Be prepared to get lost in alleys filled with Middle Eastern sweets, gold, Persian carpeting and musky perfumes. If you are a shopaholic, exploring these souqs is one of the activities in Abu Dhabi that you cannot miss out on. Hotels such as the Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villas should be able to help guide you on a nice tour of the main souqs in Abu Dhabi. Make sure you include the below options as well.

Carpet souq

Explore a maze of colourful shops filled with handmade (and machine-made) Persian, Turkish and Chinese carpeting. Iranian carpeting is by far the most popular here and prices may vary according to the craftsmanship.

Al Mina fresh fruit souq

Get to savour tropical fruits from all over Asia, such as mangoes from Pakistan, bananas from India and much more. Another middle eastern speciality is dates, available in the dried fruits section. Taste a variety, from chocolate coated dates to stuffed almond dates.

Souq- al – Zafarana

The perfect place to buy souvenirs to take back home. Embroidered abayas, aromatic frankincense, henna and Arabic coffee pots are a few of them. A tip when shopping here is to bargain – as most prices can be brought down.

Souq Qaryat – al – Beri

Best described as Arabian fairy tales meets Venetian romance, this souq is a mystical wonder filled with ornate lamps, chandeliers and pointed arches. Surrounded by many international and local retail outlets, this complex has many high-end salons, restaurants and even an art gallery.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+