Abu Dhabi ShoppingShopping in Abu Dhabi is a very rewarding experience with souks,
malls and the airport duty free shops offering some of the lowest
prices in the world on a wide range of goods, thanks to very low
import duties. Most shopping malls are open Saturday to Wednesday
from 10am to 10pm, on Thursdays from 10am to 11pm, and on Fridays
from 2pm until late. Independent shops close for lunch from 2pm to
4pm, and then stay open until at least 9pm. There are a number of souks (markets) in Abu Dhabi offering a
vast selection of oriental carpets, gold and antique jewellery,
electronic gadgets, designer clothes, cosmetics, spices and
souvenirs. The Al Nasr Street, Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Khalifa,
Iranian and Al Meena souks are among the most popular in Abu Dhabi.
Local souvenirs include items such as traditional coffee pots,
Bedouin jewellery and antique chests. There are more than 18 shopping malls and centres in Abu Dhabi
offering a variety of brand-name outlets, hypermarkets, cinemas,
cafés, restaurants and fast-food joints for shoppers to enjoy; two
of the biggest are the Marina and Abu Dhabi malls. Some of the
international outlets at these malls are IKEA, Woolworths, Body
Shop, Virgin Megastores, Versace, Burberry and Gucci. The Abu Dhabi
Shopping Festival is held each March in malls throughout the city
and consumers can find excellent bargains and win a number of
shopping prizes. |