Sh o p Thanks to its oil-rich, tax-free nature, Kuwait enjoys a leisurely way of life. Visitors and locals alike while away hours wandering the many shopping centres that are to be found in what Kishor Ojha, team leader concierge at Kuwait’s Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, calls “one of the most popular shopping destinations in the Middle East”. Some of the city’s most frequented fashion destinations include the Marina Mall and 360 Mall. But for a little bit of luxury, every serious shopaholic heads to the grandest of them all: The Avenues. With more than 800 shops across seven ‘districts’, this is one of the largest malls in the world and has an area aptly-named Prestige, which houses high-end brands from Versace and Prada to Bulgari and Jimmy Choo. The city’s souks, however, offer the chance to soak up the sights, smells and sounds of Kuwait’s more traditional shopping experience. The winding streets of these local markets hold a plethora of trinkets and treasures. “You can find carpets, jewellery, pottery – there are all kinds of typical Arabic style items,” Ali Kansou, the chief concierge at The Regency Kuwait, recalls. “Beside that there are also spices, nuts, curry powders, cardamom and cinnamon.” A popular tourist spot, Souk Al-Mubarakiya is the city’s bestknown market. People travel from nearby Gulf countries looking for a variety of produce, from silver to nuts and most importantly bargains. Souq Sharq – less a marketplace and more a quaint mall – is home to boutique shops, designer stores, as well as picturesque views over the marina.
VOYAGER • APRIL 15
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