Abu Dhabi has caught up fast with Dubai when it comes to shopping, and has 18 malls and souks dotted around the city.

Located close to the airport on 10th Street, Abu Dhabi Mall is the largest in Abu Dhabi and houses all the signature brands of clothes, footwear, accessories and lifestyle products. The Dune City Entertainment Centre and Bowling City within the mall are popular with expats over the weekends.

The Marina Mall is a stylish mall, and apart from the regular lifestyle stores of the West, it also packs in winter sports with a snow dome, ski slope and an ice skating rink.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets stock the entire range of food and non-food items from across the globe, so expatriates never do miss out on the foods and the products they are used to back home. With no taxes or duties, almost everything is cheaper. Besides being less expensive, all seasonal fruits and vegetables are available throughout the year.

The Hamdan Centre on Hamdan Street is frequented for its reasonably priced shops. Expats can also explore the traditional markets at Al Meena, Fish Market and Iranain Souk for items of daily use. The Fish Market at Al Meena has a range of fresh fish, lobsters and shrimps to choose from. At the Meena Souk you can pick up soft furnishings and kitchenware at very cheap rates. Some of the local stuff can be bought from the Khalifa Centre in the Tourist Club Area. Gold jewelry and precious stones are also much cheaper than anywhere else in the world.

For home furnishings and household items, THE One is a good place to visit. Cars are cheaper too in Abu Dhabi, and even Mercs and BMWs are more affordable than back home.
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Submitted by Yasmeen, August 2009:
For shopping, you should definitely visit the Madinat Zayed Gold Market. It's one of the best gold markets with very eye-catching designs in Gold, Diamonds, Pearls. I have seen a Natural Pearls shop in Abu Dhabi Mall also, really worth a visit. It's really a fantastic experience to shop in Abu Dhabi, having lots of variety in Jewellery to suit all tastes.