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Shopping in Abu Dhabi is an obsession. Many locals and tourists spend hours each day at Abu Dhabi shopping centers, looking and bargaining for the cheapest prices.
For years, the more sophisticated centers in Dubai overshadowed Abu Dhabi's shopping centers. However, with the opening of new malls, Abu Dhabi has become a shopper's paradise.
Abu Dhabi's shopping centers include state-of-the-art malls and traditional souqs (markets). The result is an exciting combination of old and new, where the very latest retail delights exist with ancient family-run businesses that have been dealing for centuries. Shopping centers here offer a delightful experience to everyone on tours of Abu Dhabi.
Visiting a traditional souq is the easiest way to absorb yourself in the country's cultural heritage. In recent years, the range of goods sold in these shopping centers has witnessed a dramatic increase.
Generally, souqs were divided into areas selling similar items and they were known by what they sold - such as the spice souq, the fabric souq, etc. But in recent times, souqs have started selling everything from electrical goods to spare car parts.
The 21st century shopping malls are all the more famous. Most Abu Dhabi shopping centers are much more than shopping destinations. They are well-designed sites with food courts and entertainment areas. People spend hours looking for their favorite brands here.
The key to shopping at Abu Dhabi's Shopping Malls is to bargain wherever possible for the lowest price. Prices can drop dramatically at souqs, but shopping malls have fixed prices.
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