What to buy in the UAE? Shopping in the Emirates: what can I buy cheap in the UAE?

The United Arab Emirates is not only the land of the sea, the sun and sheikhs, but also a mecca for shopaholics. No self-respecting shopping lover can return home without any acquisitions. There is even a saying: "It's as difficult to pass shops in the UAE as it is impossible to get under the sun's rays in Bali." Two or three stores and at least one market - that's the minimum for our compatriots. What to buy in the UAE? About thirty or forty years ago you could buy here except that slippers "a la Hottabych", a dagger or some kind of carpet. But now everything has changed: among the desert grew numerous shopping malls, attracting fashion and fashion from all over the world. There you can buy absolutely everything: from perfume and clothes to gold and cars.

Where can I make purchases?

The most attractive are the three emirates - Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. If you like to haggle, go to small private shops or markets. And if not, shopping malls. There are also so-called "free economic zones" (for example, in the port of Dubai), as well as all known duty free.

The best shopping malls of the Emirates are Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Wafi City Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Deira City Center, Bur Juman and others.

What is it that attracts tourists to shopping in the UAE? The answer is simple - prices! Very much production costs much more cheaply, than in our country as in Emirates the very low tax to the imported goods. But what to buy in the UAE, we learn from a small rating.

Top of the most popular products in the UAE, purchased by our tourists

The question of what can be bought in the UAE, probably, is assigned by any traveler who goes to this mysterious country. Here is the ranking of the most popular products:

1. Undoubtedly, this is electronics. Phones, cameras, video cameras, tablets, computers and various household appliances - they account for about 15 percent of all purchases. Buy a phone in the UAE, for example, can be very cheap.
2. Clothing, inexpensive and branded, including fur products - 13 percent.
3. Jewelry, most often of gold and other precious metals, with and without stones - 11 percent.
4. 10 percent of the total turnover - perfume and cosmetics.
5. 9 percent - cars.
6. Buying hours is about 7 percent of all purchases.
7. Next come spices - 6 percent.

The remaining percentages approximately equally divide among themselves various trifles like souvenirs.

Can I buy a fur coat in the UAE?

One of the most profitable purchases is buying a fur coat. In Dubai, a fur coat can not be bought except in a grocery store. More than 300 shops offer fur products, which are divided into two types: branded (coats there are sold directly from Greek and Italian producers) and those that only resell other people's products. In order to buy a fur coat in the UAE, it is worth highlighting one or even two days of your vacation so as not to hurry around some shops, try on the models you like, carefully evaluate the quality of products and compare prices. Fur of good quality should be smooth, shiny, with a light masdra and a thick undercoat. The seams on the outside of the product should be virtually invisible.

We buy jewelry

Another popular category of goods are precious metals and stones. Most purchases are made at the famous Gold Market in Dubai. This is a huge quarter, completely occupied by a myriad of shops. This number of ornaments per square meter is not, probably, more anywhere in the world. There you can find all kinds of products, different in price - from cheap to fabulously expensive. Gold ornaments of 18, 21 and 24 carats with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, pearls are all very massive, catchy, bright, large and often even clumsy. However, inside the product can be hollow: this is done so that the thing can be worn without bending to the ground.

Since the residents of the Emirates love the very same thing, the market has an exhibition sample of the heaviest gold ring in the world, the weight of which (together with precious stones) is 63 kg 856 g. There are usually no price tags on products, or they are, but there Written such a price, which can easily lay out except that Rockefeller. This is done in order to bargain. The bargaining of Oriental people is in the blood. They get real pleasure from good bargaining. Do not be afraid to bargain, you do not offend the seller and do not leave his children hungry: even having thrown off 30-40 percent of the initially announced price, he will still be the winner.

What to buy in the UAE is cheap? Of course, spices!

Not far from Golden there is also a market of spices. Here you can find everything you want, especially the soul, not indifferent to culinary art. Mountains of cinnamon, saffron and pepper, jars with rose petals and orchid roots, boxes with mixtures of dried herbs and seeds, bags with dried fruits and packaging of oriental sweets are waiting for their customers. And here you can find traditional Arabic medicines and incense.

