While the UAE certainly isn't short of air-conditioned shopping malls, there's nothing quite like a marketplace and some of Dubai's favourites have moved indoors for the summer.
Rifle through second-hand goods at Dubai Flea Market, peruse antiques at Souk Al Marfa and pick up plant-based items at the Not Just For Vegans pop-up.
There's something for every shopper in Dubai and these markets are spread throughout the city, from Barsha to Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Festival City.
Here are some of the best indoor markets to check out this summer.
Dubai Flea Market
Dubai’s popular flea market has moved indoors for the summer with an event at Dubai World Trade Centre, at the main hall 4. It takes place on the first Sunday of the month, from 11am to 6pm, the next one will happen on Sunday, August 7. Usually taking place outdoors at a different location each month, Dubai Flea Market is a place to sell and buy secondhand goods, with everything from furniture and appliances to electronics and antiques on sale. Also find toys, games, books, clothes, ceramics and more.
More information is available at www.dubai-fleamarket.com
There Goes the Neighbourhood
This monthly alternative market experience will next take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7 at One Life Kitchen and Cafe in Dubai Design District. It's a celebration of Africa and the African diaspora, with about 20 vendors selling goods, offering workshops, playing games and providing trivia. African street food options, including South African braai, will also be on offer, as well as live music.
More information is at www.instagram.com/tgtnalternativemarket
Urban Market
Shop from vintage, thrift and local artisans at the Urban Market, which is next taking place on Saturday, August 6 from 2pm to 8pm at Radisson Red Hotel Dubai Silicon Oasis. High-street fashion, beauty products, wellness and fitness items, plus plenty more, will be on sale. There will be live beats, drinks and burgers to enjoy, too.
More information is available at www.urbanmarketconcept.com
Zeman Awwal
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Zeman Awwal, a permanent cultural space celebrating local heritage and giving Emirati artists the chance to present their work, is located at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The space puts Emirati traditions under the spotlight and comprises nine distinct areas showcasing art, fashion, poetry, film and food. -
Zeman Awwal aims to provide the mall’s visitors an authentic look at various aspects of Emirati culture. -
A boy practices Al Youla dance with a replica wooden rifle. -
Craft workshops will also be held intermittently at the space, teaching visitors artisan skills that are passed from generation to generation, including Sadu and palm frond weaving. -
A collection of 10 dresses from The Zay Initiative are on display at Zeman Awwal. -
Zeman Awwal also features a variety of souqs, selling everything from carpets and leather products to spices, fabrics and souvenirs. -
Hussain Moosa, director at Mall of the Emirates, says Zeman Awwal is meant to offer the mall's visitors a perspective on UAE history. -
Traditional Emirati bridal processions will be reenacted periodically at the venue. -
An Emirati artist sketches a portrait of Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father. -
Workshops offering a look at Emirati handicrafts will also be held. -
The modern, upscale interior vibe at Zeman Awwal provides a platform for Emirati artists to showcase their work. -
Zeman Awwal also features sections depicting local customs during weddings, and excursions to the desert and the sea. -
A floating ghaf tree located in the centre of the space. -
Decked out with plush seats alluding to traditional Arab decor, the Cinema Al Majlis screens a selection of Emirati films and series.
Mall of the Emirates’s cultural hub now has a new market, which features home-grown brands, leading artists and designers specialising in jewellery, fashion, arts and crafts, as well as culinary experiences. Located on level two in the fashion dome, next to Armani Cafe, Zeman Awwal also offers a new drop and shop service for parents looking to keep their children entertained while they trawl the mall. This new service is on offer daily between 1pm and 10pm for children aged 3 to 9 or Dh70 to 100 per hour.
More information is available at www.malloftheemirates.com
Ripe Market
One of Dubai's favourite outdoor markets moves indoors during the summer, with several events each month. Every Saturday, head to The Springs Souk between 10am and 10pm or Golden Mile Galleria at Palm Jumeirah between 9am to 7pm. On Sundays the market moves to Times Square Centre Dubai (August 7, 14 and 28 from 10am to 7pm), Me’aisem City Centre (August 7 and 21 from 10am to 10pm) and Circle Mall in JVC (August 14 and 28 from 10am to 7pm). Expect the regular roster of vendors selling all sorts of beautiful, handmade items, including food, gift, jewellery, clothes, homeware and more.
