Souks: Many women travelers arrive in Dubai just for the sake of buying gold because it is duty free. The latest designs available at really cheap bargains is a must buy as gold investment is promoted these days. Other than gold souks, there are textile souks, fish souks, and the known spice souks where you can haggle for your favorite item.

Dhow Dinner Cruise: This is a perfect option for honeymoon couples or those on romantic getaways. A dinner cruise on a traditional dhow/abra will give you a chance to explore the city nightlife along the creek. The cruise comes with welcome drinks, international buffet dinner and cruise entertainment.

Ski Dubai: The first indoor ski resort in Dubai and a part of Mall of Emirates experience of skiing at Ski Dubai is exactly opposite of that on the mountain slopes. Enjoy the various difficulty levels, thrill of outdoor skiing and the freezing winter cold right under the roof of Ski Dubai with every equipment and accessory made available.

Desert Safaris with Barbecue: Desert Safari is also known by its colloquial name; Dune Bashing or Dune Drive which explores the sand dunes of Dubai in an off-road vehicle. Experience it with a BBQ dinner as a Evening/Overnight/Dinner Only Desert Safari, and it could turn out to the best holiday activity of your lifetime.

Lunch / Tea at Burj Al Arab: Higher than the Eiffel tower, with a sail calling the winds of the Arabian Gulf, not many can afford to stay at this 7-star hotel. But a lunch or a afternoon tea with your partner or family is not a long distant possibility and you can surely squeeze in the money and time for it. Dine at the world’s 7-star hotel at any of its magnificent restaurants available for non-resident guests:

• Majlis Al Bahar for À la carte menu with a beachside location along the Jumeirah beach.
• Junsui for Authentic Far East Asian cuisine or the famous 7 Course Asian Afternoon Tea known as “Junset Package”
• Al Iwan Royal Dining Hall for Arabic cuisine with a brilliant view of a powerful fountain shooting through the tallest atrium in the world.

Tour of the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club: Derby fans need to shine at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club where you can discover why the rich and the famous strive to get their hands on the best of breed of Arabian horses. The equestrian heritage of Arabia is well laid open here with excellent equestrian events clipped with fanciful of clubhouses, spas, restaurants & lounges and place of stay.

Dubai Shopping Festival: Not an event to be missed! Discounts, shopping, events and activities galore, the whole of Dubai transforms itself to embrace shopaholics into its arms and give their due, an unforgettable shopping experience. Visit here for more information.

Burj Dubai: Recently incarnated as the Burj Khalifa; the tallest man-made building in the world, this inverted-V shaped tower deserves more than a glance.  It has re-defined the limitless boundaries of man’s creativity and  what the future of science and invention holds.

Gallery:

Street shopping

Gold Souq - shops displaying an incredible array of gold jewelery items in 18, 21, 22 or 24 carat gold.

Spice Souq – as ideal place to buy variety of spices such as frankincense, oud, cumin, paprika and saffron

Textile Market – wholesale and retail textile traders from Asia and other countries offer variety of clothing at reasonable prices.

Partial list of malls participating in Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF 2010)

