What to Buy in Dubai (and What to See & Do)

On my recent vacation to a cosmopolitan city, I felt very safe, and the taxi drivers spoke English.  Where was I?  Oh, just the Middle East.  Dubai to be exact.

 

Now, before you freak out like my mother did when she discovered that her only two children were going to a place that was about 1 millimeter from Iran on the map, let me assure you that Dubai is currently the hottest vacation spot on the planet.  If you go in the summer, it is also literally hot, about 100 – 120 degrees.  The humidity is steamy, but their air conditioning works great.

 

What makes Dubai hot, other than the temperature?  It has everything.  And, everything is the biggest, best, or most.

 

Soon to be completed are the world’s highest tower and the biggest shopping mall.  It already has the only seven-star hotel (Burj Al Arab – shaped liked a sailboat) and the eighth wonder of the world (The Palm Islands).  My unscientific observation is that Dubai also has the longest rush hour traffic times (from 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.).

 

 

Dubai also has great shopping.  If you’re looking for upscale clothes, then Burjuman (Big Bus Tour – Stop #9) is the destination for you.  Dubai is considered the “new Paris,” and all the hot designers are here.

 

If you’re a budget shopper and interested in bargains and “genuine fake” items such as knockoff purses, watches and sunglasses, then try the Al Karama area (Big Bus Tour – Stop #10).

 

In Al Karama, the shops are tiny.  There aren’t even doors – just two sheets of heavy clear plastic overlapping to keep the air conditioning inside.

 

In the first two stores, the salesmen asked me, “Want to go upstairs and see purses?”  I look around the store.  It’s not as big as my bedroom closet.  There is no stair case.  I’m a little nervous.

 

At the third store, my curiosity wins.  I answer affirmatively to the “upstairs” question.  The salesman walks to a wall of shelves.  I’m staring at him like he’s an idiot.  Maybe he’ll pull out a magic wand?  Instead, he pulls on a section of the wall.  Ah!  It’s a small door on hidden hinges.  When opened outward, this door reveals a miniscule landing and a set of stairs.  Now, my mouth is hanging open, and I look like the idiot.

 

The stairs are so narrow you can barely put both feet side by side.  Every inch of wall space is lined with genuine fake purses.

 

What about the real stuff?  Dubai is famous for its Gold Souk (Big Bus Tour – Stop #6), featuring 22 karat gold.  There are hundreds of little shops – all selling different gold designs.

 

At the Deira City Centre Mall you can buy a Big Bus Tour pass, or your groceries for that matter.  As I shopped, the Arab men (in white robes) and women (in black robes), would occasionally give slightly disapproving looks at anyone not similarly clad.  It was never mean or harmful, but I did feel a little uncomfortable.  Of course, there were far more people not wearing robes than those who did.

 

Leaving the mall with all my goodies turned out to be an adventure.  Imagine my dismay when I joined a taxi line that stretched down the entire wing of the mall.

 

This taxi line looked like a UN meeting on a busy day.  There were representatives from dozens of countries.  It was a melting pot of beliefs – on everything from religion to clothing, as evidenced by the scantily-clad, the heavily-clad, and everything in between.

 

Amid all this diversity, the people were co-existing with peace and tolerance.  (Is there a lesson to be learned there?)  I was focused on the differences among the group, until I saw something that proved the oneness of the world.  A boy started crying loudly.  He was obviously lost.

 

The din from 200 people speaking 20 different languages stopped instantly.  The sea of cramped people parted, and the boy walked forward.  During his trek, no one said a word except to murmur concerned comments to their companions.  The crowded room stayed quiet long after the boy arrived at the Security Guard.

 

Tears welled up in my eyes and threatened to leak out.  Forget the differences!  Some issues are universal.

 

Despite my enthusiasm for shopping, there is lots more to do in Dubai.  How about some snow skiing?  No, I’m not delusional from the heat.  The Mall of the Emirates (Big Bus Tour – Stop #23) has an indoor ski slope.

 

What’s it like?  My sister had the quote of the day.  She said, “It makes Paoli Peaks look like Colorado.”  (No disrespect to Paoli Peaks [located in the hills of Southern Indiana] intended.)  On the positive side, there wasn’t a line at the lift.

 

After spending a few days in the lush green areas of the city, it’s easy to forget you’re in the desert.  I took a tour into the countryside.  Trust me, I was immediately reminded that I was in the desert.  There were even camel crossing signs along the road.

 

 

About 70 miles from Dubai is the small town of Hatta.  It contains the Hatta Heritage Village, an authentic restoration of a fortress originally built in 1896.

 

 

 

I could’ve spent hours there looking at the displays and reading the signs (in English, thank you!).  I wish my tour guide would’ve shared some additional information.  But, he didn’t say 10 words during the entire seven-hour trip.

 

He was with a well-advertised tour company.  So, I learned an important lesson.  Next time, I’ll use the services of Mr. G. V. Panicker, President & CEO of Sears Tours, who has vast experience in Dubai.

 

Another fun activity is eating.  The food is as diverse as the people.  I stayed at the JW Marriott, and the hotel has 12 restaurants.  The chefs at the JW Marriott defined the concept of “new Arabian cuisine” and even wrote a cookbook about it.  I have a copy on my coffee table.  It makes me hungry just looking at it.

 

If you want to stay at the JW Marriott and be close to all that wonderful food, Cleo Eleazar, Public Relations & Marketing Communications Manager, Marriott Dubai Cluster, offers some “secret” advice.  Special discount rates (up to 50% off) are often available from June 15 to August 31.

 

If I described Dubai in one word it would be – diverse.  Nowhere else in the world can you visit one place and see so many different cultures.  Although the activities were great, the best part was observing the people.

 

If You Go

Sears Tours:  www.searstours.com (Offices in Dubai and Louisville 502.472.6888.  They can assist with all aspects of your trip.)

JW Marriott:   www.marriott.com

Events by JW:  www.jwmarriottdubai.com (The events planning arm of the Marriott.  See them if you’re getting married or planning a corporate event.  The hotel has the largest hydraulic lift stage in Dubai – for your company shindig, hopefully not necessary for your wedding party.)

The Big Bus Company:  www.bigbustours.com  (At the main entrance of Deira City Centre Mall.  Tickets are $42 per adult and are good for 24 hours.)

Ski Dubai:  At the Mall of the Emirates.  ($39, includes lift ticket, skis, boots, jacket, and bibs.)

 

Kelly Watkins, MBA, is a Global Thought Leader – helping organizations be more effective by developing their employees – focusing on customized training and consulting in Leadership Development, Communication, & Customer Service. For tips & articles:  www.KeepCustomers.com & www.LeadershipArabWomen.com.

 

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Originally published in AMEinfo –

the ultimate Middle East Business Resource