Dubai Souvenirs Guide｜10+ Cultural Things to Buy in Dubai: Where to Buy and Which Brands to Buy
Travelling to Dubai, UAE and want to get your friends and family or yourselves some souvenirs from Dubai but unsure what are unique to buy? This article lists over 10 things to buy in Dubai that are rich in local Arabian cultural features. It includes detailed information such as places to buy them and the most popular brands, ensuring that you won’t return empty-handed from your Dubai trip. You be able to bring back elements of the local culture, and impressive Dubai gifts to your loved ones!
- More information about traveling in Dubai and the UAE:
- Everything you need to know before visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi
- Don't do in Dubai: 10 things to avoid to steer clear of legal trouble when traveling to UAE
- 10 things to check for finding the best red dunes desert safari tour in Dubai
- A detailed guide to Jais Sledder- the thrilling roller coaster on the UAE's highest peak
- Dubai Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Sikka Art Festival
List of Contents
- 1.Dates
- 2. Carpets
- 3. Arabic Coffee, Arabic Coffee Pot (Dallah Pot) & Arabic Coffee Cup Set
- 4. Art Pieces With Arabic Culture, and Dubai Iconic Elements
- 5. Camel Milk Chocolate
- 6. Camel Milk Soap and Skincare Products
- 7. Arabic Spices
- 8. Arabic Incense and Perfumes
- 9. Incense Burners
- 10. Patchi Chocolate
- 11. Aladdin's Lamp
1.Dates
When you go to the United Arab Emirates and most Middle Eastern countries, you will often see large palm trees, with brown fruits- dates. Since in the desert, many crops can’t be grown, dates play an important role in Arab culture. and due to its high nutritions, it is also the most common snack in Arab’s world, and together with Arabic coffee, it is the basic element of hospitality.
When I was in Dubai, I saw them every day, and my Arab colleagues often ate dates. And in Dubai, I discovered that there are many different stuffed dates available. They are filled with various ingredients such as pistachios, nuts, caramelized walnuts, cashews, orange peel, and macadamia nuts! The texture is smooth and layered, which made me find them quite delicious! It is definitely the most common thing to buy in Dubai as gifts.
Recommend dates brand in Dubai: Bateel Dates (the premium date brand that was also one of the licensee brands at Expo 2020 Dubai- a world mega event that was held in Dubai and organised by Dubai government)
Where to buy Bateel Dates: Dubai Mall、Mall Of The Emirates、Dubai Marina Mall and more have their stores.
2. Carpets
In Dubai, most of the ready-made carpets you see are made in Iran and then transported to Dubai for sale. They come in a wide variety of designs, each one is colourful, vibrant, and with a touch of retro charm.
When you visit a carpet specialty store, you can find carpets made from different materials (wool, silk, etc). Some of them are incredibly heavy, and the highest quality ones are made of pure silk. In addition, the stores also sell beautiful and colourful decorative items, such as pillowcases, and more, all woven with Middle Eastern flair and patterns.
If you also like these vibrant items and woven goods like myself, but haven’t been to Iran, I highly recommend buying some carpets when you visit Dubai, either as gifts or for personal use. Those are really beautiful Dubai souvenirs to buy! Decorating your home with them will truly bring a colourful and joyful atmosphere! Even now, I feel happy looking at these colourful patterned designs in my room.
By the way, speaking of beautiful carpets, don’t forget to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi to see the world’s largest hand-woven wool carpet!
Where to buy carpets in Dubai: Dubai Mall (a store called Heritage Carpets), Al Seef (Dubai’s old city area), Al Fahidi Historical District (Dubai’s old city area), and there are many places in the Deira district of Dubai. You can even find some in Dubai Spice Souk.
3. Arabic Coffee, Arabic Coffee Pot (Dallah Pot) & Arabic Coffee Cup Set
In the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and many Arabic countries, the coffee preparation/brewing method is very unique, and totally different from American or Italian style.
Most of Arabic people use an Arabic pot to heat water, and they add finely ground coffee and let it boil for a while. After that, they pour the coffee into Dallah pot and add spices like cardamon, saffron, cloves, ginger, or cinnamon (depends on personal preference). Finally, they pour the coffee into handleless coffee cups(Arabic coffee cups) and serve it with dates to treat their guests to show their hospitality.