Name	Timings	Contact details
Al Bustan Centre	Sat. to Thurs.: 10am to 11pm Fri.: 2pm to 11pm	Tel: +971 4 263 0000 Toll Free: 800 4648 (UAE Only) www.al-bustan.com
Al Ghurair City	Sat. to Thurs.: 10am to 12am Fri.: 2pm to 12am	Tel: +971 4 2055309/285 www.alghuraircity.com
Arabian Center	Sun. to Wed.: 10am to 10:30pm Thurs. to Sat.: 10am to 12 midnight	Tel: +971 4 2845555 www.arabiancenter.ae
Bin Sougat Centre	Sat. to Thurs.: 10am to 10pm Fri.: 5pm to 10pm	Tel: +971 4 286 3000
Century Mall	Sat. to Wed.: 10am to 10pm Thurs.: 10am to 11pm Fri.: 2pm to 11pm	-
Deira City Centre	Sun. to Wed.: 10am to 10pm Thurs. to Sat.: 10am to 12 midnight DSF Timings: 10am to 12 midnight	Tel: +971 4 2954545 www.deiracitycentre.com
Dubai Festival City	Sun. to Wed.: 10am to 10pm Thurs. and Sat.: 10am to 12 midnight	Concierge: 800 332 32/ 800 DFC FC Tel: +971 4 425 4900 www.dubaifestivalcity.com
Ibn Battuta Mall	Sat.: 10am to 10pm Thurs. - Fri.: 10am to 10pm	Telephone: +971 4 362 1900 www.ibnbattutamall.com
Jumeirah Centre	Sat. to Thurs.: 9am to 9pm Fri.: 4pm to 9pm	Tel: +971 4 3499702
Karama Centre	-	Tel: +971 4 3374499
Lamcy Plaza	Sun. to Wed.: 9am to 10:30pm Thurs. to Sat.: 9am to 12 midnight	Tel: +971 4 3359999
Mercato	Sun. to Wed.: 10am - 10pm Thurs. to Sat.: 10am - Midnight	Tel: +971 4 3444 161 www.MercatoShoppingMall.com
Palm Strip	Sat. to Thurs.: 10am to 10pm Fri.: 2pm to 10pm	Tel: +971 4 3461462
The Dubai Mall	Everyday: 10am to 12 midnight	Tel: 800 38224 6255 (800 DUBAI MALL) www.thedubaimall.com
The Walk @JBR	Sat. to Thurs.: 10am to 10pm Fri.: 3pm to 10pm	Toll Free: +971 4 4230696 www.thewalk.ae
Times Square Center	Sat. to Wed.: 10am to 10pm Thurs. and Fri.: 10am to 12 midnight	Tel: +971 4 3418020 www.timessquarecenter.ae
WAFI	Sat. to Wed.: 10am to 10pm Thurs. and Fri.: 10am to 12 midnight	Tel: +971 4 3244555 www.wafi.com

Dubai has got excellent shopping facilities for the ones who love to shop all day long. With superb tax-free prices and bargaining options, markets in Dubai have become quite popular among the tourists. There are a lot of shopping malls and souks spread across the city. Also, a wide range of goods are on sale during the annual Dubai Shopping Festival. Inexpensive shopping can be enjoyed inside the souks and malls and Duty Free Shopping can be revered at the Dubai International Airport. Deira Tower Shopping Mall is quite popular for showcasing almost all the items at a low cost. Hop into the Dubai International Airport, Al Ghurair Centre, Al Dhiyafa Road, Al Sabkha Souk and the other souks to enjoy bargaining.

Dubai International Airport

Filled in with a lot of duty free shops showcasing items at a low cost, the Dubai International Airport is perfect for some window shopping or strolling around, thereby helping you in your bargaining deal. Also, there are a lot of health spas, sports facilities and a five star hotel inside.

Address: P.O. Box 2525, Dubai, UAE
Tel. No: +971 4 216 2525
Fax: +971 4 224 4067

Al Ghurair Centre

Dubai’s first shopping centre, Al Ghurair Centre offers a wide array of international products ranging from designer goods, hardware, electronics, accessories, toys and other confectionaries. Prices are reasonable for the shoppers who want to splurge out money and day on their shopping.

Addres: P.O Box: 6999, Dubai, UAE
Tel. No: +971 4 222 5222

Al Dhiyafa Road

If you are tired to go from one shop to the other to get a better offer then Al Dhiyafa Road is the best option for you. The place is completely lined up with designer boutiques, clubs, restaurants and cafes that allow you to stroll round the street checking out the items showcased and to sit in one of the cafes or restaurants when you are done.

Al Sabkha Souk

Al Sabkha Souk is the hub for electronic jumbles that are reliable and inexpensive. Be it electronic components or accessories, or items like telephone, mobile, iPods, video gaming machines and computers, Al Sabhka is the place wherein you will find every electronic item on your list. This place also offers repairs of all the items at a low-cost. Also, you can enjoy bargaining with the stall or shop owners for upgrade or trade-ins of your items.

