Gourmet products local specialties and wines United Arab Emirates

On the Corniche, 300 metres above sea level, at the top of Etihad Towers Tower 2, you can take a break and enjoy the best view of the capital, as this 360-degree indoor viewing platform also allows you to take the best pictures of the whole of Abu Dhabi Island and beyond. You can enjoy a minty lemonade or cappuccino and even a glass of wine. The small but very decent food menu makes this place a must-visit break and probably one of the most sought-after in Abu Dhabi.

Forever Rose started out as a store selling treated roses that last forever. Now it's a trendy café, opened in November 2020, that never lets up. It all starts with the monochrome black-and-white décor, followed by trompe-l'oeil and the sensation of being in the middle of a comic strip illustration. The clientele is mainly local, with a few influencers and their followers. Lavender or orchid latte, melting chocolate and caramel ganache for the "Lava of Love"... What an atmosphere!

Located on 50 000 m ², the Maousse shopping centre is the exception of classics, brand shops, perfume pens, food courts and children's playground. There is also a Carrefour supermarket.

Surmounted by its panoramic tower similar to a flying saucer, in which there is a cinemascopic restaurant, here is a shopping center built on an artificial island near the Corniche. Apart from a plethora of international stores and a few souvenir stores, there is also the Carrefour supermarket where you can buy local products, some abayas at unbeatable prices and a large trampoline park for children. No pork or alcohol though.

Several years ago this market had a reputation for selling a fish with an extraordinary taste and without equivalent in the Emirates. Unfortunately, since 2009, many customers have complained about the freshness of fish sold to the market. It says that fishermen go to Dubai to sell their goods and then return to UAQ with the unsold. The small market remains, however, no less picturesque.

Compared to its neighbour Al- Ghurair City, Al-Reef Mall is a small shopping centre. Modern and human-size, it is pleasant to visit for those who do not like crowds or large spaces. There are various brands of clothes, leather goods, jewellery, decor, optics, sports... The children's area, with bright colours, is very attractive.

Al-Ghurair City is a former mall now renovated but without special charm if compared to its large competitors. Quite spacious, clear and modern, it does not have any special interest, except if you live in the neighbourhood. It has an interesting choice of international signs (Benetton, Esprit, Mexx…) a Starbucks, a few dining points, a children's space and a cinema of 18 rooms, anyway. To report, the proximity to the nearby Toys'R US.

Just before the Khaled lagoon, the fish shop seduced by its balanced architecture. Dhow are moored, as often as a couple, to the point of forming a beautiful range. Walk on the boardwalk, along a succession of shops covered with red roofs. This ensemble forms a hall where fish, sometimes in tanks, sometimes on braided plateaus. Copper scales give their verdict, and fish exchange against a few dirhams. The atmosphere is particularly hectic and it is not surprising to be hélé by rabatteurs. It is normal, fish is a fresh and particularly fragile product that must be sold as quickly as possible. For this walk in the souk, feel comfortable and take a insulated bag (high heat)!

Lulu, whose name means "pearl" in Arabic, is a chain of supermarkets whose first opened in 1995 in Abu Dhabi. Founded by Yussuf Ali, an Indian from the Kerala region, it is now an empire with over 210 stores in the Arabian Peninsula. This chain, especially popular with Indian and Pakistani expatriates, is also a real Ali Baba's cave for those looking for bargains. It is the temple of electronics, clothing, and affordable food. They also offer games, clothes, cosmetics.

Built in waterfront mode on the edge of Khor Al-Maqtaa, the lagoon arm separating the continent from the island of Abu Dhabi, this huge shopping mall has an Eastern architecture and atmosphere with a little Venetian air. This is not yet another shopping mall, but rather a 6,000 square metre mall that unfolds its chic boutiques, pop-up stores and terraced restaurants. Delicatessen on site and musical entertainment at weekends.

Opened in 2010, on 27,000 square meters, in the center of the leisure district of the Rakian capital, close to the resorts and not far from the Iceland Park, here is the most frequented mall in the area. Nearly 150 shops rub shoulders with more than 20 restaurants, 8 cinemas and a small amusement park for the little ones as well as a Spinneys supermarket for those who need to stock up before a trip to the desert. Small shuttles are organized from the mall to several hotels in the neighborhood.

Abela has been in Abu Dhabi since 1967 and is a real institution. However, this small supermarket is a bit outdated and is located not far from the Corniche. On the other hand, it is full of good products, including a pork section. It has a good retail section and good salads for lunch so that you can have a little picnic and enjoy it on the lawns along the Corniche. The clientele is mainly made up of long-standing expatriates who appreciate this business away from the well-known international brands.

This small café is located on the garden level of the Ritz-Carlton opposite the great mosque. You have to cross the imposing lobby of the establishment and go down to find the little café not far from the swimming pool. As its name suggests, it is a sweet paradise with a tangy decor. The French pastry chef offers homemade ice creams, cakes and sweets that would make the best establishments pale in comparison and make all the great gourmands fall in love. It's a great way to end a day of sightseeing after a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Choose your best fruits and vegetables from all the stalls. There is no need to buy large quantities, as you can choose by the retail price. Don't miss the olives and oil produced by the Syrian olive trees near Damascus. They have an incomparable taste and when you know the journey they go through and their origin, the purchase becomes almost sentimental. The products come from all over the Middle East. Coconut milk to be tasted on the spot.

How can you leave the UAE without a few dates? If you really want some local fruit and buy it from a small shopkeeper, then go to Mina Market. In the fruit and vegetable market, an entire aisle is dedicated to them. Without any worries, you can first have a small tasting on the spot before you decide on your selection. The service is welcoming and charming and you are sure to get good quality fruit at a reasonable price in this shop and the neighbouring ones.

Large store selling alcoholic beverages, beers, wines and sparkling wines located in Ras al-Khaimah - a good hour from Dubai - where the sale of alcohol is allowed without a license! Unlike the few specialised shops in Dubai where you have to add 30% tax on the prices indicated on the shelves, Centaurus is open to all and at much more reasonable prices. Even better... you can place your order on the website without going anywhere! Wide choice, impeccable service, discounts from 1 000 AED, and moreover the managers are French !

The atmosphere is at its best early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Early morning is the best time to catch a glimpse of the fish arriving, and choose from crabs, lobsters and local fish such as the local grouper called "hammour" (pronounced "love") or the rabbit fish "siganus rivulatus" or "siganus luridus", locally known as safi and abundant in the waters of the Gulf. The trick is to buy the fish, have it filleted and cooked on the spot with a few spices, then enjoy it in one of the market stalls. At 6 p.m., the fish auction: atmosphere guaranteed!

It's in the souk side of the World Trade Center, designed by the famous architects Foster&Partners, that you'll find this little "bistro" between two purchases. In a deceptively Victorian setting, this is the local branch of the Dubai-based company. Ladurée style without style, but the products are good and reasonably priced. A good address for simple dishes. Don't miss the sweet and savoury crêpes, the poultry, the oeuf Bénédicte, the macaroons and, as rarities, the frosted orange and lemon.

A visit to this cooperative founded by Sheikh Zayed in 1977 to improve the quality of life of the most remote populations of the big cities is like immersing yourself in the daily life of the Emiratis who, unlike the big cities of the emirates, are in the majority here. In addition to all the small shops of Mezaira'a, here is the mall of the place. A dozen shops, the ATM and a large food and sanitary area. Nothing is missing for daily life or to prepare a picnic before going to the desert.