Accessories
Hamdan Centre: Covering yourself in haute couture accessories is an expensive business. If you need new belts, handbags or jewellery, but the funds are running low, the stores in this ramshackle shopping centre will do the job. Let’s just say, last time we went we asked if their ‘Rolexes’ were water resistant – we were laughed out of the shop.
Hamdan Street (02 632 8555).
Hermès: Pricey leatherwear, accessories and perfumes is what this classy little store is all about. Get ready to give your gold card a massive hit, and that’s even before you’ve gone on your holidays.
Abu Dhabi Airport (02 575 9556).
Jimmy Choo: Fantasy footwear for the modern woman, and Abu Dhabi has the fashionable boutique’s only store! For some people it’s worth booking a flight to AUH for this reason alone.
Abu Dhabi Airport (02 681 8667).
Louis Vuitton: The international fashion house sells the most sought-after handbags this side of Paris, as well as high-end watches, sunglasses and jewellery.
Marina Mall (02 6812166).
Mont Blanc: If you’re sick of that chewed Biro leaking in your pocket, splash out on a high-precision Mont Blanc pen instead. The German company also specialises in leather accessories, watches, cufflinks and sunglasses.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 4765) and Marina Mall (02 645 4765).
Piquadro: A quality bag not only looks good, but it also puts paid to chunky bulges in the trouser region (we’re talking wallets and phones, of course). This Italian designer store sells top goods made from the finest leather for both men and women.
Khalidiyah Mall (02 635 9950).
Rivoli: A cheap digital watch might make it easier to tell the time, but it hardly impresses anyone. If it’s a gleaming new timepiece you’re after, head to Rivoli, where they stock famous brand names from Gucci to Omega.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri (02 558 1670).
Swatch: Street-style Swiss watches with plastic straps and pop art designs. They’re a bit too garish for the more conservative watch wearer, but the kids can’t get enough of them.
Marina Mall (02 681 2242).
Uterqüe: Bags or shoes? Shoes or bags? Sometimes it’s so hard for a girl to decide. If that’s the case, get down to this new designer accessory shop in Abu Dhabi Mall, which stocks both.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 4848).
Arts & hobbies
Abu Dhabi Pottery: Homa Farley’s pottery shop sells a fine range of earthenware crockery. You can also take classes, and learn how to master the potter’s wheel for yourself. Homa is one of our favourite teachers, too!
Khalidiyah (02 666 7079).
Art & Craft Store: With some quality paints and brushes at your disposal, you’d probably be a better painter than Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Rembrandt put together. Now you’ll have no excuse not to start your masterpiece, as this shop sells pretty much the whole gamut of artistic materials.
Marina Mall (02 681 8300).
Hobby Centre: If remote control cars, model steam liners or pots of superglue are your kind of happy hour, this spacious store is your bar.
Defence Road (02 955 5125).
Papermoon: What with finding paper, scissors and sticky tape, wrapping presents can be a complex affair. If it’s not really for you, take your gift along to Papermoon and these guys will make it look real pretty with fancy paper
and ribbons.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 4788).
Beauty
The Body Shop: This ethically-friendly multinational has grown from a tiny firm on the backstreets of Brighton, UK into the second largest cosmetics company on the planet. Abu Dhabi hasn’t been immune to this meteoric rise, with two outlets in the city.
Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7313) and Marina Mall (02 681 4933).
Inglot: If you’re one of those women who just can’t find the right shade of make-up to suit their skin tone, pay attention. This Polish company boasts it can mix up a billion different hues of eyeliner, lipstick and blusher, which is more than enough for even the choosiest customer.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 443 7070).
Khan Al Saboun: Hand-made soaps, essential oils and perfumed candles. Have a chat with the friendly owner and he might even give you a free sample.
Al Wahda Mall (050 331 4231).
Mac Cosmetics: Awesome colours and slick branding make this a firm favourite among most make-up shoppers in the UAE.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 4938).
Solace: A compact cosmetics and toiletries shop stocking products created with organic ingredients, meaning your skin will be additive free, even if your food isn’t.
Al Wahda Mall (02 441 9140).
Books & music
All Prints: The city’s oldest book store has an adequate selection, mainly dealing in the kind of bestsellers you’d find on sale at an airport terminal. What it lacks in choice, it makes up for in cost friendliness, with books costing about a third less than their mall equivalents.
Al Markaziyah (02 663 8572).
Book Corner: A curious little book shop, stacked with populist novels at the front, and second-hand and obscure fiction at the back. There’s a good choice of history books, should the events of yesteryear be of interest.
Marina Mall (02 681 7662).
