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Local Host Picks

BURJUMAN CENTRE

A massive shopping mall in the Bur Dubai area with shops selling designer brands, a cinema complex, and other leisure activities. In addition there are plenty of restaurants and cafes to revive your spirits when you're all shopped out.

HERITAGE VILLAGE AND DIVING VILLAGE

An enjoyable, interactive look at Dubai's past found on the Creek. The diving village features displays on pearl diving, as well as scale models of dhows and pearling boats. The heritage village recreates a Bedouin settlement, complete with homes made from Barasti (dried palm leaves tied together) and mud. You can also enjoy pottery and weaving workshops as well as visiting a traditional coffee house. A small souk sells a mixture of traditional Bedouin handcrafts and imported items.

SOUK MADINAT JUMEIRAH

Meandering paths lead visitors through a bazaar-like atmosphere in which open fronted shops and intimate galleries spill onto the paved walkways. The sounds of craftsmen and women at work combine with the aroma from street cafés and boutique restaurants. At Souk Madinat Jumeirah, the emphasis is on unique brands, crafted quality and an interactive experience.

SOUK AL BAHAR AND SOUK KHAN MURJAAN

Experience faux-souk shopping at some of the city’s best addresses: Souk Al Bahar in Downtown Dubai (a short walk from The Dubai Mall) is a majestic Arabesque citadel brimming with handicrafts, perfumes, carpets and Arabic coffee shops and restaurants. Meanwhile, Souk Khan Marjaan at Wafi draws inspiration from 14th century Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Morocco.

JUMEIRAH BEACH RESIDENCE (JBR WALK)

Loaded with over 300 restaurants, stores, supermarkets and boutiques, the one mile JBR Walk is a very popular outdoor shopping and dining promenade, especially on the weekends when traffic slows down so you can get a great views of the sports cars as they drive by. Get some exercise by walking end to end, stop for a tasty treat and watch the rest of the world go by, or head out to JBR Open Beach (in front of the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah) for a little swim time.

BOXPARK

Have you ever shopped in a shipping container? BoxPark offers this unusual experience where trendy boutiques, niche cafes and funky art are housed in 220 shipping containers. Unusual art work and designers like Sonia Rykiel and MSGM at Urbanist, The Zoo Concept’s unusual collection of gifts and novelty figurines, and the largest Adidas store in the region are just some of the standout names at BoxPark.

SHEIKH MOHAMMED CENTRE FOR CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

Come and experience a traditional Emirati breakfast or lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. Within the confines of a wind tower house located at the Al Bastakiya trading village of the Al Fahidi Historic District, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Bur Dubai, you will surely enjoy your meal with local flair while chatting with an Emirati host about the UAE’s culture, customs and religion.