To make your task easier, we bring you an extensive guide to shopping in Abu Dhabi with complete information on must-buy items and the best places to shop. Let’s get started!
What to Buy in Abu Dhabi:
1. Carpets
If you are already bored with the way your living room looks and want to add some colours, the carpets that you will find here will serve the job best. The United Arab Emirates is famous for selling many antiques and carpets are definitely a must buy. The Carpet Souk is laden with carpets of various patterns, sizes, craftsmanship, designs and colours. These look very royal and add a charm to the appearance of any room. The sellers at these souks and shops will assist you in choosing the best one accordingly.
However, there are a few things you should keep in mind like the size, the material you want (silk, wool etc), colour scheme and a few others. Hand made carpets are beautiful but expensive. However, you can always look for machine made imitations as they are equally beautiful. Many shops in Carpet Souk will even get the carpet shipped to your place buy charging a small fee and saving you from carrying them on the flight. Also, do not hesitate from bargaining while making a deal.
Best place to buy- The Carpet Souk, the Iranian Souk, Women’s Handicraft Center, Al Mina Souk, Dalma Mall, Central Market Souk, Carpets Abu Dhabi and Al Salem Carpet Trading.
Approximate Price Range -The price greatly varies according to the number of knots per square inch (the higher the number, the greater the price), quality, brand, size, craftsmanship and materials used. Woollen carpets usually cost AED 4,000. Whereas the silk carpets are a bit expensive and can cost upto AED 60,000 or more. Basic Afghan and Kashmiri rugs can be bought under AED 1,000.
2. Arabic Perfumes (Oud)
Best place to buy-Check out the Yas Perfume stores at the Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina mall, Yas Mall, Al Ain Mall, Emirates Palace, Central Market Souk, Al Wahda Mall. Touch of Oud is another such brand that you might find in many shopping malls.
Approximate Price Range -These usually range from AED 100 to AED 2000. Some popular brands like Gucci, Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani may charge upto as high as AED 20,000.
3. Dates
Best place to buy-Abu Dhabi Dates Market, Cafe Bateel, Al Mina Souk, Central Market Souk, Al Reef Dates Center, Royal Dates, Dates Palace, Al Raigha Dates.
Approximate Price Range -These usually cost around AED 20 to AED 120 per kilogram depending on the variety and brand.
4. Dallah (Arabic Coffee Pots)
Best place to buy-The Central Market Souk, the Carpet Souk, the Iranian Souk.
Approximate Price Range -The prices differ due to the shape, size, material and design.
5. Sougha Art
Best place to buy-Sougha store at the Central Market Souk. Etihad Airways also sells some of these items on board.
6. Gold
Best place to buy-Gold Souk at Madinat Zayed Shopping Center and Liwa Centre.
Approximate Price Range-Priced according to the international daily gold rate and is available in 18, 21, 22 and 24 carats.
Best Places for Shopping in Abu Dhabi:
1. Abu Dhabi Mall
The Abu Dhabi mall is the most popular and possibly the best mall in the capital city. It has over 200 stores and many amusement centres. It was opened in the year 2001 and it has been very famous since then. It offers a wide range of local specialities such as dates, nuts, perfumes, arabic sweets and many more. Besides this, it houses international as well as local brand labels and designer boutiques.
Attractions and Highlights:
Here, you will find shops like Zara, Weekend Max Mara, Pandora, Anne Klein, Nike, Nine West, Adidas, Samsonite, Lifestyle, Mothercare, H&M, Aeropostale, Aldo (shoes and accessories), Vans, Beyond The Beach Ocean, Clarks, Fossil, Skechers, Lacoste, Swarovski, Bath and Body works, Levis, Victoria’s Secret, ADCB, Rolex, Pierre Cardin, Mango, Carolina Herrera and many more. You can catch up with the latest hollywood movie at the VOX cinemas. For kids, Fun City is a perfect place to enjoy and have fun. It even has a salon designed especially for kids and babies, called the KidKutz!
