The Best Things To Buy in Dubai For Ladies
An essential part of traveling is grabbing a souvenir not just for yourself, but for your friends and family back home. You can easily purchase keychains or other typical merchandise such as fridge magnets and t-shirts.
However, you can certainly make an impact on your friends if you get them specific items that you can only find in Dubai.
What are the best things to buy in Dubai for ladies?
There are a lot of good items you can find in Dubai that you can purchase for ladies. These include gold jewelry, stones, pashmina shawls, lanterns, perfume, Arabian coffee, chocolates, and spices.
Gold Jewelry
Dubai is well-known for its vast amount of gold and diamond jewelry.
Usually, tourists are recommended to head to the city for its low prices for these precious items. You can also bargain with vendors to strike a good deal!
For gold bracelets, rings, or necklaces, we recommend passing by Dubai’s Gold Souk, Gold and Diamond Park, or any other jewellery stores!
Tourists can easily access several of these stores through tours around the city! So if you got a ticket for one, then you’ll pass by here without any hassle.
Pashmina Shawls
Pashmina shawls are a great gift for any woman who would want to add a new item in their closet. These shawls are great because they are thin yet provide warmth to the body.
Made from the hair of goats and blended with silk, intricate details and patterns are woven into the clothing, which are sure to grab people’s attention! These can be found in Dubai’s Pashmina House, the Textile Souk, and the Karama Market.
Now, do take note that there are a lot of fakes in the market. But an easy way to determine if a pashmina shawl is legitimate is to pass it through a ring.
Arabian Coffee
Dubai is a good source of the Emirates’ blend, the Arabian Coffee, which can only be bought within the UAE. Said beverage is noted to host a bitter yet refreshing taste.
Usually, when people purchase Arabian coffee, they also get a corresponding local coffee pot. These pots, known as “dallah,” are made from copper and have gold and silver detailing.
Visitors can purchase pre-packed Arabian coffee in the Dubai Coffee Museum, Dubai Souks, and shopping malls! For dallahs, we recommend heading to Dubai Souks as well, or hitting up some flea markets to grab one!
Perfume
Perfumes, in general, are great gifts for any gender. However, consider a fragrance that you can only find in Dubai to make it even more memorable!
Arabic Attars are locally-made perfume oils made from varying plant sources around the Emirates. These alcohol-free fragrances come in various scents and sizes.
Some merchants can also mix up a special one for customers by combining different scents. Arabic Attars can be found in perfume shops in malls and airports, as well as the Perfume Souk in Deira, Dubai.
Chocolates
Dubai has their own special delicacy – camel milk chocolate. These are a must-buy in Dubai because of their rarity and taste and only one company produces it: Al Nassma.
A variety of flavors are available namely, whole milk, 70% cocoa, dates, macadamia, and spiced. However, we recommend getting the camel-shaped ones for the maximum souvenir effect!
These specialty chocolates can be bought from Al Nassma kiosks in at-Dubai Mall, Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Duty Free Shops, and more!
Arabian Dates
Arabian Dates are dried fruits that are a staple snack for Dubai residents. Aside from eating them raw, they can also be used in desserts and as a companion to coffee and non-alcoholic beverages.
There are different variations of dates in Dubai, each with varying flavor. For example, Bahri dates tastes like butterscotch while Thoory dates are crunchy and filled with nuts.
These dates are quite easy to find as well. You can try looking in supermarkets, malls, and the Dates Souk at the Deira Food Market.
Spices
Besides gold, dates, and snacks, Dubai is also known for its local spices. One of them is Sumac, a dry spice from the plant of the same name.
This ingredient has a citrus and tart flavor, making it a great addition to marinades. It is also sprinkled on barbecued meats, such as lamb and chicken.
Another spice you can get in Dubai is the Baharat, a spice that is made from a combination of black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and cloves. It is usually added to soups, tomato-based sauces, pilafs, and couscous.
These ingredients (and many more) can be bought from the Spice Souk, or a nearby supermarket in your hotel. This is the perfect gift for someone who either loves to cook or has an inclination for spices!
Arabic Lanterns
Arabic lanterns, made of copper and tin, are known for their unique shape and engravings. These items can be bought at the Karama Souk, F-Zone at the Dragon Mart, and some furniture stores in Dubai.
If buying a lantern, make sure that they are packed well. If you don’t take care in handling them properly, they can easily be damaged.
Stones
Dubai has a dedicated marketplace for precious and semi-precious stones, which are used in jewellery. At the city’s Gold Souk, you can get diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and other gems for a good price.
This is a perfect gift if you know a lady’s birthstone, or her favorite gem. You can also buy them as part of an accessory or just as a loose stone.