The best fashion and gift stores Abu Dhabi

Gaby and Joseph run this mythical address for French speakers in Abu Dhabi with a velvet hand. Almost all the big names from the European continent have visited the store, which has been in operation since 1979. Don't let that scare you, because the price is always right. No tricks or nasty surprises. Here, it is the guarantee to buy a quality product at an honest price in all price ranges. The proof is in the pudding: every time a French army boat passes by, a long line forms outside the store!

It is a tannery known by the most famous Parisian fashion houses who visit it regularly! The Al Khaznah tannery is eco-responsible and does not use any heavy metals. The skin of the camelid is so resistant that it can be worked on extremely thin thicknesses and here we work only the fine grain of the leather. Using the finest camel skins, but also those of goats and sheep, she makes all types of leather goods, but also sandals, and even rolls to line the walls of wealthy Emiratis.

The mall is located in a building sheathed with openwork wooden panels, worked into skylights and designed by Foster & Partners. It was built on the site of the old souk, in the historic district of the city, at the foot of two twin towers, one of which is the highest in Abu Dhabi. On the shopping mall side, the Hub offers a quality gastronomic offer. On the souk side across the street, it is the kingdom of souvenir gifts, with a small market selling Iranian spices, and I love AD which offers some books and souvenirs.

The Galleria is a shopping mall with 400 shops, including 100 restaurants spread over two wings: in one, the temple of luxury. The biggest brands are there, even if the customer is rare. In the other, a supermarket and some more affordable brands, including a Virgin Megastore. The shopping center, located at the foot of an office complex between two five-star hotels and a few steps away from a very large hospital, has above all become a place where you can find a large selection of very good restaurants with nice views on the water.

This giant emporium has been open for over 20 years! It is one of the city's iconic malls for shopping miles. It's not particularly beautiful, but with nearly 200 stores you can store the entire Iberian fashion empire and a section for traditional dress and perfumes (Abu Haleeqa, where Dhabians dress!) and a Coop supermarket with unbeatable prices. It is located in one of the historic districts of the 80s and is mostly frequented by locals and expats.

Also known as the Central Souk or the Old Souk, the Al-Ain Souk is a delightful place to discover all the scents of Arabia. It's so much fun to wander through the messy and lavishly colored stalls! You can even find female date palm flowers that they sell between April and May to allow pollination in the surrounding oases. They also sell local or Yemeni honey. Not forgetting accessories for camels like beautiful blankets, muzzles, etc.

This modern souk is a long strip of convenient stores, with international names like Choithram, Shoe Mart and The Body Shop. There are also tasty bakeries, a baby store, a butcher shop and several toy and children's clothing stores; even more outlets can be found across the road with many handmade items. Remember that you are in the Middle East and bargaining is a local sport. By taking your time, you can get significant discounts.

Originally, in the 1980s, Jimi Mall was home to the meat and vegetable market. After undergoing extensive renovations, the mall reopened in 2002 and was expanded in 2007. Since then, it offers 760,000 square meters of shopping space, with a Carrefour hypermarket as the main attraction, and a movie theater complex. Less sprawling than the Bawad, it is a pleasant shopping stop. There are many options to eat there, such as Starbucks for iced coffee. It is however a bit far from the tourist sites.

A traditional shopping centre with its clothing and shoe stores.

Opened in 2001, this modern, luxurious and huge shopping mall is one of the most pleasant in the Emirates, as it is largely lit by daylight thanks to large glass roofs. On site, you will find more than 350 stores: clothes, cosmetics, jewelry, chocolates, souvenirs and a French brand supermarket! A bowling alley, an ice rink, a cinema complex, a place to play billiards, a drop-in center and a food court with fast-food restaurants offering all kinds of cuisine. The prices are particularly attractive.

Wahda Mall is located in the center of the capital. It is a large shopping mall and in fact the largest on Abu Dhabi Island and probably the most pleasant to walk around. In addition to the string of international brands, there is Magrudy, which has been in business for over 35 years, a nice bookstore and Lulu supermarket, an institution in the UAE. There, you will be able to find some of the country's specialties such as dates, a blend of ready-to-use Arabian coffee, camel milk, an abaya... at very competitive prices

The Qasr al Watan shop is inside the palace, near the exit before getting back on the bus. Several jewels, beautiful books, camel milk chocolates, some reproductions, souvenir magnets for the refrigerators. But what really gets us excited in this souvenir shop are the postcards which are, without any doubt, the most beautiful we have seen in the Emirates: desert landscapes, monuments, traditional boats.

The gallery bears the name of its founder: Salwa Zeidan. Lebanese artist, sculptor, self-taught painter, she became interested in the history of art by visiting museums, by reading a lot and by a great personal research. Now, as a curator, she has been running this art gallery specializing in contemporary art since 1995. The artists present are of very diverse origins. A quick look at the website will give you an idea of the activity of this much appreciated gallery. It is one of the first to have offered online exhibitions since 2013.

It is in the district of the jewelers in one of the most commercial streets of the city that we discover this very sympathetic store. Vast choice of precious stones and gold jewelry. You can have your wedding rings engraved, or have a model copied. At Carcassonne, despite appearances, they don't speak French, but the staff is charming and very attentive to the needs of their French-speaking clientele and above all they are very honest. Negotiation possible

Welcome to Mr. Farouk! Based in Abu Dhabi for over 25 years, this designer and his team are all Indian. This is an address that expatriates like to pass on to each other. If you dream of copying magazine dresses or remaking an outfit in a different colour at very reasonable prices, don't hesitate. You can buy your fabric at the Madinat Zayed souk and bring either an outfit or a magazine photo. They will take your measurements, calculate the estimate and call you a few days later for the first try on.

Amin is the place to go in Abu Dhabi to get a bespoke suit or to copy trousers and blouses in a different colour. It's also the go-to tailoring house for the military and government officials. While they make a lot of kanduras, they are also very good for European tastes. As they sell fabric as well, all you have to do is bring your model or a small photo. They will take all the measurements on the spot. Another advantage is that they accept credit cards. They usually take about 10 days.

In an area where dressmakers abound, this is the one that is a bit of a favorite. Located in a very local area, it also sells furnishing fabrics by the meter and offers the possibility to make sheets, tablecloths, towels and dresses. It is therefore very popular with expatriates who redo all their linens at very competitive prices for a quality well above what can be found in the well-known international brands.

A human-sized shopping mall that allows you to park in front of the front door of each store: a Carrefour Express, a toy store, a chocolate shop, a pharmacy, Al Rifai to buy the best dried fruits in town, the Brioche for a salad, Starbucks for iced coffee, but also a currency exchange office with very good rates, a beauty salon and even a barber to name a few. And even a small open-air market with crafts and souvenir gifts. On their social networks, up-to-date tips.