This style is commonly seen in Majlis (places where locals gather for meetings, socialising, and relaxation), cultural centres, and desert camps in Dubai. They would have a pot of Arabic coffee and a plate of dates. In terms of taste, it has a subtle coffee flavour and spices, which is quite unique. Personally, I would describe it as a mild black coffee, but slightly bitter.
Even if you don’t like the taste of their coffee, buying a complete set of Arabic style coffee utensils in Dubai still makes it a beautiful decoration, especially with the popular “gold” colour design that Arabs love. You can use it at home to serve black coffee or even tea, making it a great souvenir for yourself or a delightful gift for friends. You can even have a luxurious afternoon tea with it.
Where to buy Arabic Dallah pots and coffee cups in Dubai: You can find them at Al Jaber Gallery , a popular Dubai gift shop inside Dubai Mall, Madinat Jumeirah, Marina Mall, etc, or you can visit shops in the Al Seef old town area. You can also find Arabic coffee pot sets at the I Love Dubai souvenir shop.
Arabic Coffee Brands recommended by my Arabic and Emirati friends:
- Emirati Coffee (Emirati Coffee Roastery): the staff of the brand told me that the Colombia Arabic Coffee option is roasted in particular for the purpose of brewing Arabic coffee. You can also choose other coffee beans, and choose the “Arabic Grind” option, so you can still prepare your coffee in the Arabic way.
Emirati Coffee Roastery location: Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, Dubai
- Al Rifai: they have options like Arabic coffee, Emirati coffee, Arabic coffee with cardamon.
Al Rifai location: you can find it at most of the malls in Dubai, and for tourist, Mall Of The Emirates, Dubai Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Barsha Mall are the easiest ones to go. Check their website to find more location: https://www.alrifaiarabia.ae/shop/storelocator
For more information about Arabic coffee culture, I think Abu Dhabi Culture explained very clearly! https://abudhabiculture.ae/en/discover/food/gahwa
4. Art Pieces With Arabic Culture, and Dubai Iconic Elements
Every country has their own special talented people and unique elements that are worth commemorating through artistic creations. For Dubai, UAE, the most basic ones are magnets, coasters, and models of Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab, which can be found in almost every tourist area in Dubai.
However, there are two types of art souvenirs that I find very special, unique, and culturally significant, and I have only seen them in two shops in Al Fahidi Historical District.
One shop offers handmade cards with Arabic script and special elements, while the neighbouring shop features some small wooden souvenirs with Arabic designs (doors). Both of these shops produce handmade items, and I absolutely love them!
If you also enjoy collecting these kinds of artistic items, I highly recommend buying them as Dubai souvenirs! (Regarding the Aladdin’s lamp, I’m also not sure why it is written as “Alaa Eldin” in English).
Where to buy handmade cards with Arabic elements: there is a shop called Heritage in Al Fahidi Historical District in Dubai. There are also neighbouring shops that sell carpets, so you can explore them as well.
Additionally, if you have a love for artistic ambiance, you can also visit these art districts and explore. Some of them even host special art exhibitions, and you might stumble upon unique artworks by talented artists that you can purchase!
5. Camel Milk Chocolate
As UAE is a desert country, camels have become a significant element, so you can see camel-related products everywhere in Dubai, and camel chocolate is one of them.
If you want to buy camel milk chocolate, the most famous brand is Al Nassma, a local brand in Dubai. It is a top-tier brand of camel milk chocolate with attractive packaging, making it a perfect addition to your list of things to buy in Dubai as souvenirs.
Where to buy camel milk chocolate (Al Nassma brand): You can find it in the duty-free shops at Dubai Airport! As for the variety, you can take a look at their available options in advance.
6. Camel Milk Soap and Skincare Products
If you’re not into camel milk chocolates, other popular camel related products are camel milk soap and skin care products. Camel milk, rich in vitamins and minerals, is beneficial for the skin. The Camel Soap Factory, the most famous local brand and the official gift shop partner during the Expo 2020 Dubai, claims that camel milk is suitable for all skin types and can help improve certain skin conditions.
Their products were highly sought after during the Expo 2020 Dubai, and besides soap, they offer other items with various skin care products. If you’re looking to buy camel milk related products as a souvenir or gift during your Dubai trip, I recommend checking out this brand. For more information, you can visit their official website.
Where to buy camel milk soap (The Camel Soap Factory brand): Apart from their online store, they don’t currently have their own physical stores. However, their products are available at Al Jaber Gallery souvenir shop inside Dubai Mall, Carrefour in Dubai, and the gift shop at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.
