When it comes to the wor;d’s most extravagant luxury destinations. Dubai is often the first one to spring to mind. This affluent city, with its spectacular skyline, innovative attractions and lavish shopping malls filled with designer stores, is home to uber-rich residents and attracts the wealthiest visitors from across the globe who come to spend eye-watering amounts of money at its high-end hotels, fine dining restaurants and upscale shops.
Dubai caters to every luxury aspiration you could imagine, but touring its gold-trimmed shopping centres and splurging on coveted brands is easily one of its biggest draws. From high-end fashion to cutting-edge electronics, indulgence is the order of the day here, and the city’s magnetic pull is hard to ignore.
The destination can feel like something of a labyrinth to visitors due to its vastness and the sheer number of plush shopping malls there are to choose from, so if you’re arriving with plans to spend, spend, spend then it can be difficult to know where to start. Bringing new meaning to the idea of ‘shopping until you drop’, making your way around the biggest and best shopping hotspots can feel like an exhausting pursuit, so we’d recommend renting a car from Dubai airport to make the whole experience feel more comfortable. After all, you’ll need somewhere to put all of those bags, too, and with Dubai well known for its luxury vehicles, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Once you’ve got your transport sorted, it’s all about finding the most impressive shopping centres where you can optimise your time and access the best selection of designer brands in one place – and here, we take a look at three of the best.
The Dubai Mall
As well as being one of Dubai’s most iconic shopping destinations, the Dubai Mall offers an all-round immersive experience that elevates shopping to whole new heights. Boasting over 1,200 retail outlets, this colossal mall is quite something indeed, and serious shoppers might find themselves needing to visit several times in order to make their way through all of the designer boutiques and stores on offer here. With high-end fashion brands like Gucci, Chanel and Louis Vuitton taking centre stage, Fashion Avenue should be your first port of call if you’re looking to restock your wardrobe, and is home to a vast array of haute couture and luxury labels.
The Dubai Fountain show, which takes place outside the mall, is also not to be missed while you’re visiting and is a captivating sight that makes the whole shopping experience feel all the more special.
Mall of the Emirates
Another must-visit if you’re seeking the finest fashion brands the world has to offer, the Mall of the Emirates’ Fashion Dome is a haven for luxury fashion enthusiasts and you’ll be in your element amongst its opulent designer boutiques. But as well as big-name luxury brands like Gucci and Jimmy Choo, you’ll also find super-plush homeware shops like Villeroy and Boch, making it one of the best malls to visit if you’re seeking a shopping location that caters to every element of the luxury lifestyle.
The Mall of the Emirates is also home to the world-famous Ski Dubai – an impressive indoor ski resort where you can combine winter sports with shopping. It’s exactly the kind of obscure attraction that has made Dubai so famous, so if you have some energy left to burn after all that shopping then be sure to pay it a visit.
City Walk
Culture enthusiasts should head straight to the urban retail and leisure complex of City Walk when touching down in Dubai, where you’ll find a curated collection of elegant designer shops and boutiques alongside a wide variety of restaurants and cafes where you can refuel after your spending spree. From fine dining eateries to trendy delis and coffee shops, there’s something to suit every mood, and the complex’s palm-lined avenues and outdoor spaces make it an enjoyable place to explore at your leisure.
You’ll even find a yoga studio at City Walk, along with numerous other wellness spaces and activities you can take part in if the mood strikes. Shopping can be stressful, so if you need to relax and unwind once you’re done for the day then this is the place to be.
