The best fashion and gift stores Île D'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!

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.

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.

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.

Nazzy Belgari is Iranian and has a twenty-year career in journalism behind her. An artist and fashion designer, this is one of the best kept addresses in Abu Dhabi. Her fairy fingers run over the fabrics she hunts down during her trips to the ends of the earth to imagine unique models: coats, abayas, skirts and dresses. A wonderful personality behind a woman of great talent. A pleasure for the eyes, unique clothes sometimes inspired by Arabic calligraphy make wonderful gifts to bring back.

At the age of 17, while studying in Pakistan, Aroosi Iqbal launched her first collection for women. Today, she has two boutiques in Abu Dhabi and counts members of the royal family among her customers. Her designs are always inspired by the region's dress codes, ranging from shalwar kameez, kaftans and jalabiyas, to modern dresses, all with a couture feel. For those who wish, the brand also offers custom-made dresses, made by hand. A very nice gift to bring back home

In the heart of the artisans' house, you will find this wonderful shop selling souvenirs made by Emiratis. Pouches, bookmarks, wallets woven according to the traditional sadu method, but also basketry made from palm leaves, not forgetting the teli, woven gold and silver threads. Everything is made locally, even the souvenir bags. We like everything all the more because it is rare, if not impossible, to find this kind of shop in the capital. The fruit of the sales goes to the women who have formed a cooperative.

Here is a shopping mall made up entirely of jewelry stores, but don't expect a traditional souk. Gold is sold by the gram at the day's price, with a margin for negotiation. The Gold Centre occupies the right wing of the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, a retro mall frequented by Indian communities and the less affluent Emiratis. It's also a fabric paradise if you prefer to have a dress made. Around the mall, it is the temple of haberdashery.