Food at the Abu Dhabi mall:
Here you’ll find The Pizza Company, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Cinnabon, Dunkin Doughnuts, Baskin Robins, McDonald's (food court and cafe), KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Subway, Wagamama (these Japanese ramen bars are newly opened and are very favoured). When you are there, do not forget to check out the Bateel Dates shop. They have an amazing collection of delicious dates, chocolates and mouth-watering pastries.
Location: Tourist Club Area, Connected to Beach Rotana Hotel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Mall Timings-
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Food and Beverages Outlets -
10:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Midnight)
Abu Dhabi Coop Hypermarket -
8:00 AM to 12:00 AM Midnight (Daily)
2. Yas Mall
Yas Mall is the second biggest mall in Abu Dhabi and is spread over an area of 2.5 million square feet. This place for shopping in Abu Dhabi is situated on Yas Island, this massive mall harbours over 370 international brands, 20 screen cinema, loads of amusement and is every shopper’s dream. It is a spectacular establishment located in the middle of the island and looks very beautiful in the night. It is located quite close to the Ferrari World so that means you can visit two amazing places in a day. It is only 15 minutes away from Abu Dhabi International Airport. In addition to this, the view that the malls offer is absolutely magnificent.
Attractions and Highlights:
It has the capital’s only Apple store and houses many prominent brands like Zara, H&M, American Eagle Outfitters, Calvin Klein, Nike, Adidas, Lacoste, Vero Moda, Victoria’s Secret, Ted Baker, Pandora, Swarovski, Tommy Hilfiger, Mango, Jack and Jones, Omega, Clarks, Tryano, Rivoli and many more. It even has a hypermarket - Carrefour and about six department stores.
It has many entertainment options for children and family. These include the Lego Pop-in and Play, Battlezone, Adventure HQ, Fun Works and KidZania Abu Dhabi. Worry missing on the latest Hollywood hit? Not anymore. This mall has a 20 screen cinema, so watch as much as you wish!
Food at the Yas Mall:
It has 24 restaurants, over 40 fast food joints and cafes and 11 confectionary shops. These include Burger King, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Cinnabon, London Dairy, Dunkin Doughnuts, The Coffee Club, Cafe Bateel, The Cheese Cake Factory, Pizza Hut, Baskin Robbins, KFC, Subway, McDonald's, Candylicious and many others.
Location: Yas Leisure Drive, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
3. Avenue at Etihad Towers
If you are looking for a world class shopping experience, then the Avenue at Etihad Towers is the best place. In here, you will find many prestigious brands and world class boutique stores. Spanning two floors of the exclusive shopping experience, you’ll find here many stores which have been opened for the first time in Abu Dhabi like Stephane Rolland, J.M. Weston, Manolo Blahnik, Hermes, Chloe, Kiton, Lanvin, Tom Ford, Givenchy, Stephano Ricci and many more. Among others, it has BVLGARI, Cartier, Rolex, Burberry, Versace, Rolex and many others. You will be more than astonished by seeing the dear price tags but do not worry, the mall hosts many shopping festivals all year round and if you happen to come across one, do not miss out as they have amazing deals! Either way, it is definitely the best place to window shop.
It has some extravagant dining options too like Waitrose, Vanilla and Pepper, Fauchon Paris and Algusto Italiano.
Location: Corniche West Street, Opp Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Retail Stores-
Saturday to Thursday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Friday - 3:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Food and Beverages Outlets -
9:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Midnight)
4. The Galleria
Attractions and Highlights:
The most interesting part about this mall is that it has an urban rooftop park! It even has a sports park for children and a family park for the family. For kids, it has many edutainment venues such as the Xtreme Zone which has trampoline parks, climbing walls and games arcades. The Phaser Zone has a combination of Laser Tag and paints less paintball with bazooka balls. It has a number of adventure and amusement destinations for teens and youngsters. The VOX cinema will surely keep you updated will the next hollywood movie irrespective of you being on a vacation.