7. Arabic Spices
When you visit the markets in Arab countries, you often come across bags of colourful spices displayed together, creating an artistic and palette-like scene.
Each spice is unique, many of which I have never seen before and don’t know what they are, but they are commonly used in Arabic countries. Some spices can be used for cooking, tea brewing, or blending with coffee, while others are used for dyeing clothes, incense, making perfumes, or relieving headaches. These special items also make great souvenirs from Dubai! For more information about Dubai Spice Souk and spices, check this detailed article.
Places to buy spices in Dubai: Dubai Spice Souk (Dubai Spice Market), Carrefour.
8. Arabic Incense and Perfumes
Arabic and Middle Eastern fragrances, incense, and oils are well-known specialty products in Arab countries. When you visit Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, you will often smell the rich fragrance of Oudh & Bakhoor, which is suitable for both men and women. You can frequently encounter this classic scent in malls and on the streets, where shopkeepers burn incense in containers, giving the surroundings an authentic Emirati ambiance. If you also like this kind of fragrance, be sure to buy some when you visit Dubai.
Fragrance oils are also a popular method among Arabic individuals for enhancing their aroma because these oils tend to stay longer on the skin compared to perfumes. This is especially beneficial in hot Middle Eastern countries where scents can easily fade away due to perspiration. It is common for them to directly apply these oils to their bodies after bathing.
If you are a fan of unique Arabic fragrances, Dubai is an excellent place to buy them as souvenirs and gifts. Many perfume bottles are exquisitely designed and display a luxurious and extravagant style.
Classic fragrances of Dubai: Oudh & Bakhoor, Saffron, Musk, Agarwood.
Recommended perfume brands in Dubai:
- Widian (a local luxury brand that was one of the licensees brands at Dubai government’s mega event- Expo 2020 Dubai).
- Ajmal Perfumes
- Le Jeroudi: a brand brand created by an amazing Arab friend with meticulously crafted wooden and leather packaging, offering unique, high quality fragrances. You can messaging them here to sort out the order.
- There is also perfumes created by a very talented perfumer friend that has not released their own packaging and logo yet. However, when I tried one of the fragrances this perfumer created, colleagues from Europe, Australia, Middle East and Asia kept asking me about the brand and where to purchase it because it smelled fantastic, unique, and is unisex. I personally bought several perfumes from the perfumer for personal use and also bought the one I love the most to give as gifts to friends. If you are interested in this perfumer’s fragrances, you can message me on Instagram (my IG: Samanthavoila), and I can connect you with the perfumer.
Where to buy Arabic perfumes in Dubai: The first two brands mentioned are available at Mall of the Emirates, Galeries Lafayette, Harvey Nichols, Sephora, Perfume Souk, and duty-free shops at the airport.
Where to buy Arabic incense in Dubai: You can find it at the Spice Souk.
9. Incense Burners
Incense burners are also popular things to buy in Dubai. There are many styles available, including wooden boxes, and elaborately decorated metal ones. Purchasing incense burners and incense to take back home can add a touch of ambiance and Arabian fragrance to your space. I still like it very much!
Where to buy incense burners in Dubai: You can find them at Dubai Spice Souk and souvenir shop Al Jaber Gallery.
10. Patchi Chocolate
Patchi is a premium chocolate brand from Lebanon, popular not only in Arab countries but also in many countries around the world. Patchi has collaborated with the official gift shops of the mega event Dubai government held- Expo 2020 Dubai (World Expo), which shows its fame and quality in the UAE as well. If you want to purchase gifts from Dubai which loved by many, Patchi chocolates can be a great option.
Where to buy premium Patchi chocolates in Dubai: You can find them at Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and several other locations. For more information on Patchi’s offline stores, you can visit their site.
11. Aladdin's Lamp
Do you remember the story of Aladdin and his magical lamp? The story of Aladdin takes place in a fictional Arabian city, so when you visit Arab countries, you often come across the presence of Aladdin’s lamps. That’s why you can find these lamps at various tourist attractions in Dubai, each one uniquely decorated and available in different sizes. If you are a fan of the Aladdin’s Lamp story, these lamps make for wonderful souvenirs with a symbolic Arabian touch.
Where to buy Aladdin’s Lamp in Dubai: Dubai International Airport, Old Town areas such as Al Seef and Diera, Dubai Mall, Madinat Jumeirah Souk, Mall of the Emirates, and many other places.
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