Shopping tips: The best souvenirs and the most precious gifts to take home from Dubai

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When you visit Dubai for the first time, you will quickly notice that it is a city with a lot of shopping activity.

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This is evident not only because there are countless malls and retail districts spread across the length and breadth of the city, but also because of the number of various shopping festivals, other events and seasonal sales, which are extremely tempting for shoppers.

So it's understandable that you'll want to return home with the best memories and the best possible souvenir from Dubai. This city offers many interesting options and you will certainly not be disappointed.

Sweet surprises at every turn

If you enjoy real homemade honey, you can try and buy delicious and fresh honey from Hatta Honey Bee Garden. Here, if you are interested in beekeeping, you can learn all about the production of honey from indigenous plants of the Emirates.

Dates are also a symbol of this city, and if you visit Bateel, you will take home a real taste of Dubai. With multiple stores in the city, such as in the Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar, Jumeirah Beach Residence and more, you can stop by one of Bateel's places and pick your favorite dates - from those covered in chocolate, to those filled with nuts or dried fruit, as well chocolates and biscuits made with dates.

Connoisseurs can sample a variety of chocolates from around the world at Mirzam, the first of its kind store in the city for its bean-to-bar concept, located in Dubai's Al Quoz district. Many unexpected ingredients such as saffron, cardamom, roses, pumpkin seeds and more are used to make chocolate here. Mirzam also offers a large selection of chocolate gift boxes designed by the famous artist Mariam Alshamsi, while the wrappers for these sweets are created by artists from all over the region.

In souvenir shops and supermarkets you can find chocolates produced by Al Nasma, which makes delicious sweet treats using camel milk and other high-quality ingredients including bourbon vanilla and pure cocoa butter. It's your chance to try a blend of unique, local ingredients in several flavors, including whole milk, dates and macadamia nuts, and orange peel.

Original Dubai delicacies and authentic handicrafts

The countries of the East have always been specific for their spice markets. Experience the vibrant colors and aromas as you stroll through the traditional market of Old Dubai, which includes the Deira Spice Souk, from where you can take home high-quality saffron threads, spices, dried fruits and nuts.

Baklava, the region's most famous and beloved dessert, filled with various nuts and sweetened with honey, is sold in numerous sweets shops, bakeries and restaurants across Dubai. You can try this delicacy and get it "to go" in gift boxes, in the bakeries Al Reef, Wafi Gourmet or Al Hallab.

Coffee is also taken very seriously in this city, so it's no surprise that there is a huge selection of local brands, unique blends and original creations. The Espresso Lab, for example, offers behind-the-scenes tours and courses so visitors can learn how to make a perfect cup of coffee at home, while at Nightjar, in the heart of Dubai, you can see truly artisan coffee roasting, an ideal a gift for every lover of this drink.

Photo: Dubai Promo

If you are looking for a personalized and locally designed gift and souvenir, you can take a stroll to You Rock Dubai in Business Bay. There you will find handmade, biodegradable and eco-friendly candles - a perfect gift for the home, and a memento of this city.

Sparkling jewelry and exotic fragrances

One of the busiest places in the city is the Dubai Gold Souk that hides specific pieces of bespoke jewelry, boasting intricate Arabic designs, embellishments, precious stones and more. A souvenir that will forever mark your trip to the Emirates is a personalized necklace with your name written in Arabic.

You can also pick up irresistible pieces of jewelry at Sauce Rocks, in the shopping center Galleria, a boutique that sells precious stones - diamonds and other kinds. You can choose a precious gift that will last a lifetime from the collections created by regional jewelry designers.

If you want to take the particular scents of this city with you, buy a bottle of Oud. It is a fragrant oil obtained from the resin of the agar tree, an aroma that permeates the whole of Dubai. In the shop Arabian Oud you can also find the perfect incense and other perfumes.

In search of a slightly different souvenir, you can spend an afternoon in Oo La Lab and design your own fragrance. This atelier in the trendy Alserkal Avenue offers the opportunity to design your own perfume with more than 1,000 unique combinations, together with a professional mixologist, which, you will admit, is a perfect souvenir to take home.

Custom clothes

One of the oldest tailor shops in Dubai is Parmar Tailors, established in 1956. There you can buy tailored men's suits for any occasion.

On the other hand, the Filipino designer Michael Cinco, whose clients are women like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and others, has become famous in Dubai for his fantastic dresses, which you can buy in his store.

You can also find unique gifts for different tastes in the modern That Concept Store. Located in the Mall of the Emirates, this store is one of Dubai's newest and trendiest luxury fashion and lifestyle destinations, bringing together collections of established international and regional brands and emerging designers under one roof.

From artwork to pots and cups

Art lovers can buy a beautiful gift in one of the most popular gallery shops in the region - Gallery One. With outlets in Souk Al Bahar, Mirdif City Centre, the Dubai Mall and Arabian Ranches, this gallery offers everything from beautifully designed greeting cards to custom prints and artwork. The works are regionally and culturally relevant and very affordable.

And if, on the other hand, you are a fan of the typical "I love Dubai" style souvenirs, you can find interesting small items in the Al Seef store. From key chains, to fridge magnets, T-shirts, hats and more, this contemporary shop offers customers something special to take home as a perfect memento of the city.

For those who prefer more authentic souvenirs, Arab handicrafts can be purchased at the Al Jaber Gallery in the Dubai Mall, including a "dallah" - the traditional Arab coffee pot. At the Lafayette or Bloomingdale's galleries, located in the same center, one can buy modern versions of the dallah, and the finjan, the small Arabic coffee cup.

(Ona.rs/PR)