Food at The Galleria:
It has over 50 cafes and restaurants which include Biryani Pot, 99 Sushi Bar, Costa, Cafe Milano, Waitrose, KFC, Magnolia Bakery, Texas Roadhouse, The Cheese Cake Factory, Skinny Genie, McDonald's, Forever Rose and many others.
Location: Al Falah Street, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Retail stores-
Saturday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight)
Friday: 12:00 PM (noon) to 12:00 AM (midnight)
Cafe Terraces and Restaurants-
Saturday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday and Friday: 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight)
(Individual restaurant and cafe hours may vary)
5. Mushrif Mall
Attractions and Highlights:
The walls of the mall are lined with an aquarium and are crowded by children gaping and gazing at the sea creatures that they spot at times. It has a minipark for kids called the Sparkys Family Fun Park. It has a few bowling alleys, a 4D cinema, games arcade and kids and adult rides. The mall also has a gaming zone for teens.
Food at the Mushrif Mall:
At the mall, you will find many famous food outlets like Burger King, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, Zero Kelvin, Cinnabon, Yum Yum Tree, Pizza Hut, London Dairy, Wendy’s, Applebee’s, India Palace Restaurant, Starbucks, Bloomsbury, Chili’s, KFC, Baskin Robins and many others. While you enjoy your meal at the food court, do not forget to try Jimmy’s Killer Prawns, the first outlet of the brand in Abu Dhabi.
Location: Airport Road, close to Hilton Capital Grand, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Sunday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
6. Al Wahda Mall
Al Wahda Mall has the most popular dining options in Abu Dhabi. It is named after the Al Wahda Football Club which is a stadium next door. This fantastic place for shopping in Abu Dhabi opened in the year 2007 and now has over 350 stores selling a wide variety of products. Ever heard of a mall having a sunroof? Well, this has one and that is what makes this mall very airy and breezy. This mall is owned by LuLu Group International and houses stores like H&M, Max, Aldo, Guess, Charles and Keith, Mumuso, Call it Spring, Lifestyle, Tommy Hilfiger, GAP, Banana Republic, Mango, Pull & Bear, Bershka, American Eagle Outfitters, Splash, Giordano, Aeropostale, Pierre Cardin, Miniso, Bath and Body Works, The Body Shop. M.A.C, Damas, Pandora, Swarovski, Rivoli and many other local and international brands.
Attractions and Highlights:
This shopping centre has plenty of entertainment options like the Wanasa Land Entertainment which has rides, bowling alley, billiards, video and redemption games, indoor counter strike arena and many such fun activities. Another such fun thing one must try is roller skating by the Rolling Wheels Entertainment. The Orange Hub is a complete gaming zone with bowling alleys, laser tag and F1 racing simulator. Other than this, there are many rides for children, the Dungeon Games Hall and a nine screen multiplex.
Food at the Al Wahda Mall:
The mall has a number of cafes, restaurants, confectionaries and fast food outlets to satisfy your hunger. These include the famous ones such as Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s, McDonald's, London Fish and Chips, Subway, Cinnabon, Bloomsbury’s, Dunkin Donuts, Gelato Divino, Baskin Robins, Pinkberry, Costa, Starbucks, Bubble Station and many others.
Location: Al Wahda, Hazza Bin Zayed Street, Old Airport Road, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Sunday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
7. Marina Mall
The Marina Mall was opened in the year 2001. It is one of the most popular retail centres and is the biggest mall in Abu Dhabi. It is spread over an area of about 235,000 square meters(which is equivalent to 44 football fields!). It spans five floors and houses over 400 stores of fashion, beauty, electronics and home furnishings. It even has a Mercedes Benz car showroom. It is home to world-class brand labels like Tiffany and Co., Burberry, Chanel, Tod’s, Louis Vitton, Gucci, Prada, Hugo Boss, Yves Saint Laurent and many others. It even has the capital’s biggest Carrefour market. The mall looks magnificent in the night when it lights up. The mall is a 3-minute drive from the famous Heritage Village, so you can go there once you are done shopping. The parking space can fit about 4000 cars so traffic is definitely not a problem. All you need to care about while you visit this mall is that you don’t get lost!