Jashnamal: If it’s some mainstream literature you’re after, Jashnamal will probably stock it, although you’ll be pressed to find more obscure works. It boasts a good selection of serious non-fiction tomes and one of the biggest magazine racks in the city.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 6454).
Magrudy’s: Probably the best book shop in the capital. Space is pretty congested, but a massive range of books is crammed in there. The store also has a fine choice of children’s literature and a small reading area where you can leave the kids while you browse.
Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7172).
Virgin Megastore: If there’s one kind of shop Abu Dhabi lacks it’s a decent music store. Virgin partially fills this void with a reasonable selection of CDs, DVDs and computer games, but real enthusiasts will have to make do with Amazon.com for the time being.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 644 7882).
Fashion
Abu Haleeqa: Ask a local man where he buys his pristine white kandura, and there’s a good chance he’ll mention Abu Haleeqa. This store is the capital’s hub of traditional local dress.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 644 3316).
Austin Reed: Distinguished gentlemen with a touch of refined style buy all their tailored suits, smooth silk ties and smart shirts at Austin Reed. Didn’t you know that?
Marina Mall (02 681 8300).
Banana Republic: Nothing to do with unstable South American dictatorships, this store specialises in inoffensive mid-priced garments. Think chinos and polo shirts for the guys, and pastel-coloured blouses and skirts for
the ladies.
Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7006).
Beena’s: Beena Soni is renowned in the UAE for her multi-hued traditional Arabian and Indian female dress wear. Her jewel-encrusted, silk abiyas are a true tailoring wonder.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri (02 558 1670).
Burberry: The beige-coloured, check patterned clothing has shaken off its ‘chav’ image to reassert itself as one of the biggest names in fashion. Find out for yourself about its new-found cool at this Marina Mall store.
Marina Mall (02 681 5727).
Converse: As well as the famous ankle-high sports shoes, you’ll be able to pick up some skater-style T-shirts and accessories from this trendy little shop.
Marina Mall (02 681 8300).
Emporio Armani: The Emporio Armani range is about ready-to-wear, casual clothes, but made with the high quality that you’d expect from the Italian fashion giant.
Marina Mall (02 681 8848).
Ermenegildo Zegna: The Italian suit maker is known across the world for its made-to-measure service. They guarantee you’ll only need two fittings before your personalised suit is delivered in just four to six weeks.
Marina Mall (02 681 4994).
Ferrari Store: It’s time to face the truth; you’re unlikely to ever cut it as an F1 Ferrari racing driver. Never mind, though, at least you can dress the part by stocking up on T-shirts, polo shirts, jackets, caps and sweaters, all embossed with the famous prancing horse logo.
Marina Mall (02 681 4882).
Grafika: This designer boutique offers glitzy evening wear, fashionable abiyas, handbags and toiletries from cult Hollywood-based brands.
Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7111).
Gucci: Until Christian Bale gives you that engagement ring, parading around with a Gucci handbag slung over your arm is the easiest way to make your girlfriends totally envious. The store also sells perfumes and other accessories.
Marina Mall (02 681 6844).
Hugo Boss: The German label offers refined, mannish clothing for well-heeled gents who appreciate a no-nonsense style. In-store collections at the Marina Mall branch include Boss Green sportswear range, Boss Orange and Boss Hugo Boss.
Marina Mall (02 634 2988).
La Perla: Ultra-fashionable lingerie and nightwear, made with the quality you’d expect from an Italian firm, is what you’re dirhams will buy you at this Souk-based store.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri (02 558 1890).
Mango: This shop advertises itself as the spot where modern, urban women should clothe themselves. The retro-style dresses and cool accessories mean that it fits this bill perfectly.
Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7155) and Marina Mall (02 681 8200).
Marks & Spencer: Quality underwear, clothing and lingerie are what have made M&S an institution back in the UK. And it’s beginning to have the same impact in Abu Dhabi as well.
Fotouh Al Khair Centre (02 621 3646).
Matalan: When the purse strings are looking a bit tight, it’s time to head to Matalan to replace your holey socks and frayed T-shirts. It’s the polar opposite of catwalk chic, but the place does a good job of keeping you clothed at next-to-nothing prices.
Dalma Mall, Musaffah (02 550 2080).
Polo Ralph Lauren: The American fashion colossus’s clothing has become the symbol of old-money chic. If you haven’t got at least one of his polo shirts hanging in your wardrobe, your fashion credibility levels might dip (though your street-cred might be on the up).
Abu Dhabi Airport (02 505 5000).
Reiss: What we love about Reiss is that the racks are filled with top quality suits, shirts, blouses and dresses that cost about half the price as they would if they had some famous designer’s name on the label.
Marina Mall (02 681 6642).
