The United Arab Emirates is not only a country of the sea, sun and sheikhs, but also a mecca for shopaholics. No self-respecting shopping enthusiast can return home without any acquisitions. There is even a saying: "Walking past shops in the UAE is as difficult as not falling into the sun in Bali." Two or three stores and at least one market are the minimum for our compatriots. What to buy in the UAE? About thirty or forty years ago, you could only buy slippers "a la Hottabych", a dagger or some kind of carpet. But now everything has changed: in the desert numerous shopping malls have grown, attracting fashionistas and women of fashion from all over the world. There you can buy absolutely everything: from perfumes and clothes to gold and cars.
Where can I shop?
The most attractive are the three emirates - Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. If you like bargaining, head to small private shops or markets. And if not, to the shopping malls. There are so-called "free economic zones" (for example, in the port of Dubai), as well as the well-known duty free.
The best shopping malls in the Emirates are Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Wafi City Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Deira City Center, Bur Juman and others.
Why is shopping in the UAE so attractive for tourists ? The answer is simple - priced! A lot of products cost much cheaper than in our country, since the Emirates has a very low tax on imported goods. But what to buy in the UAE, we learn from a small rating.
Top most popular products in the UAE purchased by our tourists
The question of what you can buy in the UAE is probably asked by any traveler who travels to this mysterious country. Here is the rating of the most popular products:
- Sure, it's electronics. Phones, cameras, camcorders, tablets, computers and various household appliances - they account for about 15 percent of all purchases. Buy a phone in the UAE, for example, can be very cheap.
- Clothing, inexpensive and branded, including fur products - 13 percent.
- Jewelry, most often made of gold and other precious metals, with and without stones - 11 percent.
- 10 percent of the total turnover - perfumes and cosmetics.
- 9 percent are cars.
- Watch purchases account for about 7 percent of all purchases.
- Next are the spices - 6 percent.
The remaining percentages are approximately equally divided among themselves by various little things like souvenirs.
Can I buy a fur coat in the UAE?
One of the most profitable purchases is the purchase of a fur coat. In Dubai, a fur coat cannot be bought unless in a grocery store. More than 300 stores offer fur products, which are divided into two types: branded (fur coats are sold directly from Greek and Italian manufacturers there) and those that only resell other people's products. In order to buy a fur coat in the UAE, it is worth highlighting one or even two days of your vacation, so that you can leisurely go around several stores, try on your favorite models, carefully evaluate the quality of products and compare prices. The fur of good quality should be smooth, shiny, with a light mazra and a dense undercoat. The seams on the outside of the product should be practically invisible.
We buy jewelry
Another popular product category is precious metals and stones. Most purchases are made at the famous Gold Market in Dubai. This is a huge quarter, fully occupied by a myriad of benches. There is no such amount of jewelry per 1 square meter, probably nowhere else in the world. There you can find all kinds of products, various in cost - from cheap to fabulously expensive. Gold jewelry of 18, 21 and 24 carats with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, pearls - everything is very massive, catchy, bright, large and often even lurid. However, inside the product may be hollow: this is done so that the thing can be worn without bending to the ground.
Since the inhabitants of the Emirates love all the very best, there is an exhibition sample of the heaviest gold ring in the world on the market, the weight of which (together with precious stones) is 63 kg 856 g. There are usually no price tags on the products, or they are, but there such a price is written that only Rockefeller can easily lay out. This is done in order to bargain. Bargaining in eastern people in the blood. They really enjoy a good bargain. Do not be afraid to bargain, you will not offend the seller and leave his children hungry: even having thrown off 30-40 percent of the initially announced price, he will still win.
What to buy in the UAE cheap? Of course, spices!
Not far from Zolotoy is the spice market. Here you can find everything that the soul desires, especially the soul indifferent to the culinary art. Mountains of cinnamon, saffron and pepper, jars of rose petals and orchid roots, boxes of mixtures of dried herbs and seeds, bags of dried fruits and packaging of oriental sweets are waiting for their customers. And here you can find traditional Arabic medicines and incense.
