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…
Must-see shopping in Arabian Peninsula
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Doha
This enormous midrange shopping centre has a large food court that's good for those in the area looking for a cheap, quick bite. It also has a multiplex…
Manama
Pearl of Islands is the pick of this strip of 'antique' stores selling mostly ornate wood doors and quaint lanterns. That's not because the goods are any…
Dubai
This 2000-sq-metre expanse of showroom is the exact opposite of a Scandi flatpack store and its sheer opulence makes it fun to visit. The furniture and…
Bur Dubai
Trade malls for stalls and look for bargains amid the piles of preloved stuff that’s spilled out of local closets at Dubai's cherished flea markets, which…
Doha
This particularly fragrant corner of Souq Waqif has little boundary between its two specialities. Vendors display large containers of herbs and spices…
Doha
This half-museum, half-shop boasts a remarkable collection of antiques, some for sale, others for viewing purposes only. It has old medals, pocket watches…
Bahrain
This is the king among Muharraqi sweet merchants – just try to leave without buying something sickly sweet and sinfully delicious, like the Turkish…
Jebel Shams
Entrepreneurial carpet sellers have set up open-air shop at the bottom of Jebel Shams, capitalising on the fact that most people stop at Wadi Ghul to take…
Doha
This shopping mall has the usual range of international retailers – Mango, DKNY, Clarks, Ted Baker, Adidas etc – as well as the FNAC department store,…
Downtown Dubai
With chic new quarters in the edgy Dubai Design District, this concept boutique pushes the boundaries when it comes to fashion and accessories. Look for …
Abu Dhabi
This small art gallery hosts exhibitions by emerging local artists. A good opportunity for fine-art fans to pick up a piece of original work. The gallery…
Riyadh
Although there are plenty of shopping malls in Riyadh, the Al Nakheel Mall is already a firm favourite of locals and visitors. It's spacious, with a…
Doha
Housed in an attractive two-storey lantern-lit building that fronts onto Souq Waqif, this centre is filled with galleries and artists' studios. Artists…
Jeddah
For dates, nuts and nibbles at discount prices, head straight for the famous Khayyam Al Rabie Est. With its fairy lights and floor-to-ceiling rows of…
Downtown Dubai
A keen coffee radar is required to track down this boutique roastery, in a hidden alley amid the dusty warehouses of Al Quoz. The building houses not only…
Deira
This small store specialises in honey from Yemen. As well as tasting delicious, the honey is reputed to have a wide range of health benefits that differ…
Bur Dubai
Nirvana for design-minded home decorators, this airy showroom unites funky, innovative and top-quality items from dozens of international manufacturers…
Bur Dubai
Kamal Makhija and his army of tailors have had women looking good since 1971. They can create original designs, copy a beloved dress or even sew you an…
Eastern Province
Al Othaim Mall is built to look like a gigantic ship – there’s no way you can miss it. The four-storey shopping centre boasts 392 shops, ranging from high…
