Dubai crowned as one of the world’s six best shopping cities

Dubai has once again been elected as one of the world’s greatest shopping destinations, according to Black Enterprise, a business and finance magazine and website aimed at African Americans.

“Shopping and luxury are the norm in Dubai. With an endless array of swanky shops, the city is a shopping paradise for fashionistas. Shopping malls such as the Mall of the Emirates are extravagant, offering everything from theatres, art galleries, childcare centers to an indoor ski slope, luxury restaurants and even mosques,” the report added.

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In 2013 more than 11 million tourists visited Dubai, according to Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), making the emirate particularly attractive for international retailers who are looking to enter the Middle East.

“Dubai retained its position as the second most important international retail destination globally for the third consecutive year, closely behind London, which also retained its number one position,” the 2014 ‘How Global is the Business of Retail?’ report by global real estate consultancy firm CBRE said. The annual report covers 334 of the leading retailers in the world, across 61 countries.

“Dubai is the most popular shopping destination for high net-worth individuals, largely from China, Russia and other Asian and Arab countries. Dubai alone represents 30 percent of the total Middle East luxury sales and 60 per cent of the UAE’s luxury sales,” the Alpen Capital’s ‘GCC Retail Industry’ the report added.

The annual Dubai Shopping Festival and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest mall, attract 35 million visitors per year to the city.