Dubai is internationally renowned for its superb shopping. Retail prices are competitive and the range and the variety of produce available is unequalled. A tax-free haven, desirable brand-name products are often cheaper in Dubai than in other shopping Mecca's. The city draws 'shopping tourists' from around the globe. As a testament to this, since 1996 the city has annually hosted the Dubai Shopping Festival, a retailing and entertainment extravaganza.

The theme of the festival which occurs around January of each year is 'One World, One Family, One Festival', reflecting the multitude of cultures that exist side by side in Dubai. The 2003 festival attracted 2.92 million visitors. Modern shopping conveniences are unrivalled in Dubai. Take a trip to the Mercato Mall on the Jumeirah Beach Road where the architectural style hints at Italian Renaissance culture, or visit one of the most popular complexes among the locals – the Deira City Centre, near the Dnata Intersection.

A shopping, entertainment and leisure complex, it offers over 300 shops, a hypermarket, cinema, leisure complex and hotel. But if gold is what you're after, be sure to visit one of the open air markets. The Dubai souks are legendary, and traditional items made of pure gold are sold alongside modern designer gold goods. The 'Gold Souk' in Dubai is not to be missed, and top buys should be gold, silver, pearls and diamonds. Whatever your shopping tastes, be it haute couture from Milan, state-of-the-art electronics from Japan, or a myth-imbued Arabic scarab, you're sure to find it in Dubai.

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