Shopping

With around 1200 stores, 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, indoor theme parks and 150 food outlets. There’s a strong Eur…

Beautiful Medjool dates stuffed with pistachios, cashews, almonds or oranges; gorgeous marzipan, baklava and other Arabic sweets; take-home bottles of rose water; and a full-service deli, bakery and restaurant, Wafi…

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 place behind glass walls. Only single origin beans from such far…

More tourist-geared boutique mall than traditional Arabian market, this handsomely designed souq is part of the Arab village-style Madinat Jumeirah resort and not a bad spot for picking up souvenirs. Options include…

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 plus is the picturesque location around a semi-circular bay,…

This flashy contender in the business district on Al Maryah Island has dramatic looks (cathedral-high ceilings, sculptural roof) and a lineup of brands that should appeal to deep-pocketed couture lovers. Think Jimmy…

Bright and spacious and with trees and a growing plant wall, Yas Mall is one of the newer additions to the Abu Dhabi megashopping scene. Look out for two 12m-high tree-themed sculptures by acclaimed South African ar…

Carpets, textiles, jewellery, sculpture, exquisite vases, marble inlay furniture and calligraphy are among the artworks from around the Islamic world displayed at this top-end gallery. Great for high-quality – albei…

This shopping experience is not just your average mall – it houses many unique stores, extravagant eateries and a huge Wafi Gourmet, the celebrated Lebanese gourmet chain.

This massive store is El Dorado for bookworms. Shelves are stocked with a mind-boggling half-a-million tomes plus 1000 or so magazines in English, Arabic, Japanese, French, German and Chinese.