Luxury Shopping in Dubai and the Middle East

Prices in the Gulf's great malls are fixed and often close to US prices, but the range is extraordinary: flagship boutiques of every major house, many of them the largest in the world, sit beside souks that have traded gold, spices and perfume for centuries.

Bargaining is expected in the souks and markets, never in malls. Start well below the first price, stay friendly and walk away politely if you cannot agree; it is part of the pleasure. Gold is priced by weight at the day's rate plus a making charge, and reputable shops in Dubai's Gold Souk give a certificate.

Visitors can reclaim VAT on many purchases in the UAE and Saudi Arabia at departure, so keep receipts and allow time at the airport. US Customs allows each traveler a duty-free exemption (US$800 for most returning residents), so declare anything above it. For something truly of the region, choose a personal scent from an Arabian perfume house.

Begin with the finest malls and souks, from The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates to Doha's Place Vendôme, Istanbul's Grand Bazaar and the souks of Marrakech. Collectors will want our guide to jewelers and watchmakers, which runs from the Dubai Gold Souk to independent watch boutiques.

The region's most personal purchase is fragrance. Oud and perfume houses explains the art of Arabian perfumery and where to have a scent blended just for you. For fashion and design, see the great marques, whose flagships here are among the largest anywhere.