If we were to recommend just one thing you absolutely must do whilst visiting Dubai - it would be to shop. And we don’t just mean have a look around the nearest mall to your hotel, or check out the shops on your resort - you’ll find some of the world’s most unique shopping experiences in the city.

Dubai is indeed a shopper’s paradise and though many of the city’s retail outlets are collected in a variety of shopping malls ranging in size, style and theme the city offers an amazing array of independent boutiques, stores and traditional souks. Expect to haggle in the souks and don’t always take the ticket price for granted - even in shopping malls. Many of the malls offer a complimentary bus service to and from the major five star hotels - so check with your concierge for details and timings.

We’ve listed some of the premium shopping destinations in Dubai below:

Designed by Terry Dougall, creator of The Forum Shops, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, BinHendi Avenue is a creative mix of Greco Roman influence, and arcade style shopping. The Avenue features premium men and women’s fashion, shoes and accessories brands, watches and jewellery and a range of restaurants and cafes.

The shopping boulevard links the hotel tower to the office tower of Dubai’s landmark Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Home to a wide range of designer boutiques and Villa Moda, a stylish store featuring leading designer brand names such as Prada and probably the widest collection of designer jeans in the city.

A stylish mall featuring more than 300 outlets including many prestigious designer brand stores such as Hermes and Van Cleef & Arpels, along with a range of restaurants and a food court. Flagship store is Saks Fifth Avenue, an 80,000 Sq ft store spread over two levels, providing a multi-brand designer assortment in one place.

One of the oldest, yet still one of the busiest shopping malls in Dubai, City Centre is home to a wide range of brands and stores. The mall features nearly 300 shops, a multi-screen cinema, two food courts and an entertainment centre.

Named after the 14th Century Arab Explorer, Ibn Battuta Mall is divided into six themed courts reflecting his travels through Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Ibn Battuta Mall houses a wide range of retail and dining and entertainment outlets, including the only IMAX cinema in Dubai.

Impressive in size and home to the world’s largest ski dome, Mall of the Emirates has something for every visitor, more than 400 outlets in fact. From high street chainstores to high-end boutiques and designer brands, flagship store Harvey Nichols plus a wide range of coffee shops, restaurants, cinema and even an Apres ski bar – it will take you several trips to do this mall justice!

Themed as a medieval Italian town, Mercato Mall features piazzas, bridges and walkways lined with well known high street and high-end shops and a wide range of independent boutiques.

At Souk Madinat Jumeirah, it is almost guaranteed that you will lose yourself amongst the walkways designed to reflect a traditional Arabian bazaar. Full of fashion, antiques, art, souvenirs, coffee shops, bars, restaurants and even a theatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah is well worth visiting during the day and at night.

A Mediterranean style mall, The Village is home to a host of unusual and mainly independent premium stores and services.

A prestigious mall nestled between the Wafi Pyramids, Wafi City houses many high-end brand names as well as high street chains. This extended mall has a comprehensive range of Europeans brand names at its boutiques and shops. The immense entertainment arcades will keep everyone enthralled.
In addition, the mall features a wide range of cafes and restaurants.
If you are in Dubai during Christmas, Wafi is one place you shouldn't miss- for shopping, for entertainment and even to take some snaps back home for the album.