Perfume paradise

Of course, in the Emirates you can and buy perfume! The UAE offers perfumes as their own production, and imported, produced under the brand name of well-known brands. The latter should be purchased only in the airport duty free, otherwise there is a risk of running into a fake. In addition to open falsification, there is such a thing as "licensed perfume." This is not an original and not a fake, but spirits produced under a brand license in the UAE. Since the license prohibits making changes to the fragrant perfume composition, the buyer can be sure that the composition will be identical to the original product. But why are they cheaper? The fact is that the production uses cheap labor (usually, Pakistanis work for $ 50-70 per month) and a cheaper bottle, as well as there are no expenses for the transportation of goods.

As for the local oil-based perfume - this is undoubtedly a worthwhile acquisition. In addition to the usual application on the body, they can be added to aroma lamps, shampoos and shower gels. Ambergris and musk are part of almost all Omani spirits. Because they have a pretty strong smell, only 1 drop is enough to keep the fragrance all day long.

As without gadgets?

Many of our compatriots bring from the Emirates all kinds of gadgets. What to buy in the UAE is cheap, how not electronics? However, there are several rules for buying equipment in the UAE. For example, you want to buy a watch in the UAE or a mobile phone. To avoid unnecessary problems, it is best to purchase any electronic goods in large shopping malls or in branded stores. At purchase it is desirable to check up immediately IMEI. If according to the data it does not correspond to the product that you buy, then do not make this purchase: the phone is likely to be "gray". Do not rush to pay immediately, especially if you are "talk" or customize. Carefully inspect and test the purchased goods (case, speaker, cords, connectors, etc.).

And what else to buy in the UAE? How about a car?

To the wife - a fur coat, spirits and ornaments, to children-teenagers - gadgets, and what remains to men? The most important man's toy is a car. Every fifth Russian, resting in the UAE, cherishes the dream of returning home with such an acquisition. The Emirates does not have its own car industry, but since the inhabitants of this country are used to changing their "iron horses" no less than once in 2-3 years, the automotive market always has something to choose. Beautiful roads and climate help to preserve the almost factory look and quality of the car. The profit when buying a car in the Emirates is about 30 percent compared to average Russian prices. That's why to buy a car in the UAE - a profitable business!

The two most popular car markets are Al Awir in Dubai and Abu Shagar in Sharjah. The first wound, located on the outskirts of the city, in the industrial zone, specializes mainly on expensive brands such as Mersedess, Ferrari, Porshe and Bentley. The second is located in the heart of Sharjah; Cars stand right along the road.

Buying cars in the hot Emirates, you need to consider the kit, taking into account the Russian climate. Do not be lazy to conduct a test for damage to the body and suspension (it is paid, but it is worth it).

In order not to accidentally buy a car that used to be used in a taxi service, carefully inspect the car's interior: it will be more worn by such a car than a conventional car salon, and on the dashboard there can be a noticeable trace of an information sticker that is usually glued in a taxi of this country .

The basic rules of shopping in the Emirates

1. Do not rush to buy the first thing you liked. In the next store exactly the same can be cheaper.
2. Bargain friendly, do not be angry. Joke, smile, try to arrange the seller to yourself.
3. The final chord of bargaining is the magic words last price. Ask about the "last price" when you are ready to buy.
4. You can even bargain in shopping malls with a fixed price. You may well make a small discount - a discount.
5. On Friday, from 11:30 to 13:30 shopping centers do not work - this is the time of prayer.
6. Pay better in cash, as when paying with a card, you will be charged the amount of commission of 2-2.5 percent. And if you buy an expensive product, such as a car, the 2 percent will lose pretty unpleasant.
7. On electronics and household appliances, you always need to require the issuance of a guarantee sheet.
8. It's worthwhile to beware of street barkers: they offer their help and say they will help for free, but in fact, the cost of their services is included in the cost of the thing they insistently offer to you. Their money they will receive from the seller after you pay the purchase.

What is not worth buying in the UAE?

The English say: "We are not so rich as to buy cheap things." But Russians are attracted by the sweet word: "cheap". You already know what you can buy in the UAE, and what can not be purchased in the Emirates? The answer is obvious - low-quality forgery of expensive goods. Nothing but disappointment, this purchase will not bring you. It does not matter what it will be - a cheap fur coat, bought in a hurry, a watch with the inscription Rolex for $ 80, iPhone or perfume Chanel No. 5 for the same amount. They do not last long: the leather on the strap of the Swiss watches will peel off, the paint will peel off, the perfumes will last no more than a couple of hours, and the phone will stop working after a few days. Think whether such "saving" is needed? Now you know what to buy in the UAE!