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| Wafi Mall, Dubai |
I’m going to miss Emirati malls. They are
grand structures, and there are so many of them. But, just like the Eaton
Centre and Crib’s Causeway, you still can’t find what you are looking for, although
somehow the experience here is more satisfying.
In the build-up for Christmas all of the
stores were decorated for the season. Trees and coloured balls were everywhere.
One supermarket was even offering local halal turkeys for Christmas! Yet at
their busiest, the crowds resemble a warm summer day in a Western mall; you are
never fighting through crowds.
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| La Vie en Rose, Nayomi & La Senza lingerie Deerfields Mall, Abu Dhabi |
And similar stores are grouped together so
you don’t have to run around looking for that nightdress or gold necklace.
The malls all have features: fountains, ice rinks
and more. The Mall of the Emirates a ski hill; Ibn Battuta has courts with
large animated statues and the Dubai Mall has an aquarium, one of the world’s
largest with over 400 sharks and rays.
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| Ski Hill base - Mall of the Emirates, Dubai |
One of the most endearing qualities is the
presence of coffee shops, sprinkled throughout the malls – here you can sit and
quietly sip your cappuccino – miles from the boisterous food court.
But some things are missing. Women’s beauty
stores, hairdressers, nail spas etc. are out of sight, located around the outer
edges behind solid wooden doors marked ‘women only’.
And, Emirati men don’t often wear western
clothes, opting instead for their full length heavy ‘shirt’ the kandura or
dishdash, with little underneath. Women on the other hand, wear a very light
black robe over western clothing. So, there’s an even bigger disparity between men’s and women’s clothing stores...
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| India Court - Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai |
One thing that is popular is perfume.
Emirati women and men are always immaculate and don’t go anywhere without a squirt
of perfume, or two. Perfume or ‘oud’ stores fill shopping centres and sales
people stand out front waiting to spray you with a sample.
Every mall has its anchor supermarket. Carrefour
the French chain, Waitrose the British chain and the local giant Lulu grace the
various shopping centres – you can find goods from home no matter where you’re
from... And, the fresh produce here is fresh; potatoes from Egypt, eggs from
Oman, pomegranates from Jordan, bread baked in the store; you can almost taste
them on the shelf. There’s also imported produce from Australia, California and
UK, but it’s more costly and less tasty.
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| Luxury court - Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi |
Trouble finding a parking space? Not here –
every mall has a team of car washers waiting to guide you in – and they’ll wash
your car for less than $10/£5 while you’re shopping. Struggling with
your bags? Not here – every mall has guys willing to carry them to your car for
a modest tip. Tired of dragging the goods you’ve bought from store to store? Not
here – shoppers buy items from a store then leave them, in bags, by the
elevator while they go and shop somewhere else. They know their stuff will
still be there when they return….
Many bags have big names on them. Prada,
Chanel, Louis Vuitton; they’re all here, even Tim Horton’s.
But the coffee shops are still my favourite;
adult areas set back in to store space with tables, chairs and good service, where
you can enjoy the features and watch the world go by.
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| Sunset over the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi |
Links to a selection of Malls:
I'm with you; I think I'd like the coffee shops best! Happy New Year, Bob!
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