4 Best Shopping in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Alserkal Avenue

Jumeirah Beach Fodor's choice
An entire district rather than just one gallery, Alserkal is an entire creative zone where one could happily spend an entire afternoon; 500,000 square feet of architect-designed warehouses now hold some of Dubai's most progressive and sought-after collections. It's a large space to navigate, but you can book tours that give you a more in-depth look at the galleries. Other events include photography courses, family programs, film and music festivals, markets, and pop-up chefs producing art on a plate. Check out their website for updated happenings before you go, to ensure you get the most of your visit.

Art Space Gallery

World Trade Centre

The DIFC holds many galleries, and is a hub for investors and enthusiasts. It has built a reputation as a leading creative area in the city, and is also the home of Art Dubai together with the smaller Art Nights at the Gate Village. It's hard to choose just one gallery above all others, as each has its niche, but Art Space is a good place to start. With a changing roster of exhibitions of Middle Eastern artists, it is at the forefront of the growing interest in contemporary arts in the region: a great stopover for current and budding collectors.

Gallery One

Jumeirah Beach

At the more affordable end of the spectrum, Gallery One offers mixed art and photography. Owner Gregg Sedgwick took many of the images of Dubai that are for sale, which can be an evocative souvenir of a trip to the emirate. Pieces are prints rather than originals, but most are far from bland and mainstream. You can purchase large framed works, all the way down to postcards and notebooks, meaning pricing is very approachable. This venue is in the delightful Souk Madinat, but others can be found over the emirate, and orders can also be made online.

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The Courtyard

The Courtyard is a collection of design studios and art/furniture importers set around a pretty cobbled, covered atrium with internal falaj (an Ancient Arabic water feature). The facade of each enterprise features architectural designs from around the world—including Roman temples and Arabic barjeels. Of note is Total Arts, a cathedral-like vaulted gallery, the work of Dariush Zandi, a local architect and designer who supports local artists by giving them work spaces and exhibitions.