Rodeo Drive: With brands including Armani, Tom Ford, a.testoni and Kiton, Rodeo Drive could well be the trendiest men’s store in town. For the flashy, well-moneyed dressers out there (of which Abu Dhabi has plenty) this is your one-stop fashion shop.
Marina Mall (02 681 4994) and Emirates Palace (02 681 2300).
S*uce: Playful, girly fashions rule the day at this boutique ladies’ clothes shop. If you’re looking for a colourful dress to make you the centre of attention at a party, this is the store for you.
Marina Mall (02 681 8650).
Temperley London: Alice Temperley’s signature embellished dresses have made her the darling of the UK fashion scene. Make a purchase at the Marina Mall store and follow A-listers such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller, who regularly sport her frocks on the red carpet.
Marina Mall (02 681 8300).
Top Man: No longer is this British high street store a bastion of cheap suits and ill-fitting jeans. In the past decade it’s been reinvented as the barometer for all that’s happening in men’s fashion. This store is where the fashion-conscious man about town (on a budget) decks himself.
Marina Mall (02 681 8242).
Top Shop: Like its male counterpart, Top Shop is at the cutting edge of female fashion. Expect to see the latest styles here just weeks after they’ve been debuted on the catwalk, but at a fraction of the price of their boutique equivalent.
Marina Mall (02 681 8242).
Versace: This is the kind of shop that fits into the category of ‘if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it’. Owning one of the incredibly luxurious bags, shoes or clothing items will immediately elevate you to the status of international jetsetter.
Emirates Palace (02 690 8911).
Zara: Zara’s clothing won’t win any awards for innovativeness, but wearing one of the Spanish chain’s garments will keep you on the right side of being fashionable.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 6572) and Marina Mall (02 681 8080).
Food
Al Adil Trading: Ask most Indian chefs where they buy the exotic spices they use to flavour their curries, and most will point you in the direction of Al Adil. You’ll find tons of spices and everything else you need to make the perfect curry for sale at wholesale rates.
Electra Street (02 676 1162).
Bees Kingdom: Whether you’re interested in acquiring some bee keeping equipment, or just want to purchase some top quality honey, this oddity of a shop sells everything you could possibly need to do with the buzzing, black and yellow insects.
Khalidiyah (02 666 8988).
The Deli: Whenever we’re near the Souk Qaryat Al Beri, we make a point of popping into this supermarket/delicatessen/café. After a nice cup of coffee at the cheery café (which reminds us of an old English tea room), we go about filling our basket with an indulgent choice of unusual sauces and condiments that you won’t find anywhere else in the UAE. That’s Friday mornings sorted, then!
Souk Qaryat Al Beri (02 558 1468).
Eat Smart: Most people know about the fine café on the ground floor, but if you venture up the stairs you’ll find yourself in a supermarket packed with shelves full of organic produce.
Fotouh Al Khair Centre (02 634 6624).
Jones the Grocer: As well as being one of our favourite café hangouts in the city, Jones also stocks luxury groceries and has the finest fromagerie (or cheese shop) in the city, packed with huge wheels of fragrant rare cheeses.
Muroor (02 443 8762).
Vivel Patisserie: Most of us love a nice, soothing cup of tea. But the more discerning tea drinker should head to this café-cum-teashop, where they can buy the finest loose leaf teas available.
Al Manhal (02 666 7338).
Kids
Bookworm: Excellent for picking up kiddy reading material, and wonderful for grabbing last-minute birthday presents. The parents on the Time Out team swear by it, though Magrudy’s (see Books section) is also excellent for the little’uns.
Khalidiyah Mall (02 635 4985).
Early Learning Centre: Kids of our generation (er, that’d be somewhere between 25 and 35) were weaned on ELC, so it’s great to find that they’re going strong out here now that we’re parents. A top shop for toys and edutainment.
Khalidiyah Mall (02 635 4888), Marina Mall (02 681 8868) and Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7103).
Mothercare: An institution, as far as parenting is concerned, and most concerned parents don’t settle for anything less. They don’t compromise on quality – a must for baby’s safety.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 4894), Marina Mall (02 681 1781).
True Value: Ask any Abu Dhabi mum and they’ll tell you that the toy store at True Value is among the best. Cheap, but, more importantly, of a decent, durable quality.
Marina Mall (02 681 6216).
Wearmart: This centrally located shop is a top spot for picking up cheap baby clothes. If you don’t believe us, just ask mum!
Khalidiyah, opposite Grand Stores (02 633 3317).
Musical instruments
House of Oud: The pear-shaped stringed instrument is one of the most recognisable cultural artefacts in the Arab World. This villa, located behind One to One Hotel, houses a small oud workshop where a luthier will create your own personalised instrument hewn from the finest wood. Well worth a browse.
