Zara CloThinG
Map p208 (Deira City Centre, baniyas rd) Styl-
ish Spain-based Zara has stores all over
Dubai, but this is the original branch, with
a fabulous selection of smart-looking af-
fordable clothes and accessories. It rarely
strays from its black, white, beige and grey
colour palette, but the cuts and styling feel
very now and look expensive.
MiKyaJy beauTy
Map p208 (Deira City Centre, baniyas rd) You
feel like you’re walking into a chocolate
gift-box at tiny Mikyajy, the Gulf’s home-
grown make-up brand. Developed to suit
the colouring of Middle Eastern women, it’s
now also popular with foreigners who ap-
preciate vibrant colours such as turquoise
and tangerine.
GifT VillaGe DeparTMenT STore
Map p206 (baniyas St) If you have spent all
your money on Jimmy Choo shoes and at
the Gold Souq and need a new inflight bag,
this cut-price place has a great range, as
well as stocking just about everything else,
including cosmetics, shoes, clothing, toys,
sports goods, jewellery and superbly kitsch
souvenirs.
daMas JeWellery
Map p208 (Deira City Centre, baniyas rd; h10am-
10pm Sun-Wed, 10am-midnight Thu-Sat) Damas
may not be the most innovative jeweller in
Dubai, but with over 50 stores, it’s the most
trusted. Among the diamonds and gold,
look for classic pieces and big-designer
names such as Fabergé and Tiffany.
VirGin MeGasTore MuSiC
Map p208 (Deira City Centre, baniyas rd; h10am-
10pm Sun-Wed, 10am-midnight Thu-Sat) The
enthusiastic sales staff are great at sug-
gesting Middle Eastern music to take back
home, from traditional oud music to Ori-
ental chill-out. The selection is huge. Also
check out the Arabian and Iranian DVDs.
The store in the Mall of the Emirates is
bigger, but for Middle Eastern tunes, this
one’s best.
early learninG cenTre ToyS
Map p208 (Deira City Centre, baniyas rd) Parents:
if you failed to pack enough toys to keep
your little ones entertained, fret not. The
Early Learning Centre stocks great games
designed to get kids thinking and develop-
ing key learning skills. And because they’re
not always easy to figure out, they’ll keep
children busy for hours. There are addi-
tional branches around town, including at
the Mall of the Emirates and Souq Madinat
Jumeirah.WoMen’s secreT WoMen’S CloThinG
Map p208 (Deira City Centre, baniyas rd) This
sassy Spanish label is popuar for its global-
pop-art-inspired underwear, swimwear
and nightwear. Expect anything from cute
Mexican cross-stitched bra-and-pants sets
to Moroccan-style kaftan-like nightdresses.2
SportS &
activitiESaMara Spa
Map p208 (%04-602 1234; http://www.dubai.park
.hyatt.com; park hyatt Dubai; day pass weekdays/
weekends Dh300/350) Dubai’s top spa at the
Park Hyatt has eight treatment suites, in-
cluding three for couples, all with their
own private walled gardens complete
with outdoor rain showers. Nonguests candubai fesTiVal cenTreAnother of Dubai’s newer shopping
and entertainment centres, dubai
festival centre (off Map p208; www
.dubaifestivalcentre.com) has all the
standard shops, plus Ikea – probably
not that useful unless you have hand
luggage space for a flatpack� Its main
plus is the picturesque Creekside loca-
tion, which is lined with some 50 bars
and some fine restaurants, including
the uK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s
Jamie’s italian (%04-232 9969; www
.jamieoliver.com/italian/dubai; hclosed
Sun)� You can also take an abra ride
here, ogle at the yachts at the luxuri-
ous Festival Marina or just enjoy a rare
waterside stroll� The festival concert
arena (www.dubaifestivalcity.com) also
stages some top acts, such as the late
Amy Winehouse who appeared on
stage here, albeit sadly worse for wear,
in February 2011� The Dubai Festival
Centre (part of the larger residential
community Dubai Festival City) is
located just southwest of the airport,
near Business Bay Bridge�d
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