Address: Al Sabkha Street, Dubai, UAE

If you are seeking for pleasure and gratification along with some excellent shopping options and tempting delicacies escorted with enjoyable beverages in different bars and nightclubs that allow you to tap your feet on the dance floor for the whole night then Dubai is the best option for your Honeymoon! A beautiful, romantic and diverse cultured city engulfed within the desert and the coast of the Gulf of Oman, Dubai is a place with high raising skyscrapers, ancient mosques, different souks and malls and luxurious hotels just waiting to be delved by the honeymoon couples. A memorable honeymoon can be truly revered in between October and April when the city’s hot sun is dwindling itself off for a romantic weather to come in!

Things to do:
A beach holiday with a different tone, honeymoon in Dubai is an experience pampered by desert safaris, all day long excursions, shopping and relaxing.

City Tour: Just tour round the city to experience the rich and modern living of Dubai. Jumeirah Mosque, Zabeel Park, Sheik Palace, Dubai Museum, Dubai Zoo, The Palm Island, Diera Towers and the Jumeirah Beach are a few of the attractions of the city.

Desert Safari: Experience a beautiful drive at the golden sand dunes of the city. The mounds truly give you a rollercoaster ride while the car moves up and down the sand dunes. The excitement grows on further with the camel ride, belly dancer’s performances, local dressings and henna designs.

Dhow Cruise: Revere into a romantic cruises endowed with the traditional Arabic culture that delivers one of the best tours of Dubai. A three – five hour cruise taking you into the world of magic, belly dancing and fine dinning, the cruise truly forms a memorable part of your honeymoon. A few of the cruises also offer day long or long stay options that endows some more relaxation, café and bars, internet connectivity and shopping shuttles along with beautiful beaches that sop up the splendor of the resorts.

Shopping: With a lot of discounts, bargaining and duty free shopping options shopping is something that one just cannot forget in Dubai! Shoppers can enjoy themselves at the Mall of Emirates, Gold and Carpet Souks and the Dubai City Centre. There are also a few options at the Al Fahidi Street.

Other Activities: There are lots of other activities that the newly wed can enjoy other than cruising, exploring or shopping. One can spend time fishing, scuba diving, bungee jumping, paragliding, Go Karting, Skiing, ice skating, Wadi bashing, playing golf, attending different cultural events and festivals or else relax and rejuvenate at the different spas and massage treatment rooms nested inside the hotels and resorts.

Sights that you can visit:
The place of indefinite sunshine, beaches and romance offers you a lot to enjoy inside your honeymoon package.

Dubai Creek: Dubai Creek is a place near the water redolent of the ancient Arabian Ports and offers beautiful views over the skyline along with some excellent shopping options nearby.

The Gold Souks: Some serious shopping can be revered at the Dubai’s Gold Souks, wherein the window of every shop glitters with gold artifacts.
Wild Wadi Water Park: Adorned with thrilling rides, a day spent at the Wild Wadi Water Park is worth a memory. If you are someone who cannot enjoy the elating rides then you can spend your time relaxing near the lazy river.

Historic Bastakiya district: Couples can just stroll around the Bastakiya district that dwells in some marvelous sightseeing options for the newly weds.
Al-Hosn Palace: Festooned with implausible courtyards, Al hosn Palace is a place for the history lovers.

Beaches: There are a lot of silent, cozy, clean and not crowded beaches pampered by the affectionate blue seas of the Arabian Gulf. Newly weds can play different water sports or lay down lazily bathing themselves under the hot sun around the coasts.

Sheikh Zayed Road:Adorned with glass towers and sky-touching skyscrapers, Sheikh Zayed Road is the commercial and full of life district of Dubai. Emirates Tower Hotel and The World Trade Centre are the two tall edifices of the road.

Heritage and Diving Village: Nested adjacent to the aperture of the Dubai Creek, Heritage and Diving village is the place wherein the newly weds can revere into the luxurious heritage of the city. All kinds of artifacts and crafts made by different craftsmen are displayed here.

Jumeirah Mosque: Jumeirah Mosque is one of the biggest and the most elegantly designed Mosque that sets an example of the contemporary Islamic architecture. Couples can come at night to encompass the impressive looks of the building.

