United Arab Emirates » Things to do
Shopping Overview
Tax-free prices and an abundance of cheaper luxury brands means shopping is a national pastime for Emiratis, with thousands of people flocking to the UAE each year for the annual Dubai Shopping Festival. The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are among the largest malls in the world, and are famous for their incredible extras, including an aquarium and ski slope. Shopping here really is an attraction in itself, with a whole host of other activities including ice rinks, cinemas and arcades.
Aside from malls, visitors can experience a traditional Middle Eastern shopping vibe at the souks (bazaars), where leather goods, gold, silver and clothing like silk pashminas can be bought at rock bottom prices. Karama, in Dubai, is a good place to start practising your haggling, as store holders expect visitors to go there hunting for a bargain! You can ask for ‘special’ versions of bags or clothing in many of the shops here, and you will be taken to a back room filled with knock-off goods. Alternatively, the souks on either side of the Creek offer a kind of Morroco-lite shopping experience, offering a taste of the region. Here you can purchase spices, and local coffee as well as fascinating memorabilia from Arabic chests and swords, old maps of the local area and trinkets.
As you would expect in this billionaires playground there are also high-end souks, such as The Souk, Abu Dhabi Central Market, which is a beautiful, luxury modern take on a market from the region, here shopkeepers sell high-end home ware, fashion and gifts. Alternatively, Souk Madinat offers an intricate warren of stalls, bars and restaurants.
Opening Hours
Nightlife Overview
The large Western expat community has transformed Abu Dhabi and Dubai into party towns, with a huge range of bars and nightclubs. Smaller, local establishments with Arabic singers or troupes of Filipino bands and dancers exist alongside classy cocktail bars and nightclubs, which regularly host international DJs and bands from all around the world. Due to the strict alcohol laws, most venues are located in hotels and range from sophisticated cocktail lounges such as Jetty Lounge, set on The One & Only Royal Mirage’s private beach, which attracts a young, professional crowd who laze around on its crisp white couches listening to a chill out DJ set.
English-style or Irish pubs include the Irish Village, designed like a village to hark straight back to the bonnie green land filled. Barasti is the Aussie, Kiwi and Saffa choice, and is decked out on the beach like a giant tiki bar with poi dancing into the night. Ladies nights in the UAE are an institution, with many offering free or heavily discounted drinks to female patrons.
Region Events
Abu Dhabi FestivalFrom Date: 2013-03-01 00:00:00
To Date: 2013-04-30 00:00:00
This event is all about celebrating classical art and culture from the East and West, with a view to spreading cultural awareness around the region. Previous performances include Shakespeare's Mid-summer Night's Dream, exhibitions by the Shaolin Monks and music from the World Orchestra for Peace.
Venue Name: Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi Theatre and other venues.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Gulf Film Festival
From Date: 2013-04-01 00:00:00
To Date: 2013-04-30 00:00:00
This non-profit event, with over 130 screenings, aims to help raise the profile of Arabic film and create more opportunities for filmmakers in the region. Awards are given to amateur filmmakers for best feature film, short film and script.
Venue Name: Festival City
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai Shopping Festival
From Date: 2014-01-05 00:00:00
To Date: 2014-02-05 00:00:00
During this month long spending extravaganza prices are often slashed by 75% on fashion, gifts and jewellery. Alongside credit card flexing comes street performers, film screenings, fun fairs and a host of events for kids.
Venue Name: At shopping areas all over the city.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Chill Out Festival
From Date: 2013-04-01 00:00:00
To Date: 2013-04-30 00:00:00
Each year the organisers book a number of international acts from all genres, be it jazz, funk, electro or rock. Previous artists include De La Soul, Royksopp and The Kooks. Meanwhile, visitors can paint a canvas with the local art outfit Jam Jar, get a massage at the massage hut, and tuck into international grub.
Venue Name: Various venues around Dubai.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
From Date: 2014-02-18 00:00:00
To Date: 2014-02-23 00:00:00
Tennis megastars flock to the Middle East's only ATP 500 tournament every year and complete for prize purses worth millions of dollars. The intimate 5000 capacity stadium means fans can get a superb view of their sports idols.
Venue Name: The Aviation Club Tennis Centre
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai World Cup
From Date: 2013-03-30 00:00:00
To Date: 2013-03-30 00:00:00
Learn more about the Arabs' passion for horses by going to the world's richest horse race. The prize fund is a whopping US$10million at the annual Dubai World Cup. It's now held at the new Meydan Racecourse with room for a crowd of 60,000.
Venue Name: Meydan Racecourse.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Taste of Dubai
From Date: 2014-03-14 00:00:00
To Date: 2014-03-16 00:00:00
Foodies salivate over this annual event, which includes 30 of the city's highly rated restaurants, celebrity chefs and gastronomic creations. There's also a stage with musical entertainment each day of the event.
Venue Name: Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Art Week | Art Dubai
From Date: 2014-03-20 00:00:00
To Date: 2014-03-23 00:00:00
During this non-profit cultural scheme, over 22,500 visitors amble around the city and ponder over exhibitions from more than 75 galleries. There are projects and performances galore, plus educational workshops for the public.
Venue Name: Madinat Arena, part of the beachside Madinat Jumeirah Resort.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sharjah Light Festival
From Date: 2014-01-10 00:00:00
To Date: 2014-02-24 00:00:00
Each year, during the winter months, visitors can view Sharjah in an entirely different light. For just over a week, famous landmarks and buildings are transformed with high-powered projectors, 3D technology, moving videos and laser displays, transforming facades into spectacles of awe and wonder.
Venue Name: Various across the city.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
From Date: 2014-03-05 00:00:00
To Date: 2014-03-09 00:00:00
The Middle East's largest spoken word festival brings of over 30,000 people and 130 authors together over five days for workshops, seminars and cultural activities. Previous guest authors include Michael Palin, Tony Parsons and Margret Atwood.
Venue Name: InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Back to United Arab Emirates
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Information in this section was last updated: Fri Apr 12 2013