Attractions and Highlights:
You catch up on the latest hollywood film in the VOX cinemas which, by the way, has 9 screens and 2000 seats. Kids and teens can enjoy themselves at the Emirates Bowling Village which is right inside the mall. The mall also has Bounce, the trampoline revolution. It has 40-meter slides, a zip line for adventurous people to fly over Bounce Abu Dhabi and two brand new slacklines. You can even experience the 18-meter freefall. Doesn't it sound interesting! It also features two dodgeball courts, two giant airbags, a Super Tramp and a performance area.
Food at the Marina Mall:
You will come across many famous food outlets Burger King, KFC, Baskin Robbins, Starbucks, Cinnabon, McDonald's, Popeyes, The Coffee Club, The Frozen Yogurt Factory, Shake Shack, London Dairy’s and Ice Cream, Tim Hortons and many more. Apart from these it also has many famous local cafes and restaurants.
Location: Near Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
8. Dalma Mall
Referred to as ‘Abu Dhabi’s favourite mall’, this mall is one of the larger malls in the capital. It is located at a short distance from Al Maqta Bridge and Abu Dhabi’s International Airport. Its spread over a vast area of 150,000 square meters and features more than 450 stores of internationally and locally renowned brands. It has an impressive selection of fashion stores, hypermarkets, department stores, cafes and restaurants. Some of the brands that the mall houses are Aldo, Crocs, Charles and Keith, Dune (London), Call it Spring, Caterpillar, Nine West, Vans, Police, Timberland, Levi’s, Forever 21, Volume, Damas, Pandora, Lifestyle, Fayendra, Octave and many others.
Attractions and Highlights:
Kids can enjoy themselves at Fun City and Kidoos on the second floor. There is also Rolling Wheels and The Kidz Factory. Adventure junkies can try cycling, fishing and diving at the Adventure HQ. there is also a mini golf arena on the first floor. For movies the Cine Royal Cinema on the first floor is perfect.
Food at the Dalma Mall:
The prominent food joints here are the The Coffee Club, Burger King, Texas Chicken, Bombay Chowpatty, Costa Coffee, Jelly Belly Ice Cream, Starbucks, Subway, McDonalds, Tim Hortons, Applebee’s, Barbeque Nation, KFC, India Palace Restaurant, Chili’s, Sushi Story, Pizza Hut, Third Avenue Cafe and others.
Location: On the Abu Dhabi Al Ain Highway, Opposite Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
9. Khalidiyah Mall
Attractions and Highlights:
Among its most famous entertainment are the Sparky’s Flash Bowling and Sparky’s Amusement Center. Kids and young ones will absolutely love being here while you engage yourself in some retail therapy. The mall also has a nine screen cinema to help you catch up on the latest movie.
Food at the Khalidiyah Mall:
When at Khalidiyah Mall, you can choose from an excellent collection of cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets. These include Chili’s, Cinnabon, Burger King, Applebee’s, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, The Pizza Company, Starbucks, Wheelers, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, KFC, Manchow Wok, McDonald’s, Subway and London Dairy.
Location: Khalidiyah, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Retail stores-
Sunday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Food Court and Cafe-
Sunday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
10. Al Raha Mall
The Al Raha Mall is located outside the city near the Dubai Highway road. Brands4U is the anchor store in the mall. Other than that it houses many famous brands such as Lee and Wrangler, Damas, Adidas and other local and international brands. The mall also has a LuLu Express SuperMarket.
Attractions and Highlights:
One can enjoy the latest blockbuster hits at the Oscar Cinemas in the mall. Sparky’s Digital land is recreation arena for teens and kids. It has many rides, bowling alley lanes, video gaming hubs, a fun zone for kids and other interesting entertainment options.
Food at the Al Raha Mall:
From Italian, Arabian, American, Chinese, Japanese to Indian; you will find almost every cuisine here. It has a number of cafes, restaurants, bakery shops and confectionery. You can enjoy a drink at Thai Fresh Foods and Moreish Sweets. Other than that, you can also enjoy meals at Subway, Burger Hut, Charleys Philly Steaks, Samurai Japanese Restaurant, Caeser’s Restaurant and Fresh Bakes Cafe.
