It’s always nice to get a souvenir from your holiday to remind you of where you have been. These are the best souvenirs to get from Dubai. 

• Camel milk chocolate
• Oudh and Bakhoor
• Attar
• Pashmina 
• Gold jewellery
• Arabic coffee and coffee pot 
• Lucky stones 
• Dubai spices 
• Traditional shoes
• Persian rug

Camel milk chocolate 

Camel milk chocolate is not a life-time souvenir but more a tasty reminder of your time away. It is manufactured solely in Dubai by Al Nassma and comes in only five flavours- whole milk, 70% cocoa, dates, macadamia, and spiced. These chocolate bars are famous for their enticing taste and can be found at Al Nassma kiosks, duty-free shops, and the Camelicious Camel farm. For an added treat, buy the camel shaped chocolates rather than a standard bar. 

Oudh and Bakhoor

Whilst you are walking around Dubai, you may notice a distinct smell. That will be either oudh or bakhoor. Oudh is a traditional and expensive oil that comes from agar wood resin. Bakhoor is the term for agar wood chips that are burnt to produce a similar smell to oudh. 

Both oudh and bakhoor can be bought as souvenirs, however, oudh is much more expensive than bakhoor as it comes in an oil form, and can be mixed with floral oils to produce a stronger smell. 

Whether you choose oudh or bakhoor both allow you to bring home the smell of Dubai. 

Attar

Sticking with scent-derived souvenirs, attar is the name given to essential oils that are derived from plants. These oils are widely used by men and women in Dubai as perfumes. There are a variety of scents that you can choose from, and if you can’t decide the vendors at the Perfume Souk in Deira will be more than happy to help you choose one. 

If you are looking for a more distinct and original scent than you can make your own fragrance. Simply inform the vendor of what fragrances you would like to combine and they will make it for you. 

Prices for attar start at AED90 

Pashmina 

If you are looking for a slightly more luxurious souvenir than get yourself a pashmina. A pashmina is a traditional South Asian shawl that is made from cashmere. The starting price of an authentic pashmina is AED250. 

If you would like a pashmina but don’t want to pay the high price for it, there are plenty of vendors who sell inauthentic pashmina’s. These will be made from viscose or silk and will be priced around AED30. 

To test whether your pashmina is authentic or not try pulling the whole shawl through a ring. If it is authentic, the silkiness of the cashmere mixed with 30% silk should allow it to pass through the ring easily. If your pashmina does not pass through easily it is likely that it is not authentic. 

Gold jewellery 

Dubai is the perfect place to buy yourself some gold jewellery as it is a lot less expensive than in many other countries. Whether you are looking for a pair of earrings, a necklace, or a ring, the best place to buy your gold souvenir is the Dubai Gold Souk. The average price of gold begins at around AED110 per gram, however, don’t forget that you can often haggle vendors for a better price. 

Arabic coffee and coffee pot

Coffee farming is a long tradition in the Middle East. Arabic coffee has a very distinct, often bitter, taste that is not to every coffee drinker’s liking. That being said, if you do enjoy an Arabic coffee then do not miss out on the opportunity to take some home from your trip to Dubai. To complete your Arabic coffee experience buy yourself a traditional Arabic ‘dallah’ coffee pot. Often these pots will be exquisitely decorated so can be used for coffee purposes or simply as a design feature. 

Lucky stones 

Lucky stones are based on your birth month and are said to bring good luck. They can usually be found set in gold or silver rings and pendants that are to be worn to receive the gift of luck. All lucky stones can be customised to fit your taste and make great souvenirs for those in need of a bit of luck.

 Dubai spices 

If you visit the Spice Souk you can take home the taste of Dubai. At the Souk you will find an array of spices, including those that you can not find anywhere outside of the Spice Souk. If you like aromatic food, then you simply must purchase some Dubai spices. 

Be warned that as pleasant as these spices make your food, they can also make your luggage smell and prove difficult to get through customs. Make sure that you have securely wrapped them in your suitcase before heading to the airport. 

Traditional shoes

Traditional Arabic shoes are beautiful and said to be incredibly comfortable. They can be bought for men, women, and children, and come in an array of colours and with beautiful embellishments. Buying a pair of traditional Arabic shoes as a souvenir will serve as a reminder every time you wear them of your time in Dubai as you will not be able to buy an authentic pair outside of the UAE. 

The average price for these shoes is between AED50- AED100.

Persian rug 

A Persian rug is definitely an investment souvenir as, authentic, Persian rugs are expensive. For the best variety of styles head to the National Iranian Carpets or Persian Carpet House. If you have your heart set on a Persian rug, but can’t find one that suits your taste, then you can have one specially designed and made. 

When it comes to Persian rugs remember that you need to check their authenticity before purchasing, and you need to get it on the plane somehow. 

You look after the souvenirs whilst we look after your laundry. To book your UAE laundry service head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.