Travelers to the United Arab Emirates looking for a shopping centre with a difference should visit Wafi City with its unusual design and interesting specialty shops.

With 200 outlets, Wafi City is less than half the size of the more famous Mall of the Emirates and more upmarket. But even those without an upmarket budget will find it interesting to experience its extraordinary architecture and decorations, and to browse through its specialty shops, some found only in Wafi City.

Wafi City Design

Built on an ancient Egyptian theme, Wafi City has three atriums flooded with natural light from pyramid-shaped ceilings. Two of them consist of colourful stained glass illustrations of farmers, hunters, wrestlers, boatmen, scribes and priests from the age of the pharaohs. Also featured are the pharaohs themselves, their gods, and creatures of the ancient Nile, such as bulls, birds, ducks, jackals, crocodiles and hippos. The ancient Egyptian theme is continued throughout the complex in the form of statues, obelisks, columns, bas-relief sculptures and mosaic floors.

Memoires

The most unusual shop in Wafi City is just inside the entrance from the car park. This is Memoires, in fact the most unusual shop you are likely to encounter anywhere in the world. Memoires does not resemble a shop at all. But what it does resemble is hard to describe.

Theatrical set, museum, art gallery, grand opera, stately home, living installation, Alice in Wonderland dreamworld, Disneyesque fairytale: Memoires evokes comparisons with all of these and more.

Offering specially designed furniture, ornaments, jewellery, clothing, artwork, sculptures, porcelain, glasswork and even taxidermy, in styles which evoke and mix fashions from the Renaissance to the Edwardian era, the store consists of a series of lavishly decorated rooms linked by passages, secret doorways and revolving bookcases.

Items in Memoires seem to be on exhibit, rather than for sale, although every item can in fact be bought. Even the staff are on display. Males wear high collared ankle length coats as if about to step onto the set of The Phantom of the Opera and females wear ruffled full length skirts with Edwardian bustles.

Wafi Gourmet

Upstairs, Wafi Gourmet is a Middle Eastern delicatessen with a café style restaurant attached. This is a great place to stock up for a picnic, purchase something to nibble on later, buy inexpensive gifts for family and friends, or simply wander around, admiring the produce and trying the free samples.

Patchi Chocolates

Almost opposite Wafi Gourmet is a branch of the international Patchi chain offering hand-crafted chocolates and designer sweets in beautifully designed packs. This is another good place to pick up inexpensive gifts for family and friends.

Designer Stores in Wafi City

Designer stores in Wafi City include Bleu Blanc Rouge, Caresse, Chanel, Desert Rose, Tigerlily and Zapa for women, amongst many others. For men the options are also broad and include Bugati, Canali, Daniel Hechter and Pierre Cardin.

Eating at Wafi City

In addition to Wafi Gourmet are a food court and a number of inexpensive cafes. Attached to Wafi City are over thirty restaurants including Asha’s Indian restaurant owned by famous Bollywood star, Asha Bhosle.

Directions to Wafi City

Wafi City is located at the intersection of Al Qataiyat Road and Oud Metha Road. A stop at Wafi City is included in the Dubai Big Bus City and Beach Tour.

Opening Hours

Wafi City is open Sat - Thurs 10 am to 10 pm and Fri 4.30 pm to 10 pm.