A shopper's guide to Dubai

A shopper's guide to Dubai

Think Dubai and images of you trying to balance a number of shopping bags and still trying to accommodate a few more will flood your mind.
With the shops selling everything, from exclusive designer merchandises to the most intricately designed handmade stuff, the city has become the uncontested champion of shopping in the world. If you're heading to Dubai, here's the lowdown on the items that should top your shopping list.


1. Oh My Gold!

When it comes to buying gold, be it bars, bullion or kilos, Dubai has oodles of gold shops where you can indulge in this passion of yours. Intricate and exquisite craftsmanship is the specialty of this place.
Gold is sold by Karat and weight so you can try your haggling skills to get a good deal on the charges. Before settling for a piece, shop around. You have over hundreds of retailers to choose from.

Quick tip:

The price of gold is not traded in the international market during the weekends, so Saturday or Sunday is the best time to purchase your gold without worrying about the price fluctuations. However, do check the current day price, as the Dubai Gold and Jewelry Group fixes the gold rates twice a day and make sure you check the gold purity hallmark before making a purchase.


2. Ittar(Perfume)

No tax means French brands are cheaper than they are in Paris! Check the packaging to make sure they're authentic. Apart from the branded ones, an authentic traditional ittars in various fragrances. Choose as many as you want based on your mood and the time of the day you want to wear them. Oil-based and long-lasting, infused with natural flowers and herbs, and is a must buy. 
The best thing about perfumes bought from Dubai shops is that you're most unlikely to find another person wearing the same scent as you - yes, they're that personalized!


3. Magical carpets

Colorful Turkish or fine Persian carpets, rough-knotted Bedouin rugs or the Kurdish kilims... Dubai is a carpet lover's paradise. The city has a reputation for having the highest quality carpets at the best prices.
However, do check the carpet before buying. While a properly made rug will grow more lustrous in color over time and will last years, low-quality ones may fade in just a few months! Do this quick test. Stand atop the rug with rubber-soled shoes and twist. Grind the fibers underfoot. If they shed, it's lousy wool, avoid buying it. You can also spill water on the rug; if it puddles for an instant this means a high presence of lanolin, indicating that the carpet is of good quality.
Once in the market, explore each shop. And yes, your haggling skills will do wonders, just don't get too enthusiastic or the dealer won't bargain as readily.


4. Spice it up!

Spices and herbs are an essential part of Middle Eastern cuisine and Dubai is full of souks (markets) that offer all kind of herbs, spices, incense and various traditional medicinal products.
Buy the Natco Rose syrup added in ice creams or the cardamom flavored milk that tastes amazing in coffee. Also, traditional spices like zaatar and sumac can add a rich flavor to your soup, stew, kebabs, and salads.


5. Khanjars

An ideal souvenir to take home. Khanjar is a traditional curved dagger worn by Arab men over their shirt. A regular khanjar has two rings and the scabbards are intricately decorated with thin silver wires. The detailing of the khanjars determines its value. Though Rhino horns were traditionally used to make the handles, today they are commonly made of wood. A khanjar ought to feel heavy when you pick it up. Don't get lured by shopkeepers who tell you a particular khanjar is very old.


6. Pashminas

Women and men all around the world adore pashminas, those feather-light cashmere shawls worn by the Middle East's best-dressed personalities. Since Dubai is known for its one hundred percent pure pashminas, you'll find good bargains on your choices.
They come in hundreds of styles and colors, some with pompom edging to others with fine embroidery and beads. With a little knowledge about pashmina, you can score a piece with great workmanship and fabric. Here's the trick to check the authenticity of the material. Loop your index finger around the corner of the fabric and pull the fabric through. If it's pure cashmere it'll pull through; whereas, it won't budge if it contains polyester.


7. The perfect date!

To visit the desert city of Dubai and come back without dates is unthinkable! You'll find Dubai shops stacked with hundreds of big, juicy bate dates in alluring pyramids that might look like jewels at first. They are sold in a combination with all kinds of nuts and flavors. The exquisite packaging is befitting to gift to a king.

Quick tip:

If you visit the city around in November, look for agwa dates, they are rare and a tad bit expensive, but worth every penny.


Conclusion

Though the city offers duty-free shopping, import duties are applicable as anywhere else in the world. A word of caution though - be sure of the genuineness of what you are buying while shopping in Dubai.
Happy Traveling!

Note: This article was originally published by me at Quora & Artipot