Al Nahyan Camp (02 641 5699).
Yamaha Music Centre: The selection of guitars, electric pianos and other instruments is fairly sparse, but, with guitar strings and accessories so oddly expensive in this country, it makes our list by virtue of being reasonably priced.
Tourist Club Area (02 672 4703).
Sport
Marina Store: If it’s scuba diving gear, fishing equipment, nautical charts or life jackets you’re after, then this out of the way sports shop has everything you’re looking for.
Al Bateen Marina (050 614 6931).
Mega-Sports: Entering this shop is enough to make you feel guilty about all the burgers you’ve consumed recently, and your ever-increasingly bulging midriff. Spend your fast food money on exercise bikes, sports shoes or protein shakes. Now drop and give us 50!
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 6166).
Sports Direct: This giant sporting goods store has an extensive range of anything to do with exercise and the outdoors, from walking boots to tennis rackets.
Khalidiyah Mall (02 635 9888).
Studio R: What makes Studio R different from its competitor stores is the fact that it also stocks an adequate range of BMXs and mountain bikes.
Marina Mall (02 681 7676).
Sun & Sand Sport: Sunglasses, beachwear, surf equipment and gym clothes are what you’ll find here, but then the name does kind of make this apparent. The seemingly unending sales make it worth a visit.
Hamdan Street (02 674 6299).
Tech
Bang & Olufsen: The Danish electronics company is famous for its state-of-the-art technology and wallet-bashing price tags. Buy one of the widescreen TVs, slap on a DVD and it’ll virtually be a cinema experience, minus the annoying people who talk on their mobile phones.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 644 0587).
Geekay Games: When it’s a bit of Red Dead Redemption or Bioshock 2 action we’re after, we pay a visit to these guys, who proudly boast the biggest range of PS3, Xbox and Wii games in the city.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 644 4552).
iStyle: It’s undeniable; Mac’s are faster, more efficient and shinier than their PC counterparts. This place sells the whole Mac range, from iPods to MacBooks, and all the accessories that go with them. The iPhone is disappointingly absent, however.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 644 4934) and Marina Mall (02 681 9161).
Jumbo Electronics: This electronics superstore has one of the widest ranges of brands in the UAE. And since they introduced the Mawiqaf parking scheme in Hamdan Street, you can generally find parking right outside.
Hamdan Street (02 679 0298).
Plug-Ins: The giant electronics centre at Marina Mall is a gold mine for everything electronic. Be warned, though, at weekends it’s packed out, meaning innocent browsing becomes a bit of a shoving match.
Marina Mall (02 681 5509).
Homewear
ID Design & Better Life: We’re especially fond of the wicker sofas and armchairs that ID specialises in. They make a great change from the usual flat-pack pieces that your average punter will opt for.
Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7557).
Ikea: Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Ikea produces the ideal furniture and kitchenware for the transitory lifestyle of expats – it all falls apart eventually! Nice hotdogs too.
Marina Mall (02 681 2281).
The One: The highly stylised pieces that are sold at this Khalidiyah-based outlet aren’t to everyone’s taste, but they’ll definitely glam up your otherwise dull studio. There’s a great café tucked away upstairs too.
Khalidiyah (02 681 6500).
Options: Deck out your house with the garishly coloured cushions, throws and other items from Options, and no one could accuse you of having a dull home.
Khalidiyah Mall (02 635 4949).
Poltrona Frau: Beautifully crafted, ultra-modern furniture created by the world’s best designers is what you’ll find at this Khalidiyah showroom. You’ll pay though the nose for such exquisite items, though.
Near Spinneys, Corniche (02 667 9588).
Odds and ends
Cairo Textiles: This three-storey textiles warehouse is a fabric bonanza, filled with cottons, silks and wools. This is the place to find the cloth you’re after.
Khalifah Street (02 622 5789).
Daiso: This quirky Japanese store is all about imported knick-knacks, cans of tea and Pocky (chocolate sticks). There’s a Daiso on almost every street corner in Japan, and they’re multiplying over here too, with
a second store just opening up in Al Wahda Mall.
Al Wahda Mall (02 643 7866) and Madinat Zayed (02 631 1514).
Posters: Halloween is just around the corner, and if you’ve got plenty of seasonal parties in your calendar this shop has all the witches’ costumes, scary masks and the like you’ll need to frighten other guests.
Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7070).
Samsonite Black Label: It was exactly 100 years ago that Jesse Shwayder started making tough, durable bags in Denver, Colorado for gold prospectors heading out to the American frontier. The company he started is still going strong, because, although the days of the Wild West are over, ultra-resilient luggage is a must for all time!
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 6465).
