If you thought the backstreets of Abu Dhabi were just full of shops selling utterly useless old junk, you’d be wrong. Buried deep in the jungle of ramshackle cafés, economically-priced electrical shops and temporary-looking tyre repair centres lies the occasional, hidden gem of a store, packed with cool curios and nifty nick-nacks.
Here at Time Out, we’ve relentlessly trawled the streets of our fair capital to bring you our pick of the city’s more unusual shops. In fact, you may never need to visit the malls again.
Food
Sweet as honey
Enter here all ye who wish to smell like dessert – the shelves are stacked high with lotions and potions made from fruits and honey. Many of their environmentally friendly and organic ranges are hard to come by elsewhere in the capital, including the Wild Ferns thermal mud products. But it’s the manuka honey range we keep coming back for. The lip balms, creams and serums contain high levels of that magic ingredient, the purported qualities of which include antiseptic, antibiotic, wound-healing… the list goes on.
Laverne, Souk Central Market (02 628 0456).
Heart of China
Soy eggs, quick-noodles and chicken feet. That’s right, feet. There are quite a few Chinese restaurants in the city that stake a claim to having authentic flavours – many of them rather successfully – but if you’ve been to China you’ll know better. The Chinese don’t spend nearly as much time in restaurants as we do, and they love their supermarket food. Well, they ought to anyway. This store sells steamed buns, a dozen flavours of noodles, biscuit, crisps and strange Chinese cutlery that you’re more likely to display than use. For good measure, they also sell Chinese paper lanterns, which come in red, red and red.
Zhujun International Trading, opposite Shoe Mart, Madinat Zayed (02 631 6061).
Gifts
Gift shops are a dime a dozen, and often carry items worth significantly less. But every once in a while something catches our eye, and in this instance it was a line of porcelain camels and figurines in the Emirati traditional garb. Some are salt shakers, others cookie bins and all are phenomenally adorable. And while that was our seller, we were happy to have discovered one of the coolest lines of Abu Dhabi souvenirs we’ve spotted in a while, a perfect stop for expats on their way out of the country. The store itself is part hardware store, part supermarket and part gift shop; who said you had to specialise?
7Land, Madinat Zayed (02 639 2939).
Rock solid
Located in a shabby-looking shop in a downtrodden building in Khalidiyah, this treasure trove of precious gems is a truly amazing find. Friendly owner Shafiq has been trading in the area for more than 20 years and has amassed a gleaming collection of some of the most stunning gemstones and crystals you’ll ever set eyes upon. Not only is his collection extensive, with a bit of intensive negotiation he’ll sell you the stones at rock bottom prices. Well worth popping into for a touch of haggling.
Al Mawaz Stones, Khalifa Street, Khalidiyah (02 671 2441).
Classy wraps
If it’s handmade, it has to be good. This place carries pashminas, handmade tablecloths and plenty of other carefully crafted pieces. Modern science has yet to figure out how to properly factor manual labour into price tags, and, to be safe, most retailers just hike it up a few hundred percent. It won’t matter once you buy it anyway, it will pay for itself in admiration from your friends. The pièce de résistance is a beautiful traditional coffee kettle centrepiece – a steal at just under Dhs800.
Reshie Handicrafts, Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre (02 621 0737).
Surprise bags
Located upstairs in the shabby looking Hamdan Centre, Surprise Bags really lives by its name. You probably wouldn’t even be bothered to step inside this shop if walking by, but if you don’t, you are missing out. Surprise Bags is crammed full of um….bags. It mainly stocks cheap but fashionable bags and there is a huge range to choose from. Pick from satchels, clutches, handbags, totes and overnight bags. A visit here is a must. You won’t be disappointed.
Surprise bags, Hamdan Centre, (02 632 8555).
Fashion
Store of soft
With layer upon layer of colour and texture, none of us had the slightest clue why we walked into this shop, and none of us could take our eyes off the wall. Textile stores are very popular round these parts, and often compete through nothing but displays. Newcomers Al Wifaq have been around for just over six months, but have already mastered the art of seducing clueless writers into purchasing fabric they’ll probably never use. It was just so soft and so pretty.
