shopping in Dubai.

Travel season is upon us again and it occurred to me that when I went on vacation last year to the uae I searched the web frantically for a do it all see it all information page on places to go in dubai.

Maybe this will help someone.

August is the best month to visit dubai.
All the shops will be clearing out their stock in preparation for fall collections.
Almost every outlet does sales.
Plan your day. Try to do one mall per day and buy what you like when you see it. You won’t be going back or you’ll get lost doing so.

First tip- you should totally get a train card.
Ask for the metro guide at the train station

the guards are always kind enough to point you in the right direction.
The dubai metro runs through most of the big malls and all the way to the end of the city at both ends.
If you’ve got some money, buy a first class card. That way you get to sit down comfortably.
The first class coach is usually empty save for a few people.
The silver card gets you in the regular coach where there will hardly be seats.

The Dubai metro has two lines.
The red and the green.
Both lines intersect at burjuman and union station
Most malls are on the red line.
You can move from one route to the other and switch directions.

Burjuman is located in bur Dubai.
A lovely residential area with golden sands apartments, and exclusive casa hotels and apartments.
The famous high end burjuman mall is also here with spinneys supermarket, Mac Donald’s and a lovely bistro Paul’s bakery.
The burjuman mall hosts dkny, zara, Kenneth Cole and a number of American, English designers.
There’s boots and victoria secret and the sweet smell of coffee is everywhere while you shop.
The big bus dubai tour takes off hourly outside burjuman mall daily.
The other end of burjuman station hosts Max headquarters and another great retail line.
Amazing household stuff.
Walk down the road to labels of love, a thrift / new clothing boutique store and if you love American suits be on the lookout for a shop that has them all down that road.

At burjuman you can take a cab to other malls.
The cabs charge 15 dhs per minute or thereabouts for the first and then subsequently 10
10 dhirams is 450 Nair a averagely

With Dubai metro you can go through a number of malls in one day.
Al Karama is the next station after burjuman on the left of the red line.
It hosts a bustling market with designer fakes.
LoL.

The Dubai mall is always the best place to start.
Every brand on earth (almost) is there.
Louboutin, Chanel, Aldo, h and m, new look, Dorothy Perkins, miss selfridge, there’s food and macarons -Madison laudree. Sephora, gnc, boots, river island.
Starbucks and a number of other delicatessens
M and co on the third floor has lovely lovely clothes and jackets to die for.
Wear comfortable shoes.
You can develop plantar fascitis after a Day in that mall.
Look out for Max, the uae version of primark uk.
Totally wearable clothes.
The burj kalifa is just beside the Dubai mall and it’s a worthwhile experience going up there.
I didn’t anyway I was there for the clothes and creams.

Mall of emirates is 3 stations away from the Dubai mall and hosts the worlds only indoor ski park, Debenhams and a number of other clothing lines.
3stationsnfrom mall of emirates is the Dubai marina mall where etihad usually drops it’s passengers.
If you travel with etihad,you can check in your luggage at the head office and move to marina mall for a last minute shop trolling.
The red line ends at jebel Ali.

To the right of burjuman station on the red line is union intersection and deira city center.
This is where you buy gold.
At deira.
Check the gold prices before setting out.
The newspapers have it daily.
Human hair, caftans, name it.
Be on the lookout for supposed tour guides and agents.
They seek compensation or they pick your pockets.

Beyond deira is emirates airport and at the very of the line is rashidiya.
To go to IKEA uae, you stop at rashidiya, come down and take a cab for 15dhs.
Your purchases can be delivered to your hotel if they are too large to carry on the train.
There’s Dubai festival city close to the ikea mall and that’s where marks and Spencer is.

Other malls.
For matalan check lamcy mall near burjuman about a 5minute drive

Dubai outlet mall.
Whooo!
This is THE mall.
Keep your money for this mall.
It’s before dragon mall and I suggest you take a cab which sadly will set you back by about 200 dhs or more for a return trip.
If you love designer goods, you’ll find enough at discounted rate a.
Gucci, Pierre Cardin, Kenneth Cole, vb, sacoor brothers I can’t remember them all.
Totally saw an evil eye bracelet I should have bought but didn’t
Samsonite is there too.

Last but not least,
You need two days to visit dragon mall.
It’s easily the largest mall in wherever
Massive amounts of chinese goods and some are really nice.

I hope this post is worth it.
There’s a whole lot of information and I can’t provide it all but here’s somewhere to start.
Do have a happy holiday and let me know in the comments any extra things I should add if i know or you can add if you do.