The following is a list of pleasant (although not always useful in the household) things, each of which can to one degree or another serve as a visiting card of the Emirates or just a successful purchase. Many of them deserve a separate story, so our list does not purport to be exhaustive.
The main thing - do not forget that in the East it is customary to bargain to the last and receive from this not only profit, but also pleasure. So.
Camels are a local symbol. Particularly interesting are the figures created by fitting the light frame with genuine leather. They weigh almost nothing, look like they are alive and fit perfectly into any interior. Such a camel costs, on average, 2 drh per centimeter of growth, that is, from 25 to 100 drh apiece ($ 5-30).
In addition, in all stores where there are departments of souvenirs or toys, you can buy camels of any size from a variety of materials - wood, metal, porcelain, glass, plastic. And, of course, wonderful soft plush camels will please anyone.
Pearls. A necklace made of small pearls can be bought for 50 drx ($ 14), from a large one for 120 ($ 33). Although, of course, the cost of such a gift depends not only on the size of the pearls, but also on what kind of pearls you have (natural - marine or freshwater, cultivated or artificial), its shape, brilliance, color and many other parameters.
Gold. Being in Dubai and not visiting the Gold Market (Gold Souk) is like going to the beach and not getting into the water. Bar Dubai's markets are grouped around the Grand Mosque, between the abra boat pier and the Dubai Museum. In old Deira, markets move one into another, forming a large shopping area, bounded by Al Sabha, Al Khor and Baniyas embankments. Gold prices start at 80 drx per gram ($ 21.7). At the old Gold Market, which unites more than 300 shops, you can buy any jewelry, bullion and coins from 18-24 carat gold. There are two more new Gold markets in Dubai.
Hookah or "shisha". The device can be bought in all shopping centers, most major stores and supermarkets. There are models packed in a case for transportation. A medium-sized hookah costs 50-100 drh ($ 14-30), the price largely depends on the design. Be sure to consult with the seller or a knowledgeable person when choosing, since the aesthetic factor is important only when buying a "shisha" for the interior. Do not forget to buy special tobacco of different tastes.
Hanjar daggers with silver or silver plated hilt and scabbard. They look the same as on a banknote of 10 drx. Yemeni products are distinguished by an antelope horn handle and red leather sheath. Check with the consulate first to see if there are any problems importing them into your country.
Books of landscape type, telling about any particular country of the Persian Gulf (or about several countries at once) are sold in the book departments of large department stores. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them are published in English and Arabic, and prices even for small copies start at 100 drx ($ 27).
Arabic coffee (local coffee or kahwa) is very different in taste and recipe from the one you are used to drinking at home. Cardamom is generously added to local coffee, so it is quite bitter. So before you give a pack of coffee to family or friends, try this specific drink yourself. The manner of its preparation is also very peculiar, therefore it will be wonderful if someone teaches you.
Coffee pots (dallas) are sold in all malls. Antique samples are made of copper, and modern, Indian - made of brass. True, the latter are only suitable for the interior. If you want to buy a “dallya” for making coffee, be careful: real coffee pots can be found in antique shops and expensive stores. You can buy a thermos stylized for it, which is used today by local residents.
Arabic-style furniture in pink and walnut, as well as wicker from the vine can be purchased relatively inexpensively. A wide selection of ethnic furniture is presented in Pan Emirates Furniture stores, as well as in furniture stores on Zaabil Road and Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Local clothes - top (conduit dresses for men and black abayas for women) and for home. All kondura are the same, the difference is only in the shape of the collar, but the abai is a great many. Very beautiful women's clothing for home, embroidered by hand.
They are sold almost everywhere: for example, in the Al Ghurair City shopping center at the beginning of Rigga Street there are a lot of good shops. If you want the thing to sit perfectly, it is better to order it in the studio. This work, which takes several days, will cost you more than $ 100.
When making a decision, keep in mind that kondura and abayas presented in souvenir shops are much less high-quality than those made to order or bought in a special store. If you are short of money, bump into a crowded Al Sabha street in Deira (or at the Old Bar-Dubai Market), where for 15 drx ($ 4) you can buy a good skullcap.
Perfumes and incense. Heavy, specific Arabic aromas are known throughout the world for their amazing effect on humans. From them, the head really hurts at first, but then the feelings worsen. The best and traditional aromas are made on the basis of oud (oud) - the essence of the mushroom tree.