Al Wifaq Textiles, Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre (02 634 1775).
Dress to impress
The fabulous gowns in this shop are truly Disney-esque. Browse the racks of satin, silk and velvet floor-skimming dresses and you’ll find one show-stopper after another. Some are simple and elegant while other have fantastic bold embroidery and embellishments for the ladies who can carry it off. Designed for weddings and glamorous parties, the prices are around the eye-watering Dhs2,500 mark for a dress, which includes alterations to fit. But if you’re after something a bit more modest, Sahara Fashion is located next to a row of other textile shops that sell swathes of luxe material for dressmaking too.
Sahara Fashion, Opposite Souk Central Market (02 622 0356).
All sewn up
Dab hand with a needle and thread? Add this haberdashery to your little black book immediately. There’s a whole room full of buttons, lace ribbons, sequins, diamantes and every other adornment you could dream up at very low prices. If you’re not too confident customising your clothes yourself, the shopkeepers who double up as tailors will do it for you. They also do adjustments and alterations and are always meticulously
careful to get it right.
Noor Al Balooshi, Hamdan Street (behind Masala Magic).
Al Jaber Gallery
Located at the Souk Central Market, Al Jaber sells everything from clothes to home décor. Along with beautifully embellished kaftans in a myriad of colours they sell Arabian-style slip-on footwear and gorgeous drop earrings, you could basically buy a whole outfit in one visit to this store. Al Jaber also carries silk pashminas, hand-beaded tablecloths and stunning cushion covers in brightly coloured silks. The carefully crafted bowls are also not to be missed and you can get them for pretty good prices if you know how to haggle. This is also your one-stop-shop for souvenirs ranging from toy camels, pens, postcards, coffee pots and more.
Al Jaber Gallery, Souk Central Market, (02 628 0456).
Cairo Fabrics
One of the joys of living in Abu Dhabi is the option to have your clothes made for you by a tailor, but once you have chosen your tailor you may want to go and get the fabric for your fabulous new outfit. Cairo Fabrics is a fantastic place to head to for all sorts of great material with everything from pure silk and satins to linen, cotton and wool. The sales people are great and will be able to help you out with whatever you need.
Cairo Fabrics, opposite Mashreq Bank, (02 629 9455).
Kani
Looking for a beautiful, luxury kaftan to channel your inner Arabian Princess? Look no further than Kani at the Souk Central Market. While the prices for these babies are more around the Dhs700 to Dhs1,200 mark, these kaftans are the cream of the crop. Hand beaded and made from silk, these special pieces come in a gorgeous range of colours from the very bright to the more subdued. With the hot weather just around the corner, a kaftan is a perfect option for summer to keep you cool while still looking incredibly chic.
Kani, Souk Central Market, (02 628 0456).
Homeware
Part of the furniture
Back when Dubai went bust, the chap behind used furnishings store Nefertiti rounded up all the furniture left over from the expat exodus, stuck it in a warehouse near the Corniche and has been making a tidy profit ever since. It’s a one-stop-shop for everything you might need for your house – beds, sofas, lamps, knick-knacks… the list goes on. Owner Ahmed seems to have a mental database of practically every item in the warehouse, so pop in, tell him what you’re after and let him make some recommendations. Alternatively you can browse the goods online. For just a little extra cost, he’ll also arrange for your new furniture to be delivered and assembled the same day.
Nefertiti, corner of Corniche and Khaleej al Arabi Street, www.useditemsuae.com (050 641 9861).
Italian design
From Ferrari sports cars to Armani suits, let’s face it, the Italians are pretty much the best designers in the world. But the nation’s excellence on the drawing board also extends to furniture, proof of which is Poltrono Frau, a small showroom tucked away near the Spinneys supermarket in Khalidiyah. The store may well sell the finest in home accessories in the city, stocking a huge range of sleek, modernist goods. It’s a world away from your flat-pack, self-assembled pieces that start disintegrating the moment you’ve screwed the last bolt in.
Poltrono Frau, opposite Spinneys Khalidiyah (02 635 9393).
