Fancy a spot of shopping after lunch? Dubai is famous for it, after all. Take a taxi to The Outlet Village in Jebel Ali for discounted designer clothes from the likes of Armani, Hugo Boss and Coach. Then head in the opposite direction to explore the famous Dubai Mall, the UAE’s biggest, packed with high street and designer boutiques, in the heart of Downtown Dubai. For more suggestions of where to go shopping in the city, see our guide.
This mega mall is in the shadow of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa. Visit the At The Top observation decks, open from 10am to midnight, to get an aerial view from the tower, or marvel at its mammoth proportions from the ground up where the Dubai Fountain performs rousing water, music and light shows from 5.45pm until 11.30pm.
Complete your retail experience around historical Dubai Creek, a 10-minute drive from Downtown. Hop on a traditional wooden abra to sail between the main souks; facing the mouth of the creek, the Textile Souk (Ali Bin Abi Talib Street) is on the left bank and on the right there’s the Spice Souk (34 Street), the Perfume Souk (Sikkat al Khali) and the Gold Souk (Old Baladiya Road). Abra rides costs just AED 1 (22p), making them the cheapest sightseeing tours in Dubai. For more suggestions of the best family-friendly things to do in the city, see our guide.