Do not be too lazy to go to the Arabian Oud company store, where, sitting on a soft chair, you can slowly choose an exotic perfume in amazing bottles, conducting conversations "for life" with sellers. It's expensive (for a bottle of 100 ml about $ 100), but nice.
Bahur - oud-based incense - is used by Arabs not only in homes, but also in cars and offices. It can be in the form of pieces of a tree trunk soaked in oud, and in the form of soft balls. "Bahur" is smoked on special appliances powered by electricity.
Perfumes based on plant oil extracts are another hit in the Arabian perfume industry. Sold on bottling. There are imitations of famous aromas, and there are purely Arabic copies.
A small bottle of local perfume can be bought for 40-50 drh in numerous specialized departments, for example, in Al Ghurair City. You can, of course, get almost the same bottle for 5 drx on Nasser Square - but the quality there will be appropriate. Most importantly, remember that the composition includes oil, and do not apply such perfumes to clothing.
Sand. Be sure to get a set of Seven Sands - bottles with sand layers poured inside each of the seven emirates, creating bizarre patterns. The work is admirable.
Cylindrical pillows can be bought at a price of 12 drx ($ 3.3) to infinity - it all depends on the material and decor. Pay attention to the sandbags, similar to the conical shape of the pillow (with a tassel or other decoration on top). They are called door stuff and serve as stops for fixing the door in the open position.
A guidebook is better to stock up in advance. Here it will be, firstly, in English, and secondly, its price will significantly exceed 200 rubles that you would pay in Russia. If English is native to you, and money is not a problem, Explorer series editions (and not only) can be found in all book departments of shopping centers.
Weapons When buying pistols (antique copies) and old-fashioned guns, ask what are the rules for importing these products to your homeland. The same applies to sabers of silver coinage with a tiger eye. Many shopping centers have Chinese imitations of ancient daggers and swords, sold for some reason in the cookware department. Such a souvenir worth 10-20 drh will certainly pleasantly surprise your child.
Sweets. If in Russia under the "oriental sweets" it is customary to mean sorbet, halva, nougat and Turkish delight, then here they are called Iranian sweets. Although they are sold by weight, the seller will not be indignant if you take a little bit of “cookie” for each type. Iranian Sweets stores are scattered throughout the city. At Dubai Duty Free, chocolates in the shape of palm trees and camels can be found.
A separate story deserves dates (dates), sold in the Emirates in a variety of forms - from natural or drenched in chocolate to delicious honey, juice, syrup or jam from these healthy fruits. Fans of delicacies are advised to visit the Emirates Dates or Bateel brand stores in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai, which are entirely dedicated to this topic. A box of dates in chocolate and with almonds inside, weighing 150 grams, will cost 35 drx ($ 10) in any normal supermarket.
Spice. To get from the Gold Market to the spice market, you need to go to Baladia Street, walk along it towards the Bay Embankment - and, without reaching a bit to the abra boat dock, turn right.
Only here (and partly) did the atmosphere of the traditional Arabian market, which is reproduced in the Dubai Museum, be preserved. The tart smell of cinnamon competes with the aroma of dried fruit and cardamom. Exotic goods are sold directly from bags displayed at the entrance to the shop. Spices, medicines and cosmetics are brought here from Bangladesh, Zanzibar, India, Iran, Kenya, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The pipes that Sinbad the seaman himself probably smoked. At the famous Deira Fish Market (near the Gold Souk bus station), you can find clay midah pipes for two or three puffs and tobacco for them, similar to the village "samosad".
Henna. Be sure to buy several cone-shaped henna bags for body painting, which are in almost all stores and cost 2-5 drx ($ 0.5-1.4). Original, simple and, with a certain qualification of the performer, it is very beautiful. After application, the pattern should be wiped with a very sweet lemon juice, so that it lasts longer. Depending on the color depth (from black to light red), the pattern lasts from several days to two weeks.
Shawls from Kashmir ("Pashmina"). The thing is not so much functional as beautiful and lately very fashionable. There are almost everywhere. Real, from delicate cashmere (or cashmere with the addition of silk) are expensive; plain, purely woolen, cotton and blended - cheaper. Feel free to bargain and bring down the price twice.
As you can see from our cursory review, in the Emirates you can find souvenirs for every taste. Moreover, the price of the same gift can vary significantly depending on the place of purchase.
Do not hesitate to ask for a discount (best price) even in a large shopping center. Keep in mind that all of the above can be bought both in special souvenir shops (Arabian Treasures) expensive and in economy class stores (Gift Village, Dirham Plaza, Discount Center) for quite normal money.
