Good design Dubai – the Middle Eastern capital of fashion

Explore the city in the desert, a true fashion and shopping paradise. People come here for gold jewellery, luxury European brands, as well as local handicrafts and cosmetics based on natural ingredients.

From the Guinness Book of Records

Opened in 2008, The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world. It houses over 1 200 stores, 120 cafés and restaurants, and its area is equal to 150 full-size football pitches. Popular chain stores and luxury brands from Fashion Avenue have their stores there. However, man shall not live by shopping alone. The Dubai Mall is also a huge entertainment centre. With outdoor temperatures of up to 40°C, customers will be able to cool down at the Olympic-size Dubai Ice Rink. Visitors can also visit the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo with over 30 000 marine animals, including 400 sharks.

Instafriendly

Real fashionistas love to photograph this place and put it on their social media. No wonder, as the real, metropolitan nature of Dubai can be felt there. We are talking about City Walk – alleys full of shops whose style is reminiscent of prestigious European shopping streets. During breaks between shopping, you can sit in the gardens of elegant restaurants and cafés. There are also luxury boutique hotels, a cinema and the Green Planet, which hides a fragment of a tropical forest under a glass dome.

From slope to shopping

Five ski and snowboard slopes of varying difficulty, the longest section of which is 400 meters, two T-bar lifts and two chairlifts, a snow park with a toboggan run, an ice rink and an ice cave – this is not an alpine resort description, but Ski Dubai – an indoor ski slope located in the luxurious Mall of The Emirates. There is also a cinema with 24 screens, a theatre and arts centre as well as, of course, shops. There are 630 of them in total, including those belonging to the most exclusive brands such as Chanel, Prada and Louis Vuitton.

Oriental scents

The Middle East is famous for the richness of fragrances and aromas that bring to mind the mysterious lands from the book of One Thousand and One Nights. Therefore, when visiting Dubai perfumeries, it is worth paying attention to domestic brands such as Nabeel, Rasasi, Al-Rehab or Ard Al Zaafaran. Interestingly, this perfume is not made of alcohol, but of oils and natural ingredients. Thanks to this, it is also used in everyday care – rubbed into the ends of hair, it perfectly nourishes it. Beau & Eve is a local brand that produces excellent vegan coffee peeling. The products are made of 100% natural ingredients and are available in two oriental fragrances – Salalah Oud and Fleur De Marrakech.

Local brands

Amira Haroon is a Dubai fashion designer who has managed to gain international fame. Since 2009, when her first ready-to-wear collection had its premiere, it regularly appears on the catwalks, both local and world-wide – Paris, London, New York. Lace dresses and richly decorated tunics are her hallmarks. Amira’s boutique can be visited at the Dubai Mall.

For fans of interior design, the FBMI brand may turn out to be a local gem. Fatima Bint Mohamed Initiative (FBMI) is both a social enterprise, supporting Afghan women, and a business. The company’s offer includes unique, hand-made carpets, the revenue from which goes to the salaries of weavers, as well as health services and education of craftsmen and their families. The company is located in Dubai Design District.

Bustling markets

One of the biggest attractions in Dubai are traditional markets and bazaars, the so-called souks, situated in the oldest part of the city – the Deira district. Fashionistas pay special attention to the Gold Souk (Arabic: suq aldhahab) and the Textile Souk (Arabic: suq almansujat). A visit to the Gold Souk allows you to understand why Dubai is called the Golden City. You will find there only famous brands and local, smaller jewellers. The choice is endless: rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets made of gold, silver, platinum, ornaments with diamonds and precious stones. However, what really attracts gold lovers is its price. Thanks to the knack for commerce of the inhabitants, gold prices in Dubai are among the lowest in the world, while maintaining the highest quality of products. The next stop on the tour is the textile souk located in Bur Dubai, across the Dubai Creek. You can find there the most noble materials from around the world: raw silk, satin, cotton, rich embroidery in every pattern and colour. If you are inspired by Arabic fashion, you can order an outfit made from purchased fabrics at a local tailor. Many local stores also offer ready-made collections from local designers.