Perfumery Paradise
Of course, you can buy perfumes in the Emirates! The UAE offers perfumes both of their own production and imported, produced under the brand name of famous brands. The latter should be purchased unless at the airport duty free, otherwise there is a risk of running into a fake. In addition to outright fake, there is such a thing as a "licensed perfume." This is not an original or a fake, but a perfume produced under a brand license in the UAE. Since the license prohibits making changes to the aromatic composition of perfumes, the buyer can be sure that the composition will be identical to the original product. But why are they cheaper? The fact is that the production uses cheap labor (usually the Pakistanis work for $ 50-70 a month) and a cheaper bottle, and there are no costs for transporting goods.
As for the local oil-based perfume, this is undoubtedly a worthwhile acquisition. In addition to the usual application to the body, they can be added to aroma lamps, shampoos and shower gels. Ambergris and musk are part of almost all Omani spirits. Since they have a fairly strong smell, just 1 drop is enough to keep the aroma all day.
How about without gadgets?
Many of our compatriots bring all kinds of gadgets from the Emirates. What to buy in the UAE cheaply if not electronics? However, there are several rules for buying equipment in the UAE. For example, you want to buy a watch in the UAE or a mobile phone. To avoid unnecessary problems, it is best to purchase any electronic goods in large shopping malls or in company stores. When buying, it is advisable to immediately check IMEI. If according to the data it does not correspond to the product that you are buying, then you should not make this purchase: the phone is most likely “gray”. Do not rush to pay right away, especially if you are "spoken" or urged. Carefully inspect and test the purchased product (case, speaker, cords, connectors, etc.).
And what else to buy in the UAE? How about a car?
Wife - a fur coat, perfumes and jewelry, teenage children - gadgets, but what remains for men? The most important male toy is a car. Every fifth Russian, resting in the UAE, cherishes the dream of returning home with such an acquisition. The Emirates does not have its own automobile industry, but since the inhabitants of this country are used to changing their “iron horses” at least once every 2-3 years, there is always something to choose on the automotive market. Excellent roads and climate help maintain almost the factory look and quality of the car. The benefit when buying a car in the Emirates is about 30 percent compared to average Russian prices. That is why buying a car in the UAE is a profitable business!
The two most popular car markets are Al Avir in Dubai and Abu Shagar in Sharjah. The first wound, located on the outskirts of the city, in the industrial zone, specializes mainly in expensive brands such as Mersedess, Ferrari, Porshe and Bentley. The second is located in the center of Sharjah; cars stand right along the road.
When buying a car in the hot Emirates, you need to consider the package bundle taking into account the Russian climate. Do not be too lazy to conduct a test for damage to the body and suspension (it is paid, but worth it).
In order not to accidentally buy a car that was previously used in a taxi service, carefully inspect the interior of the car: with such a car it will be more worn than the interior of a regular car, and on the dashboard there may be a trace from the information sticker that is usually glued into the taxi of this country .
The basic rules of shopping in the Emirates
- Do not rush to buy the first thing you like. In a nearby store, the exact same one may be cheaper.
- Bargain kindly, do not be angry. Joke, smile, try to win the seller to you.
- The final chord of bargaining is the magic words of last price. Ask about the "last price" when you are ready to buy.
- You can bargain even in shopping malls with a fixed price. You may well be given a small discount - discount.
- On Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. shopping centers are closed - this is a time of prayer.
- It is better to pay in cash, because when you pay with a card, you will be charged a commission amount of 2-2.5 percent. And if you buy expensive goods, such as a car, these 2 percent will lose quite unpleasantly.
- For electronics and household appliances, you always need to require a guarantee sheet.
- It’s worth beware of the street-barkers: they offer their help and say that they will help for free, but in fact, the cost of their services is included in the price of the thing that they insistently offer you. They will receive their money from the seller after you pay for the purchase.
What is not worth buying in the UAE?
The British say: "We are not rich enough to buy cheap things." But Russians are attracted by the sweet word: "cheap." You already know what you can buy in the UAE, and what can not be purchased in the Emirates? The answer is obvious - base fakes of expensive goods. Nothing but disappointment, this purchase will not bring you. It doesn't matter what it will be - a cheap fur coat bought in a hurry, a watch with the Rolex inscription for $ 80, an iPhone or Chanel No. 5 perfume for the same amount. They will not last long: the skin on the strap of the "Swiss" watch will peel off, the paint will peel off, the perfume will last no longer than a couple of hours, and the phone will generally stop working after a few days. Think about whether such "savings" are needed? Now you know what to buy in the UAE!