Exquisite Antiques Gallery
Tucked away in the corner upstairs from Spinneys in Khalidiyah you will find a very cute little shop. Selling lovely silk shawls and pashminas, beaded cushion covers and tablecloths, this store is a real hidden
treasure. They also sell small pieces of furniture and wooden statues such as camels. Next time you are buying your groceries at Spinney’s make sure you nip upstairs to check this gem out.
Exquisite Antiques Gallery, Spinney’s 2nd Floor, Khalidiyah (02 681 1977).
Our Food Editor, Elest Ali, finds Tarbouche al Basha is just the meal ticket
“Tarbouche al Basha is great because it’s one of the few spots you can enjoy decent alfresco dining without pretension or steep prices. This outlet at Souk Central Market has a sister restaurant on Hamdan Street that seems to have been standing there since the dawn of time. It may be rather on the dingy side, but serves up consistently impressive grub and is contentedly kicking the competition’s behind. At the newer branch at the Souk, you get the great food that’s kept the chain going for so long, at the same prices, but in a much nicer setting. Choose to eat indoors looking out onto the traditional souk setting if you like, but our preference is the terrace; airy and pleasant, it’s made for enjoying good company with good food. Lanterns and carpeted canopies set the scene while the atmosphere is heightened by the sweet smell of shisha smoke in the air. A spot so picturesque isn’t something you would usually get in the centre of the city, and definitely not at such low prices. Our tip is to order lots of mezze (which is where Tarbouche excels) and savour it with their freshly baked bread.”
Souk Central Market (02 628 2220).
Fashion for the ladies
Yes, we’ve all been there – hiding the shopping bags under the bed so you don’t have to admit to your nearest and dearest that you’ve just blown next year’s holiday money on cut-price designer togs that you’ll never wear.
Actually, no, we haven’t really, but we understand your pain, so here’s how to get yourself a complete wardrobe full of perfectly fitting clothes. Hamdan Street is the epicentre of the city’s tailoring
industry, where you’ll find a whole army of helpful folk ready and waiting with their sewing machines to fix up your stuff for a bargain price. For example, to have a hem taken up on a dress or a pair of trousers adjusted will only set you back about Dhs20.
For ladies clothes, head to Noor Al Balooshi. They are great at making adjustments because they are always careful to make sure they know exactly what you want done. They also have a whole room full of buttons, lace, ribbons, sequins and almost every other spangley adornment you could dream up, so if you want something customised as well as amended, these are your guys. Next door, Blue Diamond is a popular place for custom-made abayas.
As for what to do, it’s pretty straightforward. Try on your clothes at home and make a mental note of exactly how and where you want it adjusted. The tailors will re-measure it in store, but it’s helpful for them to be given some direction, and you’ll need to decide a few specifics, for example if you want the skirt of your dresses A-line or straight and the size loose, fitted or tight. For small adjustments expect it to take a few days, and for more complicated work a week. Allow a day or two more if you’re planning to wear it on a particular occasion, so if it’s not exactly right first time, you have time to get it re-altered. This is quite common by the way, so don’t panic if your dress is still too big when you go to collect it – tailors often err on the side of caution and won’t make it too small at first. They’re always happy to readjust until it’s perfect.
Now, it can be a little tricky to find these stores so here are the directions: Go to Al Jamal Opticians on Hamdan Street near Najda Street. Follow the side street back two blocks, past Masala Magic, and you’ll find Noor Al Balooshi Sewing Materials and Ladies Tailoring Est next door to Blue Diamond.
Fashion for the men
If you’re reluctant to wear a suit every day (and let’s face it, most of us are) then it is our genuine belief that you just haven’t met the right one. A good suit is like armour: it makes you feel strong – strong enough to take a lance and steed and go dragon hunting – and it makes you feel dashing, sophisticated and elegant. Of course a good suit shouldn’t feel like armour, which is why picking a good tailor is key; our pick is Abu Dhabi New Tailors.
We’ve watched this place go from strength to strength. Once upon a time this was a hole in the wall store cramped with textiles and rulers. But the great quality, fast turnover and friendly tailor meant that people kept coming, and now ADNT occupies a great location at the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre. And they definitely deserve it.
Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, first floor, above the Lulu Hypermarket (050 825 2801).