Location: Abu Dhabi - Dubai Route, Al Raha Area 4048, Channel Street, Dubai Highway Road, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
The Mall-
Sunday to Wednesday- 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Thursday to Saturday- 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Friday - 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Food Court & Restaurant-
Sunday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 11:00PM
Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Lulu Express & Electronics-
8:00 AM to 11:30PM
11. World Trade Center Mall
Located at the heart of the city at the Old Central Market, this mall at the World Trade Center is one of the most favoured malls in Abu Dhabi. Souk basically means an arab marketplace or bazaar. The World Trade Center Souk is connected to the mall by the Khalifa Bridge.
The mall has over 120 stores dealing with fashion, accessories, shoes, handbags, toys, beauty, electronics, watches and many more. This mall houses many trendy and world-class brands such as Claire’s, Guess, Dr Nutrition, Bath and Body Works and Holland and Barrett are a few them. This mall is not just about fashion stores, it also has landscaped rooftop gardens. Not just that, it has two central atriums with fully retractable roofs. It also claims to have the UAE’s first IMAX screen in the region - The Novo Cinemas. There are two gaming arcades as well - Pop and Play and Action Zone.
Location: Khalifa Bin Zayed The 1st Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Weekdays - 10:00 AM to 10:00PM
Weekends - 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Food Court-
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00PM
Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
12. Deerfields Mall
Covering about 80,000 meters, this place for Shopping in Abu Dhabi is located in Al Bahia, at the entrance of Abu Dhabi. It is frequently visited by people who move across the other emirates. It has many anchor stores like Carrefour, Gold’s Gym, Centrepoint, Fabyland, Pan Emirates, Home R Us and many more. Apart from this, it has many stores selling items related to fashion, accessories, beauty, footwear, home furnishings, electronics, beauty, watches, jewellery, electronics, perfumes and a few others. The famous ones include Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works, The Body Shop, Holland and Barrett, Aldo, Claire’s, Nine West, Skechers, Reebok, H&M, Max, Rivoli, Fayendra, Damas, Mothercare and many others.
Attractions and Highlights:
The Cine Royal has 14 screens featuring Dolby Atmos so you can enjoy the latest blockbuster too. There are many kids attractions that are divided into Thrill Zone, Fabyland, Kidoos, Adventure Center and a few others for kids.
Food at the Deerfields Mall:
Here you’ll find many prominent as well as local cafes, restaurants and fast-food joints like Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Burger King, McDonald's, Subway, KFC, Pizza Hut, Chili’s, India Palace Restaurant, Vanilla and Pepper and many more.
Location: Al Bahia Road, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Retail Stores -
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Restaurants and Cafes-
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Food Court and Family Entertainment Centers-
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Cine Royal -
9:30 AM to 1:00 AM (Daily)
Carrefour-
9:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Daily)
Gold’s Gym-
Sunday to Thursday - 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Fridays - 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
13. Mazyad Mall
The Mazyad Mall is the first mall in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, near Musaaffah, which is popularly known as the ‘New Downtown’ of Abu Dhabi. You won't find many international brand labels here and so visiting this mall will not burn a big hole in your pocket. From fashion, footwear, sportswear, beauty and cosmetics, watches, jewellery, perfume, sunglasses to electronics and fitness. Since the mall is owned by the LuLu Group International, you will also find a Lulu Department Store here.
Library:
The best part about the mall is that it even has a library! Now, how wonderful is that? The library has a self check out a system so one does not need librarians to check out the book they are looking for. It also has a kids section. It has around 2000 books for children and 30,000 titles in all. You wil surely spend a lot of productive time when you’re here at the mall.
Food at the Mazyad Mall:
Unlike many malls, there aren't many dining options here but they’ll be enough to satisfy your tastebuds. India Palace, Grand Imperial Restaurant, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, McDonald's are few among them.
