What we’re loving: Deals galore at Yas Mall

Photo by Hala Khalaf

Photo by Hala Khalaf

Photo by Hala Khalaf

Photo by Hala Khalaf

Photo by Hala Khalaf

Photo by Hala Khalaf

It is imperative that you make it to Yas Mall this week, by tomorrow at the latest. It’s the final week of a month of irresistibly good sales across all of the mammoth mall’s stores, as part of the Yas Mall Summer Festival. There’s an incentive, of course: if you spend Dh300 or more between 10am and 5pm any day this week, you’ll be entered into a raffle draw that might result in you winning a variety of prizes and vouchers, or even a dream trip from Etihad Airways. But even without the possibility of winning a prize or saving some cash, here are seven other reasons to make the trip.

Free personal shopping services at two of our favourite department stores

Debenhams – the Yas store is its biggest location outside of the UK – as well as the multi-brand House of Fraser offer personal shoppers for no extra cost. The Debenhams personal-shopping wing is a haven of luxury, with individual rooms tastefully furnished for lounging and trying on outfits.

Child carts equipped with iPads

Leave the stroller in the boot of your car, and rent one of the mall’s child carts – shaped like a car or taxi, or for siblings, a miniature bus – with the added bonus of an iPad. First, it comes with an extra large basket for shopping bags. Second, you won’t hear a peep or complaint for hours as your little one navigates a series of preloaded apps, including electronic colouring and interactive story books, as well as plenty of educational games. It can be rented for Dh120 for four hours.

Accessories at Icing

How have we never heard about Icing, a treasure trove of girlie glitter and sparkles, before? The accessories store from the United States has everything: on-trend jewellery, make-up must-haves, knick-knacks to ­embellish a laptop and bachelorette party essentials. We left with three necklaces, two bangles, a new set of make-up brushes and a pair of earrings for under Dh500.

Affordable clothes at Spain’s Sfera

The only branch in the UAE is our new favourite for trendy, affordable clothing. Sfera caters to men, women and children, and with tops priced at Dh79 and trousers at Dh99, you can’t go wrong. Think of it as a cross between the trendiness of Zara and the value of H&M.

Regional designers at Ush Boutique

House of Fraser’s Ush Boutique is owned by Abeer Al ­Suweidi, the Emirati fashion designer best known for her trend-­setting abayas that are almost like a works of art. She is responsible for everything from a skinny illustrated abaya to those fitted with corsets and accessorised with spikes. Her boutique stocks fashionable clothing by Gulf-based designers so you can channel your inner Arabian princess. We are particularly enamoured with the Lady Fozaza range by Saudi-­Lebanese fashion designer Alanoud Badr.

In-store embossing at Aspinal of London

The luxury leather-goods designer will emboss initials on anything from leather passport covers to belts to key holders to wallets, on the spot, for free. Pick the initials – or phrase – of your choice, and within minutes, gold lettering will personalise the gift of your choice. We grabbed a pink leather passport cover for Dh200 – thanks to the amazing deals – and got it monogrammed in five minutes.

Reem, the Yas Island robot

Have you met Reem, the Yas Island robot from Barcelona? An entertainer as well as a guide, she is the first, full-sized humanoid service robot of her kind, and this summer, Yas Island is her home. You’ll often find her zooming around the mall or stopping to introduce herself, eliciting peals of laughter from children in the process. She’ll offer to shake your hand, ask your name and age, then tell you about the latest wonderful thing she’s come across on the island.