East Jerusalem
The longest-established Armenian-style ceramics studio in Jerusalem, this family business is run by Neshan Balian, grandson of a master potter from Turkey…
Must-see shopping in Middle East
Amman
There's more to pampering yourself in Jordan than just Dead Sea mud. Up an alley at the bottom of Rainbow St, you'll find this lovely old villa and garden…
Amman
Get your cool-for-cats T-shirts and hoodies here and keep up to date with the Amman street-design vibe, with hints of graffiti, hip-hop culture, anime…
Jerusalem
Sleek, minimalist designs characterise the metalwork of versatile artist Yaakov Greenvurcel. His gleaming challah trays and dreidels are among the Judaica…
Riyadh
The excellent Jarir Bookstore has the best range of English-language books in every genre, from classic literature to modern popular novels, but most…
Nizwa
One of a number of shops in the craft section of the souq, this shop occupies a refurbished old building next to the fort. It has a fine range of…
Sur
With its traditional perfume shops, gold souq and Arab clothing stores, the Ladies' Souq is a fascinating part of town to wander around. There are many…
Manama
The most prestigious name in premium Middle Eastern oud, musk, agarwood oils and perfumes, this Saudi brand has been around since 1852, dispensing…
Amman
If we call this souvenir shop long-established, we mean it: the original family business goes back to 1870s Palestine. It's jammed to the rafters with…
Aqaba
The Noor Al Hussein Foundation is a national vocational training organisation, with one of its arms making handicrafts with local cooperatives. The fruits…
Iran
This tiny shop sells the local traditional goat-haired jackets worn by men. Black and white, knee-length and without arms, these jackets provide a…
Esfahan
A dazzling array of exquisite jewellery is for sale in this bazaar dedicated to gold and gems. The broad arcade and opulent shop windows make it worth a…
Amman
One of Amman's leading contemporary art galleries, Jacaranda holds regular exhibitions of excellent regional artists and is particularly strong in its…
Esfahan
This friendly father-and-son team specialise in nomadic carpets from all over Iran. High-quality pieces are available and postage can be arranged.
Muscat
Selling prized Omani silver, this shop's exclusive contemporary jewellery and gift items are handcrafted in a workshop in Muscat.
Dubai
This top-notch tailor has made bespoke suits for distinguished clients such as Roger Federer and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, along with men's and women…
Dubai
This city-centre shopping, dining and entertainment district has the feel of a European town centre with its faux Georgian-style buildings, water features…
Dubai
This market features not only fruit and veg from local growers but also local honey, nuts, spices and eggs, plus arts and crafts, food stations and…
Dubai
Plain and simple they are not, the clothes and accessories at S*uce (pronounced ‘sauce’), a pioneer in Dubai’s growing lifestyle-fashion scene. Join…
Dubai
Home to Ski Dubai, a community theatre, a 24-screen multiplex cinema and – let's not forget – 630 shops, Mall of the Emirates is one of Dubai's most…
Jeddah
Jeddah's souq, immediately south of King Fahd Rd, is well worth seeking out. It's subdivided into sections, some populated by different immigrant groups,…
Dubai
Label-lovers on a budget flock to this indoor outlet mall whose architecture was inspired by a Tuscan hillside village. Midrange to fancy brands from…
Dubai
Inspired by the London original, this 1.3km-long outdoor lifestyle mall was built from upcycled shipping containers and has injected a welcome dose of…
Qatar
This indoor mall contains a wide range of international brands and department stores including Ikea, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams, as well as a Vox…
Amman
On a street dotted with bars and shisha cafes, this flower and small gifts shop is a colourful and welcome addition. If you’re celebrating a special…
Doha
This popular seasonal open-air market in Education City welcomes the best of Qatar’s home-grown food and produce-related businesses to market their spoils…
Dubai
Hands-down the best spot for kid-friendly camel souvenirs: stuffed camels in all sizes and colours, camels on T-shirts, coffee cups, notebooks, greeting…
Downtown Dubai
This massive shop is El Dorado for bookworms. Shelves are stocked with a mind-boggling half-a-million tomes plus 1000 or so magazines in English, Arabic,…
Qatar
A fantastic family entertainment destination, the Mall of Qatar's spectacular atrium (named the Oasis) is surrounded by restaurants, and hosts live…
Abu Dhabi
This vast wholesale market, partly open-air, is the exchange point for melons from Jordan, potatoes from Turkey and onions from just about everywhere. A…
Abu Dhabi
British architect Norman Foster's immensely pleasant reinterpretation of the traditional souq is a stylish composition of warm lattice woodwork, stained…
Oman
Only half the workshops in this modern arcade are open, but there’s a few mat-weaving establishments (shop nine) and an apothecary (shop 10), where you…
Sharjah
This new souq, shaded by areesh (palm fronds used to construct huts and houses) panels, is built over the site of an earlier souq discovered during…
Sharjah
If you're in the market for glitzy gold jewellery studded with semi-precious stones, then this grand, tile-embellished market building, dating from 1978,…
Riyadh
Urban legend has it that Saudi royals used to ditch their pricey handbags here, but in reality it’s unlikely you’ll find any couture. The city’s largest…
Abu Dhabi
The garrulous traders from Balochistan, Pakistan, here are good fun, though don't expect to encounter piles of beautiful jewel-toned hand-loomed carpets…
Bur Dubai
The place for traditional Middle Eastern attars (perfumes), Ajmal custom blends its earthy scents and pours them into fancy gold or jewel-encrusted…
Bur Dubai
Rather than rest on its laurels, Dubai's oldest high-end mall (open since 1992) just keeps reinventing itself. A recent remodel added some 200 shops …
Jerusalem
After you stroll through New Gate into Jerusalem's Old City, it's hard to resist taking a peek inside the colourful ceramics workshop of Armenian brothers…
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