Dubai Shopping Festival 2016: How to Make the Most of the Event

Every year, Dubai hosts the hottest extravaganza of fashion and festivity, style and sports, and culture and cuisine. It is called Dubai Shopping Festival! Held across all famous malls and markets of the city, this mega shopping event is loved world over. Dubai Shopping Festival 2016 is underway and will go on till 1^st February. Here are some tips and advice to make the most of this fascinating carnival.

What to Expect

Most of the malls and markets in the emirate offer alluring discounts and sales, which draw shopaholics from far and wide. Gadgets, jewellery, garments, watches, souvenirs and craft items – you name it and you have it! Besides, you can enjoy great food.

Quick Tips

Start Early: Unless you enjoy huge crowds, start shopping as early as possible. Most shops open by 10:00 am. In the morning, you might have the entire shop to yourself! Evenings, however, are more vibrant and you can enjoy delicious food, celebrity performances and plenty of amazing events in the city.

Do Your Homework: With innumerable shopping venues ready to spoil you for choice, it is advisable to research beforehand about the different malls or markets. Take your pick depending upon what you want to buy and how much you can spend. Glitzy malls such as Al Mulla Plaza on Dubai-Sharjah Road and Etihad Mall on Khawaneej Road are perfect for buying international brands of fashionable apparel, cosmetics, perfumes, home furnishing and more.

The Covent Garden Market at The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence is a wonderful place to buy quality goods at reasonable prices. If you want an authentic Arabic bazaar experience, then head to the cobbled streets of the Souk Madinat. Plenty of shops and stalls here offer everything from handcrafted jewellery and quirky artefacts to trendy garments and shoes.

Haggling

Haggling is a usual practice at souks and small markets, but malls and branded stores opt for the fixed price policy. Discounts, if any, are offered to one and all. So don’t expect more than that. If you are buying gold, make sure you purchase from a reliable shop. Be polite and respect local traditions.