Location: 28th Street, Near Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Retail Stores -
Sunday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Food Court and Family Entertainment Centers-
Sunday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Library-8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Daily)
14. Carpet Souk
The Carpet Souk is the ideal place to shop for carpets when in Abu Dhabi. This place is literally flooded with carpets with almost 100 stores selling Yemeni mattresses, Persian rugs, afghani carpets, silk rugs, handwoven carpets, prayer rugs, wool carpets and other beautiful upholstery goods. While you might find hand made ones a little less on perfection, you can easily switch for the machine made ones. But, the hand made ones are high on craftsmanship and are generally expensive.
If you find the price way out of your budget, you can even buy machine-made imitations of many traditional carpets as they are less expensive. They also sell many imported carpets from Turkey, China, Morocco, Afghanistan, Iran and other places around the world. Apart from carpets, the Carpet Souk is also renowned for its traditional, handmade Arabic Majlis cushions. You can even get them stitched for yourself at a reasonable price. You can even get your purchase shipped at your place for a nominal fee.
Location: 437 Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
15. Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre and Gold Centre
This place is ideal if you wish to go gold shopping in Abu Dhabi. The United Arab Emirates is famous for its gold, pearls and other gemstones. Madinat Zayed Gold Center which is situated right next to the shopping center is the hub of all gold items in Abu Dhabi. It is the only gold centre in Abu Dhabi. It has more than 70 jewellery stores selling the most authentic and traditional gold, silver, diamond and pearl jewellery. Just check out the gold prices online before heading out to buy some here. You will even find garments beaded with Swarovski Crystals that are hard to find in high-end labels. Some of the prominent jewellery brands that you will find here are Kalyan Jewellers and Malabar Gold and Diamonds.
Shopping centre:
Once you are done with your gold shopping, you can head to the shopping centre for some international retail shopping. Nine West, charles and Kieth, Giordano, Swiss Arabian, Style Studio are some of the prominent brands that you will find here.
Location: Sultan Bin Zayed The 1st Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Shopping Center-
Saturday to Friday - 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Gold Center-
Saturday to Thursday - 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM
Friday - 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Lulu Hypermarket-
Saturday to Friday - 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM
16. Women’s Handicraft Center
This is also an ideal place to shop for authentic souvenirs and handmade gifts. The Women’s Handicraft Center is a government run centre that has a museum which demonstrates textile weaving, spinning, basketry, embroidery, traditional silver-thread needlework, tailoring, talli work, mat weaving, traditional palm weaving, sadu weaving (which is classified as Intangible Cultural Heritage on the UNESCO list) and other arts specific to the Middle East. it provides a great platform to Emirati women to display their skills and talents and promotes employment too. Besides the museum, there are also many shops onsite.
These shops are basically the small huts where you will find a group of women actively involved in making different crafts such as pottery, weaving, basketry, embroidery, ethnic costumes, camel bags and other ornaments. But it is not just the women at the centre, you will also find talented males engaged in detailed machine embroidery, tailoring and decorating arabic clothing. The main exhibition hall has many of these items on sale, so make sure you pick one of these. While you are shopping, you can also enjoy dates, arabian coffee and crunchy sweet dumplings called luqaimat. You can also get a beautiful henna tattoo done while you are here. It generally lasts for two weeks.
Location: Women's Association Complex, Karama Street, Al Mushrif (near the Immigration Office and the Royal Stables), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday - 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
17. Souk Al Zafarana
The Souk Al Zafarana is a place which reflects true and traditional Emirati culture. Hence it is also a nice place to shop for souvenirs. The place sells beautiful embroidered traditional arabic outfits and textiles, henna, spices, perfumes (oud), spices, incense, dallah (arabian coffee pots), arabian trinkets, traditional handicrafts, carpets, lamps, nuts and a variety of other things. Mubdia Village is a section staffed exclusively by women and only women shoppers are allowed in here. Bargaining is a sure thing here so try haggling as when you can.
