The Dubai Mall, Grand Drive

Putting the numbers into perspective, the mall quoted the fact that New York welcomes 50.2 million visitors each year, Las Vegas 39.2 million, and Los Angeles 26.3 million people.

The Dubai Mall, Waterfront Promenade at New Year

The Dubai Mall is the world’s most visited shopping and leisure destination, assisted by a host of attractions that include its almost-one-kilometer high neighbour– The Burj Khalifa, indoor aquarium and marine zoo, Olympic-sized ice rink and worlds largest musical fountain.

With leading brands choosing to operate their flagship stores at the mall, retail sales across the 1,200 outlets were boosted by an average 35 percent.

Dubai Shopping

Mall highlights

The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping complex in the world. Opened in November 2008 at the foot of Burj Khalifa, this is an immense space dedicated to retail and leisure. The world’s largest indoor gold souk is not to be missed, as well as the Fashion Avenue flanked by the biggest designer-name boutiques. KidZania is a great edutainment centre where children can role play as adults, choosing to be everything from a pilot to a film star for a day, or even working in a supermarket. An ice rink, the world’s biggest suspended aquarium and features like the waterfall with divers make this a truly wonderful place worthy of more than one visit.

The Dubai Mall

With a distinctive ancient Egyptian theme, Wafi mall in Oud Metha is hard to miss on the way to the airport. Don’t be fooled by obelisks and soaring pyramids though.

Inside, Wafi is a modern tribute to high-end shopping, with exclusive boutiques and unique outlets. Kids will love Encounter Zone and there are also some great restaurants within the Wafi complex as well as one of the city’s best spas, Cleopatra’s.

Mercato on fashionable Jumeirah Beach Road is a smaller-scale centre with an Italian theme and relaxed vibe. Based on Renaissance architecture, Mercato captures Italian, French and Spanish characteristics in a colourful, family-friendly environment. The spacious atrium is a great place to catch a coffee before exploring the meandering ‘streets’ with a broad spectrum of outlets with a focus on home and fashion. Catch a movie in the cinema and then head for the Porto Vecchio Village on the first floor for unusual gifts.

Mercato Mall

Describing itself as “the world’s most exclusive shopping destination”, BurJuman has more than 300 stores with an emphasis on high fashion. Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Cartier, Christian Lacroix, Salvatore Ferragamo and Just Cavalli are just some of the boutiques to get you excited. Definitely a designer destination more than a family-fun experience, BurJuman is a must for label lovers.

Time is precious

Luxury high-end watches are a growing market here, with visitors from far and wide descending on Dubai just to make that special timepiece investment. From distinguished Swiss masterpieces to the ultimate fashion statement, you are sure to find the watch that makes you tick. Many of the finest brands have their own boutiques and can also be found in distributor outlets at many of the bigger malls. Even if you know exactly which brand you are looking for, if they don’t have their own stand-alone store then you could waste precious time locating the perfect watch. Let Concierge give you a hand with our guide.

Rivoli (call 800 RIVOLI) distributes many high-end timepieces, including IWC, Blancpain, Carl F. Bucherer, Glashütte, Girard-Perregaux and Jaeger Le Coultre and has Rivoli Prestige stores in Deira City Centre, Dubai Festival City and Mall of the Emirates, as well as the Burj Al Arab and select five-star hotels.

Ahmed Siddiqi & Sons is another local distributor with an impressive portfolio of watches. A Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Chopard, Franck Muller, Harry Winston, Hublot, IWC, MBF, Patek Philippe, Piaget and Rolex are just some of their horological highlights. With stores in the finer malls and in many five-star hotels, you can contact them on 04 3323777 to discuss your needs.

All that glitters

Lovers of gold, diamonds and fabulous jewellery are spoilt for choice in Dubai’s malls, souks and exchanges.

If the original Gold Souk in Deira does not appeal, you can try the modern, air-conditioned version deep in the heart of The Dubai Mall – the largest indoor gold souk in the world.

On Sheikh Zayed Road, the Gold & Diamond Park allows visitors to watch creations take shape and even commission a bespoke piece from one of the master craftsmen. However, if you are looking for something stunning from a store, there are many choices across the emirate’s malls.

Damas (04 4270336) is an international jewellery and watch retailer with more than 450 stores in 18 countries. There are three tiers of Damas stores, with Les Exclusives featuring some of the world’s finest luxury brands. With too many outlets to list here, call to find details of their nearest appropriate store for you.

Italian fine jewellery brand Aliel opened its Middle East flagship store earlier this year in Gate Village (04 3231113). With a reputation for quality and craftsmanship, Aliel creates jewellery for connoisseurs.

Samra has grown from a small family business into a Dubai jewellery corporation with three high-end factories and nine retail outlets. Priding itself on excellent customer service and a wide selection of designs, Samra (800 SAMRA) creates and sells fashionable jewellery.

Istana has a broad range of ready-to-wear jewellery for all occasions, as well as leading watch brand Bovet. Fashion items can be made to measure, from a simple solitaire diamond ring to an ornate necklace. Istana Jewellers Boutique is located in BurJuman and in the gold souk in The Dubai Mall. Call 04 3520002.

Mahallati Jewellery produces elegant and opulent designs using diamonds and precious stones as well as stylish designs for everyday wear. With stores in malls and the Gold Souk, call 04 2255830 to find the right one for you.

With keywords of passion and perfection, Khalil Al Sayegh offers diamond and precious stone pieces to an exclusive customer base that includes royalty and heads of state. Call 04 2217999 to discover more.

Crème de la crème

Just like watches and jewellery, cosmetics are also big business in Dubai. Natural-skincare favourite L’Occitane en Provence has stand-alone stores in Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina Mall and The Dubai Mall while high-end brands including Sisley, Elemis, Kiehl’s, La Prairie and La Mer are distributed through a range of retailers throughout the city. Head to any one and browse a wide selection of anti-ageing creams, body bronzers, luxury make-up and designer fragrances.

Areej is one of the region’s fastest growing cosmetics and perfume retailers with stores across the UAE and Oman stocking international brands such as Dior, Lancôme, Guerlain, Chanel, YSL, Clinique, Givenchy, Estée Lauder, Clarins, La Prairie, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Armani and more.

Sephora was founded in 1993 in France. Today, Sephora is not only the leading chain of perfume and cosmetics stores in France, it is also present in 13 other countries including the USA and the UAE. Owned by luxury goods group Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, the chain stocks products from brands including Dior, Paco Rabanne, Clinique and St.Tropez. Call (04 2326023) to find your nearest Dubai store.

With more than 40 stores across the Middle East including several in Dubai, Paris Gallery offers a premium assortment of more than 450 brands such as Sisley, Chanel, Clarins, Natura Bisse and Helena Rubinstein. Call 04 3308289 to find your nearest store.

Launched in 1813 in London, Harvey Nichols (04 4098888) is now present in China, Turkey, Indonesia and the UAE. Head to the ground floor of this Mall of the Emirates-based store and purchase products from Kiehl’s, Elemis, Lanvin, Prada and Chloé.

A staple of the British shopping scene, Debenhams has stores in Deira City Centre, Ibn Battuta, Mall of the Emirates, The Dubai Mall and Mirdiff City Centre. Call 04 3399285 for more information on beauty products from brands such as Biotherm, Clinique and Elizabeth Arden.

Words by Scott Birch