More information is available at www.ripeevents.com
Reborn Society
As part of Dubai Design District’s Rethink Summer programme, which includes workshops, talks, activities and more throughout d3, there’s Reborn Society, an exclusive pop-up shop by influencer and designer Zeynab El-Helw. The brand's sustainable fashion collections, made from 100 per cent organic cotton and recycled materials, are up for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will go towards UNHCR to support refugees around the world. Find it at the d3 Summer Hub.
More information is available at www.therebornsociety.com
Souk Al Marfa
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There are 10 million antiques and rarities on display at the Museum Hub across 50 stalls. This includes old car licence plates. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National -
Old telecoms equipment on display at The Museum Hub, which recently opened at Souk Al Marfa, Deira, Dubai. -
Owner Naser Sulaiman has been a dedicated collector of antiques for 45 years. -
The objects being presented at the Museum Hub, worth about Dh100 million, are only a fraction of Sulaiman’s collection. -
One of Sulaiman’s most prized aspects of his collection are his agals. -
While some of the exhibited objects are for sale, the ones that hold most historical value will remain part of the collection. -
Different types of coffee and tea. -
Old medical items on display. -
Different types of sewing machines. -
The hub is set to expand by another 50 stalls in September, with 50 more opening every six months until Sulaiman’s full collection is housed at Souk Al Marfa — or at least, a lion’s share of it. -
While a large part of Sulaiman’s antiques focus on regional history and heritage, his full collection includes rarities he has come across on his travels and these are housed around the world. -
Phones and typewriters. -
Fatima shows an old perfume. -
Musical instruments. -
Different types of walking sticks. -
Sulaiman has 300,000 classifications of antiques. -
Varieties of coffee pots made of different metals. -
An old ice cream maker. -
Perfumes and oud museum. -
More musical instruments on display. -
Different types of weighing scales. -
The stalls are thematically curated. -
Naser Sulaiman, founder of Museum Hub, says the collection’s true owners are the UAE’s leadership and people, and that he is merely its custodian.
Peruse the hundreds of shops and stalls at Deira’s waterfront marketplace, which has 70 retail pavilions divided into various core categories. This includes the recently opened Museum Hub, which comprises 50 stalls and boasts a collection of 10 million antiques and rarities representing the pre-millennium lifestyle and heritage of the UAE. The stalls, dubbed “museums”, are thematically curated, presenting items from handmade portraits of UAE leaders to postal stamps and coins to jewellery and musical instruments. There are some fascinating pieces on display, many of which are for sale.
More information is available at www.soukalmarfa.ae
Not Just For Vegans
This ad-hoc vegan market is hosting events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this month, with a pop-up at The Sportsman’s Arms in the capital's Zayed Sports City on Sunday, August 21, followed by one at Zabeel House The Greens by Jumeirah on Sunday, August 28, each from noon to 6pm. There’s free entry to the market, which brings together a variety of local businesses selling and promoting vegan products. That's everything from food and drinks to eco-friendly homeware and clothes to candles.
More information is available at www.notjustforvegans.com
Arte, The Makers Market
Browse dozens of stalls by local artisans who create handmade art, fashion and crafts at Arte, The Makers Market, which was first established in 2005. Find everything from artworks to candles and skincare items to jewellery, plus gifts, home decor, clothes, food and more. The free-to-enter indoor market takes place every Saturday between 10am and 6pm, and alternates between Mercato Mall on Jumeirah Road and Times Square Centre, near Al Quoz. It will take a break for the next few weeks and return to Mercato on Saturday, September 3.
More information is at www.arte.ae
The Market at Dubai Festival City
As part of Dubai Summer Surprises, which runs until Monday, September 4, an indoor pop-up market is taking place at Dubai Festival City. Mall visitors can check out The Market, which is opposite a petting zoo, and peruse stalls by local and home-grown vendors, offering all manner of products, including items for children, pets and the home.
