Shopping is perhaps the most popular activity for tourists the world over. But as is often reported by the world"s media, Dubai has taken it to another level, probably due to the fact the world's biggest, longest, widest, most colourful shopping malls stand on practically every street corner.
The emirate is renowned for low prices, reasonable discounts and the wide variety of products on offer.
However, even the Dubai malls are struggling this year as tourists and residents wander the quiet walkways with no sense of direction and more importantly — bagless.
Renowned for gold and fashion the malls house everything from designer boutique to the more affordable high street brands. But is the dreaded "Credit Crunch" starting to take its toll?
The Dubai Shopping Festival has attracted more than 3.2 million visitors who between them would normally ring sales through tills to the value of around Dh10 billion in just 43 days. While organisers are hopeful the festival will match figures set last year, they say they are not banking on topping them.
Luckily for malls across the city the shops are not the only attraction, with the giant Aquarium at the Dubai Mall, Dubai Ski at Mall of the Emirates and tons of fun activities to be had at many of the others, keeping the numbers up. tabloid! took to the sparse corridors of Emirates Towers" The Boulevard, The Dubai Mall and Dubai Festival City to see what people were buying.
Tahany Semeda, 34
Semeda jetted into Dubai for five days to whet her cosmetic craze. "I am a regular tourist during DSF. This year, the discounts are unbelievable and are more attractive than the previous ones. I am making the most of it." What"s in her shopping bag? Chanel eyeshadow and cream (Total cost: Dh391 and a Gucci bag (Dh2,340:No discount).
Muroj Mousif, 29
Mousif believes accessorising is the key to looking good. "I can"t resist beads. Even if they are not on the DSF offer, I would buy it if I love it." What"s in her shopping bag: Three
Bead chains (Dh1,400 each, original cost: Dh1,900) and bracelets.
She loves living in Lebanon, but adores the discounts in Dubai even more.
"In Lebanon, the discounts are about 30 to 40 per cent, but in Dubai the discounts even go as high as 70 per cent. This YSL bag costs me just Dh3,280. Its original cost was Dh8,000," What"s in her bag: Two bags from Coach (Total cost: Dh4,400, original cost: Dh6,250) and one from Gucci (Dh3,180: no discount).
Hemang, 27, and Shikh a, 24 Kamsagara said they were overwhelmed at the bargins on offer in Dubai compared to their home country, India. Hemang said:
"We have come all the way to Dubai especially for the Dubai Shopping Festival because we heard it was so good and we have not been disappointed. The choice of shops is amazing and the deals are very good too. We have been to the Mall of the Emirates and the Dubai Mall, which alone took us seven hours to see half."
What"s in the shopping bag?
Cannon SRL camera reduced by Dh700, Adidas sports clothing (total cost: Dh 540, originalprice: Dh900).
Zhen g Le i,29, and Song Chao Jun, 34
They were in Dubai on business for a few days from China and said the Dubai Shopping Festival was proving good for them.
Zheng said: "The discounts are very good and we having a good look at everything. But we are very surprised at how quiet the shopping malls are."
What's in the bag? BCBG wool cardigan (total cost: Dh733 original price: Dh 1,467 and Dunhill ladies shoes: total cost: Dh948; original price: Dh 1,580).
Dubai Festival City
Shy Corinne Tammy Arland, 36 A surveyor originally from the UK and living in Dubai, splashed out on shoes and clothes.
"It"s such a good time to stock up and buy things for events you have coming up. I have a work dinner in March and it seems so far away, but I just saved Dh600
on a dress for it. Come March I would have just got something anyway so it"s like saving money really — well, that"s how I justify it anyway.
"I also got some shoes and they were a real bargain. They really are just giving things away. It will be interesting to see if things come down further."
