Must-see shopping in Arabian Peninsula
Bur Dubai
At the heart of Egyptian-style Wafi City district, one of Dubai's most architecturally striking malls is built around three stained-glass pyramids and…
Bur Dubai
Despite its visually unappealing concrete exterior, Karama’s bustling backstreet shopping area is a great place for bargains and crammed with shops…
United Arab Emirates
Despite the name, this strip of nearly identical stalls is actually a daily affair, though it's at its bustling best on its namesake day. Rugs, pottery,…
Kuwait
On the water's edge, this medium-sized mall has a range of international high street fashion brands including Footlocker, Gap and H&M, plus dozens of…
Muscat
Arguably Muscat's most popular mall, the Avenues comes with 150 shops, cinema, and large food court open until 1am at weekends. There's a children's…
Manama
This modern two-storey building is an extension of the historic Gold Souq founded by the Indian immigrants who effectively run Bahrain's gold trade. Have…
Oman
For a pair of handcrafted leather sandals, look no further than the cobbler opposite the souq. Sitting cross-legged and still producing shoes with a knife…
Riyadh
When it first opened, the Sky Shopping Mall was the designer mall outlet, home to the likes of Harvey Nichols. But in a country where building shopping…
Dubai
With 140 stores, Mercato may be small by Dubai standards, but it's distinguished by attractive architecture that looks like a fantasy blend of a classic…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
If you love art but can't afford an original, pick up a highly decorative print by well-known Middle Eastern artists without breaking the bank at this…
Oman
This enormous souq is flooded with vegetable and grain sellers for half the day and virtually abandoned for the rest. One or two shops stay the course,…
Oman
This landmark Omani mall – no city in Oman is worth its salt without one – was built by Emirati investor Majid Al Futaime. The brand-new complex with…
Deira
Dubai's oldest shopping mall opened in 1980 and is a lot less flashy than its newer cousins, despite an expansion that doubled its number of shops to 390…
Bur Dubai
This tiny shop tucked into the quiet lanes of Al Fahidi Historic District is a photogenic find. It's crammed full of spices like cloves, cardamom and…
Dubai
It's a mall, so don't go out of your way to get here, but if you happen to be in the area, it's not a bad place for a browse. Kids love the massive Magic…
Merchants of Pottery & Handicrafts
Khasab
The title of the shop, located in front of Lulu Hypermarket, pretty much tells it how it is. Axes and camel sticks are available here, together with…
Downtown Dubai
Millionaires to wallet-watchers shop at Daiso, Japan's equivalent of the '99 cents' or 'One Euro' store and nirvana for fans of fun, kitsch and cute…
Dubai
Enjoy a sip of rose water upon entering this quirky concept boutique run by a trio of free-spirited cousins from Beirut. They share a passion for unusual…
Muscat
A surprisingly comprehensive little traditional souq located inside the Sabco Centre sells crafts (mostly from India and Iran), pashmina shawls and Omani…
Bur Dubai
One advantage of this mall is that you are unlikely to get lost! With only 75 outlets, this mall, which opened in 2016, is small by Dubai standards and…
Downtown Dubai
An air-conditioned, less-atmospheric alternative to the Deira Gold Souq, this buttoned-up business mall houses some 90 purveyors of bling. No bargaining…
Nizwa
This smart new mall is located in the growing suburbs of Nizwa and, with its cafes and food court, ice rink, bowling alley and children's play zone (Fun…
United Arab Emirates
If you need to stock up on snacks and picnic goods on your way out to the desert, the supermarket here is your best bet. There's also a food court and a…
Kuwait City
One of the largest malls in Salmiya, Marina Mall is connected to the waterfront by a footbridge over Arabian Gulf St. Most of the shops are in the main…
Deira
If you've spent all your money on Jimmy Choo shoes and bling at the Gold Souq and need a new in-flight bag, this cut-price place has a great range. It…
Dubai
Behind a coated glass facade designed to reflect the heat sits this two-level mall that's popular with fashion-forward locals shopping for luxury abayas …
Marina Breakwater
This small mall dedicated to the more extravagant end of the shopping market (the Lamborghini dealer is here) is worth a quick look if you're into…
Dubai
Wallet-watching luxury lovers regularly pop by this stylish consignment boutique whose 'pre-loved' designer labels and accessories are in tip-top…
Manama
So many signposts direct you to Manama Centre that you don't expect it to be such a humble building. Full of discount stores selling mainly domestic goods…
Manama
Important local shopping centre for resident south Asians who flock here for the 'stack 'em, high sell 'em cheap' stores stocking tons of brands imported…
Deira
Founded in 1907, Damas may not be the most innovative jeweller in Dubai, but with more than 50 shops, it’s essentially omnipresent. Among the diamonds and…
Oman
Nakhal's souq occupies a new building near the fort. Largely intended for the town's residents and still yet to be fully operational, it sells a few…
Dubai
The mother of Dubai’s electronics stores, this place stocks all the latest computers, cameras, mobile phones, games and gadgets under one giant roof.
Doha
Local farmers come to sell their fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and plants at this weekend market in Katara. There are bouncy castles and push-along cars…
Dubai
This small, well-displayed boutique specialises in genuine pashmina (cashmere). The finest are handmade by weavers, and you can expect to pay in the…
Eastern Province
For an experience and prices far removed from the large shopping malls of the city, head to the open-area Dammam Souq (also known as the Ladies' Market)…
Dubai
Mikyajy is Arabic for 'my makeup', and that's just what this popular Middle Eastern franchise specialises in. Go for the local bestsellers including…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
This indie shop in Ibn Battuta's India Court stocks an eclectic and rotating selection of colourful, whimsical fashion by high-spirited designers from…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
This mall has an attractive waterfront setting and a manageable 140 stores on four floors, so you won’t get lost quite so readily as in its mega-size…