Hotels to spend a good time at:
Dwell into the excellent Arabian hospitality at the different hotels that offer a luxurious living experience along with safety, comfort and pleasure. Almost all the hotels have their own private beach, spa, sauna, Jacuzzi, fitness centre and beauty salon. A few of them also boost up their own gift shops and shopping arcade. Tours to different destinations are also arranged to make your honeymoon more interesting.

A few of the options are:
Burj Al Arab
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Atlantis, The Palm
Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
Renaissance Dubai Hotel
Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort & Towers
The Ritz-Carlton Dubai
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort

Gold Souk

Whenever we say the word Dubai, another word from the Oxford dictionary automatically gets affixed to it and i.e. ’shopping’. Shopping in Dubai doesn’t always mean getting more for lesser money, but it also is the enjoyment and fulfillment that you derive from wandering and maybe getting lost in large malls   gold shopping in souks and buying smaller antiques on shopping streets.

A term aptly given to Dubai as the ’shopping capital of Middle East’, doesn’t prove wrong as the city boats of duty free luxury goods compared to their price in western countries. Low custom duties have resulted in the Dubai International Airport being the best visited duty-free airports in the world for last minute shopping.
Shopping in Dubai is divided into three segregates: Shopping Malls, Souks and Shopping Areas. Shopping Malls are visited largely for designer brands and are stylized according to malls in the western countries. Souks are great places if you are looking for gold, clothes and electronic items while shopping areas will provide you the same items at a bargained price.

Mall of The Emirates

Bargaining is unofficially “authorized” in Dubai, even in shopping malls. Utter the word “best price” an you will receive an additional discount on an already discounted item. A good deal depends upon how much you are ready to pay after you should start bargaining. In souks, cut off the shop owner’s price on an item by half which in turn will form the backdrop for a good deal. Some emotional tactics like leaving the shop or refusing to buy the item may result in the shop owner accepting your bargained price.
Along with clothes, designer brands and electronics, there are quite a few people who come to Dubai just to shop for gold specially The Gold Souk in Deira which is the largest retail gold markets in the world. Other than the above mentioned items, you can shop for Arabia dates, sheesha pipes or hookahs, Arabic coffee, Persian carpets and wooden furniture.
The Dubai Shopping Festival in spring and Dubai Summer Surprises in summer are two major events where you will find lot of bargains and other entertainment activities.
Shopping Hours: Shops: 10am to 1pm and 4pm to 9pm. Shopping Malls: 10am to 10pm,
Closed from 11.30am to 1.30pm on Friday for prayers

Some of the best places to visit for shopping:

BurJuman Mall
Highlights: 300 retail shops, designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermes, Valentino, Emanel Ungaro, Loewe, Etro, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Christian Lacroix, Salvatore Ferragamo and Just Cavalli. Also includes a variety of restaurants, a food court and cafes.
Mall Timings: Saturday to Thursday 10:00 am to 10:00pm & Friday 2:00 p.m. to 10:00pm
All Food & Beverage Outlets: From 10:00am to 11:00 pm daily
Address: BurJuman, PO Box 8022, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971-4-3520222
Fax: +971-4-3510824

Deira City Centre
Highlights: 340 retail shops, Magic Planet entertainment centre, International brands and shops such as Carrefour,   One of the hosts for Dubai Summer Surprises, 11-screen “CineStar Cinemas” theatre, food court encompassing 15 restaurants, direct access to Sofitel City Centre Hotel
Mall Timings: Sunday to Wednesday: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Thursday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 12:00 midnight
Carrefour: Saturday to Wednesday: 9:00 am to 12:00 midnight, Thursday to Friday: 9:00 am to 1:00 am
CineStar Cinemas: Daily: 10:00 am to 1:00 am
Magic Planet: Daily: 10:00 am to 12:00
Email: dccmarketing@maf.ae
Address: Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971-4-2951010
Fax: +971-4-2953765

