Topshop’s diverse selection runs from
denim and jumpers to inexpensive jazzy ac-
cessories, such as handbags and colourful
earrings. Also in Deira City Centre, Ibn Bat-
tuta Shopping Mall and Wafi Mall.c l aMe coMpany Sou VenirS
Map p218 (Souq Madinat Jumeirah, al-Sufouh rd,
al-Sufouh 2; h10am-11pm) If you can slap a
camel on it, Camel Company has it. This
hands-down best spot for camel souvenirs
carries plush stuffed camels that sing when
you squeeze them, camels in Hawaiian shirts,
on T-shirts, coffee cups, mouse-pads, note-
books, greeting cards and fridge magnets.MercaTo Mall Shoppin G Mall
Map p218 (www.mercatoshoppingmall.com; Ju-
meirah rd, Jumeirah 1; h10am-10pm) One of
the most attractive malls in Dubai, Mer-
cato blends the grandeur of a European
train station with the playfulness of an
Italian palazzo. Think soaring murals and
an arched glass ceiling. It’s fun to wander
among the brick colonnades, and the com-
pact size makes shopping here less over-
whelming than at other malls. There are
a few stylish boutiques like Fleurt, a small
Topshop, a Virgin Megastore, and some in-
teresting carpet and curio shops.s uq Madinao T JuMeirah Shoppin G CenTre
Map p218 (Madinat Jumeirah, al-Sufouh 2; h10am-
11pm) More a themed shopping mall than a
traditional Arabian market, the souq is a bit
of a tourist trap, with prices that are con-
siderably higher than they are in real souqs.
Still, it’s an attractive spot for a wander and
worth visiting if only to see how the enor-
mous Madinat Jumeirah complex fits to-
gether. Outside, abras float by on man-made
canals, and dozens of al fresco bars and res-
taurants overlook the scene. The floor plan
is intentionally confusing: officials say thatit’s meant to mimic a real souq but others
think it’s to keep you trapped and lure you
into emptying your wallet.l ’saTa Sou VenirS
Map p218 (Souq Madinat Jumeirah, al-Sufouh
rd, al-Sufouh 2; h10am-11pm) This is our
favourite one-stop shop for Arabian and
Middle Eastern souvenirs, such as Moroc-
can lamps, brass coffee tables, khanjars
(see the boxed text, p103) and silver prayer
holders. It also stocks some fabulous silver
jewellery, and some not-so-fabulous cos-
tume pieces. Tell the staff what you’re after,
and they’ll steer you right to it.2 SportS &
activitiESWild Wadi WaTerparK Wa rparkTe
Map p218 (www.wildwadi.com; Jumeirah rd,
umm Suqeim 3; admission over/under 110cm
Dh205/165; h10am-6pm nov-Feb, 10am-7pm
Mar-May & Sep-oct, 10am-8pm Jun-aug; c)
When the kids grow weary of the beach
and hotel pool, you’ll score big-time by
bringing them to Wild Wadi. More than a
dozen ingeniously interconnected rides fol-
low a vague theme about an Arabian adven-
turer named Juha and his friend Sinbad the
sailor, who get shipwrecked together. There
are plenty of gentle rides for tots, plus a
big-wave pool, a white-water rapids ‘river’
and a 33m-high Jumeirah Sceirah slide that
drops you at a speed of 80km/h (hold on to
your trunks, guys!). Thrill-seekers can also
test their bodyboarding mettle on Wipeout,
a permanent wave. Children must be at
least 110cm tall for some of the scarier rides.
Check the website for discounts. From April
to October Wild Wadi is open for women
and children only on Thursday evenings
(over/under 110cm Dh165/135; open 8pm to
midnight April, May, September and Octo-
ber, and 9pm to 1am June to August).a lbooM diVinG Di nViG
Map p218 (www.alboomdiving.com; cnr al-Wasl rd
& 33 St, Jumeirah 1; bubblemaker course Dh275; c)
Al Boom is the largest dive operation in the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and leads daily
guided dive trips off Dubai and to the East
Coast and the Musandam Peninsula. The
experienced staff offer the gamut of courses,
from Discover Scuba Diving to Instructorc l aMe craZyOur favourite camel gifts:
̈ Stuffed camels that play Arabic
music when cuddled
̈ Camelspotting CD – cool Middle
Eastern music
̈ Sabine Moser’s Camel-O-Shy
children’s books
̈ Intricate camel-patterned cushion
coversJumeirah
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