Location: Al Jimi, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Saturday to Thursday - 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM
Friday - 2:30 AM to 10:30 PM
18. Souk Central Market
This mall is one of the favoured destinations by the locals and residents alike. Definitely check out the souk if you want to experience the traditional Arabic shopping. It is built on the place where the first souk of Abu Dhabi was set up. The stained window class, rich tapestries, wood lattice furnishings give the mall a very antique and elegant look. If you want a peaceful place to shop at, head over to the Souk Central Market. Here you will find traditional artefacts, spices, henna, jewellery, antiques, oils, Arabic perfumes, lamps, clothing accessories, sculptures, paintings, carpets, camel figurines and many local hand crafted products. Spanning three floors of authentic arabic shopping, the central market also has rooftop gardens and cafes. However, this remains mostly shaded and sheltered by the tall buildings around.
Location: Hamdan Street, near World Trade Center Mall, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM
19. Iranian Souk
The Iranian Souk is situated right next to the dhow harbour. Since the souk is located right next to the dhow, you even watch the traditional dhows return from the sea. Being here will take you back to the time when traditional wooden dhows were unloaded at the shores and transported by donkeys to various sellers. It has many stalls huddled together selling original and authentic products from Iran and other countries in the region.
If you are searching for intricate patterned Iranian bedsheets, pillows, Iranian handicrafts, table cloths, textiles, nuts, incense and other homeware, then this is the best place to hit. Saffron is the most popular spice and is bought by many international tourists. It is better to visit the souk in the morning as it gets very crowded in the evening and does not forget to bargain while you make a purchase. In the dazzling town of Abu Dhabi full of sparkling malls and glistening skyscrapers, this rustic old town market place is hard to miss.
Location: Iranian Souk, Al Mina, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
20. Nation Galleria
Located at the gorgeous Nation Towers and connected to the St Regis Hotel, the Nation Galleria is a high-end boutique retail destination. Here you will find some of the world’s most renowned retail outlets and brand labels. The interiors are ultra chic and beautiful. Some of the prominent brands that you might find at this place for shopping in Abu Dhabi are Bateel Cafe, Godiva, Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor, Villeroy and Boch, Lamborghini, Porsche Design, Leopold's of London, WAFI Gourmet and many others.
The WAFI Gourmet sells the best Lebanese cuisine you will ever come across, so make sure you try that out. Other than that the mall also has a VOX cinema on the second floor. The view of the Corniche and cityscape up here from the tower is absolutely amazing, hence making this place the most sought after dining options.
Location: Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Midnight)
21. Al Jimi Mall
Al Jimi Mall is Al Ain’s first shopping and entertainment establishment. It is the most favoured destination of shopping for Al Ain residents. The area was originally a vegetable and meat market but it was renovated and refurbished in the year 2002 in order to make the mall. Spread over an area of 78,000 square meters, this mall is home to more than 100 retail outlets selling products ranging from fashion, footwear, beauty, health, home furnishing, optics, electronics, accessories to pharmacy and medicines. It has many cafes and dining areas. It has an outdoor retail park which consists of about 10 big box retail units. At the Al Jimi mall, you will find stores such as Inglot, Brush and Blush and others. There is also a Carrefour Hypermarket and Centre Point department store at the mall.
Other amenities at the Al Jimi Mall:
Magic planet is a family entertainment centre in the mall. It has indoor rides, game arcades and other interesting activities. You can catch up on the latest blockbuster at the 8 screens VOX cinemas.
Food at the Al Jimi Mall:
KFC, McDonald's, Subway, China Wall, Jelly Belly Ice Cream, Chili’s, Shakespeare and Co., Starbucks, Costa Coffee, The Coffee Club, Dunkin Donuts are some of the famous dining and fast food options here.
Location: Hamdan Bin Mohammad Street, Al Jimi, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Retail Stores -
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
VOX Cinemas -
9:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Daily)
Magic Planet -
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
22. Al Ain Mall
Like the Abu Dhabi Mall and Marina Mall, this mall also opened in the year 2001. It is spread over an area of 2.5 million square feet and is home to over 350 world renowned shops and about 60 restaurants and cafes. This mall is also located closest to the Omani Border. As far as the brands are concerned, you can shop through the stores of Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Carolina Herrera, Love Moschino, Burberry, Tom Ford, Fossil, Ralph Lauren and many others. Apart from these, it has many renowned electronics store as well such as ASUS, Dell, HP, Acer, Samsung, Blackberry, Haier, Nikon, Toshiba, Canon, LG, JBL, Xbox, Kodak and a few others.
