Dubai likes to shop. This city has perfected the art of shopping. It’s a place to go with your loved ones, spend time with friends or just absorb a little entertainment. So what exactly can you buy? We have listed some of the essentials.
Just one quick note: Whenever people speak about Dubai being a tax haven, they are making reference to individual income tax on their wages. You’ll find, in spite of this, import duties. However, if you are searching for low to mid-priced products, subject to your home currency, you possibly will not notice a lot of difference. But you’ll feel the impact on expensive products. If you happen to be interested in, say, a cutting edge Rolex watch, you’ll save yourself a fortune in Dubai. Otherwise don’t be lulled by the tax-free promise!
Carpets
Exceptional Persian carpets, brilliantly coloured Kurdish and Turkish kilims, along with unique knotted Bedouin rugs are typically commonplace in Dubai. Dubai boasts a great reputation in the UAE for having the highest-quality carpets at the best possible prices. Bargaining is considered the norm in Dubai.
A rug or carpet’s quality depends entirely on exactly how the wool was manufactured. It does not matter generally if the rug was hand-made, if it turns out the wool is poor-quality. Among the best hails from sheep at high altitudes that typically produce impenetrably thicker, long-staple wool, weighty with lanolin. Absolutely no chemicals should ever be added, otherwise the lanolin washes away. Lanolin is a natural stain-resistant shiny fibre, which does not shed. The dye inevitably will be vegetal-based pigment. This ensures rich, saturated, colour tones with a vibrancy and depth unachievable with artificial colourings. The dyed wool is spun by hand into thread, which naturally can appear to have irregular lumps and as such, can challenge the skillfulness among the weavers, causing them to compensate for the lumps, by every so often adjusting the size, shape or alignment of a knot. Each of these subtle variations contained in a completed carpets appearance – detectable only upon careful examination – provide the carpet its unique characteristics, and in reality, make the rug much more valuable.
Most dealers throughout Dubai are inclined to hype the weave quality, knot density, as well as the country of origin, but in reality, this does not matter. The most important aspect is to ascertain exactly how the wool has been treated. A rug containing acid-treated wool will never appear as good as it did the day you bought it. Conversely, a properly made rug is likely to blossom in colour as time goes by, allowing it to last for decades. Let me reveal to you a short test. Stand upon your rug with rubber-soled shoes and twist your feet. Move the fibres under your feet, if and when they shed, take this as being low-quality wool. Additionally, you can spill water on top of the rug. Observe how fast it absorbs. Hopefully it should puddle for an instant, indicating a significant presence of lanolin. Furthermore, red wine does not stain lanolin-rich wool. Glance through some books prior to leaving home to acquire a sense of exactly what you would like to buy. Once you are in the stores, plan to linger for a long time alongside dealers, slowly drinking tea while they unfurl a multitude of carpets. The entire process can be great fun. Just don’t get too enthused or the dealer will not readily bargain.
Gold
Providing you do not buy gold at its peak price, chances are you’ll actually feel pretty smug as soon as its appraised back home.
Khanjars
Pay a visit to the Al-Ain camel market, or alternatively attend a bullfight in Fujairah and chances are you’ll catch a glimpse of age-old Emirati men donning khanjars (ancient curved-shaped daggers), over the top of their dishdashas (men’s dress-shirts). Customarily, khanjar handles were created from rhino horn, although these days, they are usually made from wood. Average khanjars come with two rings at which the belt is attached, and their scabbards are furnished with thin silver wire. The intricacy associated with the wire-thread pattern, along with its craftsmanship ascertains its value.
Sayidi khanjars come with five rings, and also are almost always coated entirely in silver sheet, with little, if any wire; their quality is determined as a result of the workmanship and weight. A khanjar should feel considerably heavy when you hold it in your hands. Don’t be fooled by someone who informs you a specific khanjar is “very old” as few are found to be more than thirty to forty years of age.
Perfume
An absence of tax can mean French brand names are far less expensive compared to Paris, although be sure to always check the packaging in order to ensure they’re genuine. With Arabian attars (fragrances), you can have confidence no other woman within the room is likely to be wearing a similar scent.
Pashminas
Fake pashminas can be acquired across the world, although in Dubai it is possible to find excellent deals on authentic, silky smooth 100% authentic pashmina shawls. Women all over the world absolutely love pashminas. If you’re shopping for your girlfriend or maybe your mother, you can’t ever go wrong with a pashmina. One can choose from an abundance of styles and colours, some embroidered and beaded, many others with pompom trimming – chances are you’ll have absolutely no problem finding one you love. Except for setting it alight to ascertain it does not melt (as polyester generally does), exactly how do you make sure it’s authentic? Let me suggest a neat trick! Hold the pashmina at its corner, while looping your index finger around it and squeeze hard. Now pull the pashmina through your finger. If it turns out to be polyester, it doesn’t budge. However, if it actually is cashmere, it can be pulled through. Give it a try while you’re at home with a small piece of polyester ahead of hitting the shops; then give it a try with cashmere. You’ll certainly never be duped again.
Bateel dates
Bateel dates are known as the greatest luxury food in Arabia. Initially, Bateel has a resemblance to a jewellery store, with clear-glass display cabinets along with halogen spot lights illuminating the products. A closer inspection discloses perfectly aligned pyramids of dates – a huge number of them in fact! Bateel plays to its customers with beautiful packaging that could leave a person receiving your gift to believe there may be gold or silver within: the flamboyant boxes of lacquered hardwood can be worth far more than the contents within. The dates initially are derived from Saudi Arabia, which has one of the best growing conditions: soft sandy, alkaline soil and extreme heat. QC is stringent.
Considering that they possess a 70% sugar content, dates basically have an almost limitless shelf-life, but you will find they taste their finest around the autumn months. However, if Agwa dates are on the market during your visit, purchase them as you may very well not get another opportunity to do so. Agwa trees basically only yield every couple of years, so they’re considered to be a delicacy. Check for them in September; a variety of others arrive in November.
