. Famous khalas dates are available, but…
Bur Dubai
Really handy if you have a sudden hardware/software demand or dilemma, this jam-packed computer and electronics mall has more than 80 outlets selling…
Downtown Dubai
Clued-in gourmets know that some of the world's best honey is Sidr, produced by nomadic beekeepers in war-torn Yemen. At this little kiosk near the…
Saudi Arabia
No Muslim visits Medina without purchasing some of the city's famous dates, and there's no better place to get them at bargain prices than at this market,…
Tel Aviv
Bookshops don't get much cuter than this. Sipur Pashut (meaning 'simple story') is a tiny shop filled from floor to ceiling with quality Hebrew and…
Downtown Dubai
Stand under the lollipop tree, watch the candy-makers at work or gorge yourself on gourmet popcorn at this colourful candy emporium stocked to the rafters…
Al Bateen & Al Mushrif
This boutique sources the latest accessories and homewares from young designers across the world. It's where fashion-forward locals head to source unique,…
Kuwait City
This waterfront shopping mall opposite Kuwait Bay began as a traditional souq and over the years morphed into a full modern shopping mall. It has a small…
Saudi Arabia
This is the best place in town to grab a souvenir or local handicraft piece. Hail's traditional souq area is split into sections selling the traditional,…
Kuwait City
In central Kuwait City, this luxury mall has brands like Gucci, Mont Blanc, Hermes and Yves Saint Laurent. It's a mellower shopping experience compared to…
Mecca
These towers feature a prayer hall that can accommodate up to 10,000 people and – perhaps incongruously – a five-storey mega shopping mall. The 601m-tall,…
Saudi Arabia
This 167-year-old Saudi perfumer sells the premium smell of Arabia – the height of luxurious Arabian oud and musk. This little shop, under Royal Inn Al…
Sheikh Zayed Mosque Area
A one-stop shop for quirky, fun and original gifts. Pick up colourful mugs and placemats stamped with Arabic phrases Yallah! (let's go!) or Ma fi mushkila…
Dubai
This is the kind of shop where 'notebooks' are still made from paper. Indeed, here they come in all shapes and sizes, from cutesy to corporate, along with…
Tehran
Look for the green door next to the Tourism Bank and go upstairs to the first floor to find this mountaineering and trekking gear shop selling the basics…
Tehran
Easily accessible from Tajrish Sq and one of the more modern and well designed of Tehran's new breed of shopping malls, Arg offers plenty of trendy local…
Eastern Province
One of the biggest malls in the Eastern Province, Mall of Dhahran is a one-storey shopping centre that includes high-street international brands and home…
Bur Dubai
Old-style traditional Arab hospitality meant dates and camel milk. Now Emiratis offer their guests Bateel’s scrumptious date chocolates and truffles, made…
Tehran
Established in 2014 this is one of Tehran's more ambitious contemporary art galleries with a focus on showcasing Iranian artists working outside of the…
Shiraz
This tastefully restored two-storey caravanserai, set around an attractive tree-filled courtyard with a pool and fountains, has become a meeting place for…
Deira
It's impossible to miss this jewellery shop at the main entrance to the gold souq as there is inevitably a large crowd of camera-clicking tourists…
Manama
Founded by Indian immigrants who arrived more than 200 years ago, the shops in the Gold Souq are still owned mostly by the families of those early…
Nizwa
As with almost all gold souqs in the region, there are absolutely no fixed prices in the string of jewellery shops that line Main St (between the fort and…
Abu Dhabi
Make an appointment in advance through the website to view Julia Ibbini's complex, multi-layered artworks in her studio. Her pieces, which riff on the…
Riyadh
It's perhaps not the first place you'd think of while in town, but if you need a break from Middle Eastern fare, the food here will transport you from…