The Dubai Mall
Highlights: 1200 retail shops, one of the hosts for Dubai Summer Surprises, Olympic sized ice skating rink, world’s largest aquarium and gold souk, 150 restaurants and cafes serving international cuisine, refreshments and fast food , light and water play at Dubai Fountain.
Mall, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Timings: Sunday – Wednesday 10:00 – 22:00, Thursday – Saturday 10:00 – 24:00
Ice Rink: Sunday – Wednesday 10:00 – 22:00, Thursday – Saturday 10:15 – 23.45
Address:  The Dubai Mall Downtown Burj Dubai P.O. Box 113444. Dubai, UAE
Email:  enquiry@thedubaimall.com
Telephone: +971-4-437-3200, +971-4-362-7500
Fax: +971-4-362-7566

Emirates Towers Boulevard
Highlights: 50 retail shops located within Jumeirah Emirates Towers, boutiques of leading designer brands, restaurants and cafes.
Mall Timings: 10.00am to 10.00pm daily, and 4.00pm to 10.00pm on Fridays
Address: PO BOX 72127, DUBAI, UAE
Email:JETemo@jumeirah.com
Telephone: +971-4-3198999, +971-4-3300000
Fax: +971-4-3303030

Festival Waterfront Centre
Highlights: 600 retail shops, 25 flagship stores, 100+ restaurants, cafes and bistros, 12-screen Grand Cinemas multiplex, Bowling city, entertainment centre and parking for 13,000 cars.
Mall Timings: Friday to Saturday 10am until 1am
Address: Festival Centre, Dubai Festival City, P O Box 49776, Garhoud, UAE
Email: martina.boor@dubaifestivalcity.com
Telephone: + 971-4-2325444
Fax: + 971-4-2325667

Ibn Battuta Mall
Highlights: 275 retail shops, 50 restaurants and food outlets, 21-screen cinema theatre, mall divided into various courts such as China Court, India Court, etc, UAE’s only IMAX theatre, “Fitness First” state-of-the-art gymnasium, Geant Hypermarket (a French retail store).
Mall Timings: Sunday to Wednesday: 10am to midnight, Thursday to Saturday: 10am to 1am
Restaurants & Food Court: Saturday to Friday: 10am to midnight
Geant Hypermarket: Saturday to Friday: 9am to midnight
Address: P.O. Box: 261177, Dubai, UAE
Email: info@ibnbattutamall.com
Telephone: +971-4-3621901 or +971-4-3621902
Fax: +971-4-3685140

Mall of Emirates
Highlights: 400 retail shops, International brands and shops such as Carrefour supermarket, Harvey Nichols and Debenhams, Middle East’s first indoor ski slope, Ski Dubai, 14-screen cinema theatre, Al Accad Group’s organic supermarket.
Mall Timings: Sunday – Wednesday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm, Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 12:00 midnight
Carrefour: 9:00 am – 12:00 midnight every day
Address: Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Al Barsha, Dubai, UAE
Email: info@malloftheemirates.com
Telephone: +971-4-409 9000, Ski Dubai +971-4-409 4000, Carrefour +971-4-409 4899, Magic Planet +971-4-341 4444, Cinestar Cinemas +971-4-341 4222, DUCTAC +971-4-341 4777
Fax: +971-4 409 9888

Souk Madinat
Highlights: 75 boutique shops, 23 waterfront cafes, bars and restaurants and 442 seating capacity Madinat Theatre.
Mall Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
Address: PO BOX 75157, DUBAI, UAE
Email: MJinfo@jumeirah.com
Telephone: +971 4 3668888
Fax: +971 4 3667788

Wafi Mall
Highlights: 350 retail shops, exclusive shopping and entertainment mall for international brands such as Chanel and Escada for clothes, Edra and VG for furnishings, 30 multi cuisine restaurants, Encounter Zone for kids, Ginseng, China Moon Bar, New Asia Club, Plan B for live entertainment and nightlife pubbing, Cleopatra’s and Medi Spa for luxury and rejuvenation.
Mall Timings: Saturday to Wednesday: 10.00am to 10.00pm, Thursday and Friday: 10.00am to 12.00 midnight
Address: 26th Street  Dubai, UAE
Email: customerservice@wafi.com
Telephone: +971 4 324 4555, Pyramids and Fort Restaurants, Bars and Clubs:+971 4 324 4100, Cleopatra’s Spa:+971 4 324 0000, Pharaohs’ Club: +971 4 324 0251, Raffles Hotel: +971 4 324 8888