The disturbing heat of the desert Dubai city strikes you with uncomfort, but a view of the great skyscrapers, springing out of the sandy soils with some of man’s great art-imaginations, soothes you while you adapt to the hot weather.
Gathering people from across all borders, Dubai is known to be one of the largest market centers of the world. Deira city center is situated in the heart of Dubai, and it has large cinema halls and shops which stock most of the familiar brands that include Benetton, JC Penney, and regional darlings such as a Ajmal perfumes. Deira provides many merchandise such as clothes and gold. Others items include east tea, coffee, spices, silk, and other precious metals and gemstones. Dubai offers great shopping at cheap prices with no tax bills. The Gold Souk is a must. Famous as its name suggests, it is a market largely devoted to the gold of every caliber, hue and design. The Spice Souk is worth a visit for the pleasure of seeing. Golden saffron, sulphur, turmeric, which comes in a yellow and brown rust color are laid out in heaps.
Dubai has some of the worlds largest shopping malls, mostly located on the famous Sheikh Zaid road. The Ibn Battuta Mall graces you with incredible grandiose. The mall’s theme is based on the travels of the 14th century explorer Ibn Batura.
The Mall of Emirates is a two level structure, with an outstanding indoor sky resort. The Mercolo Town Center on Jumeira road comprises of a series of spaces reminiscent of towns in Italy, France, and Spain . The mall has a variety of upscale shops and boutiques with the latest trends of classic designs.
The Al Khaleej Center located on Al Mankool road has over 100 shops. Al Khaleej is a shopper’s paradise and also has an enormous aquarium containing schools of brightly colored tropical fish.
And for those who want to experience Dubai’s night life and enjoy a great ladies night, visit the most famous upmarket club called Club J Boudoir where on Tuesdays ladies are treated for free. There are also a number of good restaurants where great food is served at cheap prices. These include Labrineh Wa Zabaar which sells local mezze with great looking yoghurt with a creamy touch. Being in a Muslim city, drinking is done in privacy. In Dubai alcohol is not a common drink, and it’s quite expensive in the places it is found. For the people who really want to take advantage of the nightlife, ladies from all over the world especially Russia and Africa are available.
Apart from the great shopping experiences Dubai provides you with beautiful beaches, horse riding, and marvelous desert rides. Every place has a history to tell and so does Dubai. The city graces you with a cream colored Jumeirah Mosque which still holds its rare beauty independent from the towering sky scrappers. The city’s devotion to the Islam faith is portrayed with the response to the city’s mullah rings calling people to go for prayers. At this time most shops close. Bastatu is an old district with winding narrow lanes and enclosed courtyards and offers another glimpse of Dubai, one much more intimate than the skyscrapers.
Contributor Joy Segawa