More information is available at www.dubaifestivalcitymall.com
30 new things to do indoors in the UAE this summer — in pictures
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Take a sushi-making masterclass at SushiSamba in Dubai. Photo: SushiSamba -
Roxy Cinemas is opening at Dubai Hills Mall this summer. Photo: Roxy Cinemas -
Nakheel Mall has opened a VR-powered escape rooms venue with a board game cafe. Photo: Nakheel -
Back-to-school activities are ongoing at Dubai Hills Mall, pictured, The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall. Photo: Dubai Hills Mall -
Try the cannoli from Cipriani Dolci at Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall. Photo: Cipriani -
Anyone aged 5 and upwards can join in the Yas Mall Indoor Run this summer. Photo: Yas Mall -
Dubai Design District is hosting its Rethink Summer programme until August 26. Photo: Dubai Design District -
Deep Dive Dubai turned one in July. -
The Mohammed bin Rashid Library spans seven storeys. EPA -
Adnec's Abu Dhabi Summer Sports is the biggest event of its kind in the Middle East. Photo: Abu Dhabi Summer Sports / Instagram -
A summer camp will be held indoors at the WB Abu Dhabi hotel. -
Ice Bar at The London Project on Bluewaters, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Splatter Rooms in Abu Dhabi offers freewheeling art sessions for children and adults. Photo: Splatter Rooms -
Ripe Market will be held indoors at Golden Mile Galleria and Circle Mall in Dubai this summer. -
Yas Island has a Kids Go Free offer this summer, which includes accommodation, food and access to its theme parks for children under 12. Photo: Ferrari World -
Saray spa at Marriott Al Forsan Abu Dhabi has discounts of up to 50 per cent this summer. -
Abu Dhabi Mall's Boxed In - Think In is the latest escape room to open in the capital. Photo: Boxed In - Think In -
The Green Planet, Dubai, has an overnight camping experience. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The National Aquarium in Al Qana, Abu Dhabi, is home to 46,000 creatures and 300 species. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The Storm Coaster in Dubai Hills Mall is the fastest indoor roller coaster in the world. Photo: Emaar -
Museum of the Future in Dubai requires visitors to book tickets well in advance. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Central Yas Bay in Abu Dhabi has arcade games and bowling alleys. Victor Besa / The National -
Dubai Sports World offers indoor courts for padel, a popular sport in the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Theatre of Digital Art in Dubai is hosting a Digital Extravaganza exhibition led by Synti, a 3D holographic figure. Photo: Theatre of Digital Art -
Viking restaurant in Ajman is a cool new spot that will take you back in time. Photo: Viking -
The Galleria Al Maryah Island is hosting a new Let's Walk fitness programme. Photo: The Galleria Al Maryah Island -
Dubai Summer Surprises: a number of malls will hold sales from July 1 to September 4. Photo: DFRE -
RAK Animal Welfare Centre in Ras Al Khaimah is looking for people to meet, play with and adopt pets. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Motiongate Dubai has launched its Coolest Summer promotion. Dubai Parks and Resorts. -
Studio 14 in Dubai has a Himalayan salt wall, which is beneficial when you're working out indoors in close proximity with others. Antonie Robertson / The National -
An object discovered at Deir el-Medina by the Egyptian Museum of Turin. The museum, along with Sharjah Museum Authority, has put together an interactive exhibition targeted at school children called Deir el Medina: Village of the Pharaohs’ Artists. Photo: museoegizio / Instagram -
Alserkal Avenue in Dubai is hosting the Eyes Wide Shut exhibition. Photo: Alserkal Avenue -
The Alley DXB is a glow-in-the-dark padel court in Dubai. Photo: @thealleydxb / Instagram -
Thunder Road restaurant in Umm Al Quwain has an indoor retail store selling speciality Italian products, from olive oil to truffle everything. Photo: Pixabay -
Indoor golf and entertainment lounge MyGolf Dubai is open during the summer. Photo: MyGolf Dubai