Attractions and Highlights:
The mall boasts of having a full sized ice rink covered with real snow. Apart from this, the mall also has bowling alleys, billiards zone, electronic gaming zone, a laser tag playing area, a Trampo Xtreme indoor playground, a smart car troller for kids and many other amusing activities.
Food at the Al Ain Mall:
The mall has plenty of dining options to choose from. Among restaurants, here you will find Applebee’s, Nnado’s, Chili’s, Fuddruckers and P.F Chang’s. Cinnabon, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Godiva, Subway, Pizza Hut, Pinkberry are some other cafes and food outlets that you can try.
Location: Othman Bin Affan Street, Kuwaitat Area, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Weekdays - 10:00 AM to 10:00PM
Weekends - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
23. Bawadi Mall
Bawadi Mall is the largest shopping mall in Al Ain, opened in the year 2009. It houses a mix of international and local brand labels such as Zara, Mango, Max, Marks and Spencers, H&M, Claire’s, Guess, Aldo, Lifestyle, American Eagle Outfitters, Inglot and many others.
Attractions and Highlights:
It has a cinema theatre called Grand Bawadi Cinema, bowling alleys, a Fun City for kids and a play zone for family and teenagers.
Food at the Bawadi Mall:
The Coffee Club, Pizza Hut, Shake Shack, TGI Fridays, Pinkberry, Baskin Robbins, Gelato Divino, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Tim Hortons, McDonald's, KFC, Wok in a Box, Indian Curry, Charley’s are some of the popular eating options here.
Location: Mezyad Road, 67774 Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours:
Retail Stores -
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Entertainment -
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Food court -
Saturday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Thursday and Friday - 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Carrefour -
Saturday to Friday - 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM
24. Al Mina Souk
Location: Al Mina, Zayed Port, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates.
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Daily)
25. Bawabat Al Sharq Mall
The Bawabat Al Sharq Mall was opened in the year 2011 and is spread over an area of 62,265 square meters. The mall is situated next to the Mafraq Hotel. Spanning two floors of wonderful shopping pleasure, this mall also boasts of being the first to host some of the most prominent outlets in Abu Dhabi such as Sephora, Swarovski, Carrefour, Wanasa Land, NOVO Cinema, Centre Point, Bath and Body Works and many others.
Attractions and Highlights:
You can enjoy movies at the NOVO Cinemas. Kids can have fun at the amusement park - Wanasa Land and Crazy Car.
Food at the Bawabat Al Sharq Mall:
From Emirati, Italian, Iranian, Chinese, Lebanese to Indian; you will also every cuisine at the food court. If you are having some serious cravings for biryani, Biryani Pot is perfect. For Iranian delicacies head over to Hatam on the first floor. The very famous KFC, McDonald's, Subway, Pizza Hut and Wendy’s are also there. Then there is Shish Shawerma, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Shakespeare and Co., Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Cinnabon, Crepeholic, Candelite, Lolli and Pops, Lebanese Palace and many others.
Location: Baniyas City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesShopping in Abu Dhabi leads you to many wonderful options. The malls offer the best recreation activities too and hence keep you engaged in a fun, relaxed way. Besides, everything in the capital looks so beautiful that you will feel like stepping into every mall you come across. This list summarises almost all the shopping places that one must definitely check out. Pick what you love the most and be ready to have an amazing experience. Make sure you pack light and shop accordingly and avoid paying extra baggage charges at the airport. Hope you have loads of fun while you shop!
Opening Hours:
Retail Stores -
Sunday to Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Novo Cinema-
Saturday to Friday - 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Food court -
Saturday to Friday - 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Carrefour -9:00 PM to 12:AM (Daily)