From typical holiday trinkets to tasteful keepsakes, there is a huge range of souvenirs to be found in Abu Dhabi. Many items are regional rather than local, and several are mass-produced in India, Pakistan and Oman. 

The range of ornamental gifts available is endless, with perennial favourites being the Arabic coffee pot and cups (a symbol of Arabic hospitality), metallic decorative plates (traditionally used for serving coffee, and the larger ones for food), framed khanjars (traditional, curved Arabian daggers), wooden trinket boxes and larger handcrafted wooden wedding chests and furniture. For these kinds of traditional or regional items, the souks, particularly the Iranian Souk, and individual gift shops are the best places to look. Prices and quality can vary enormously, and the souks generally offer the best prices – as long as you remember to haggle.

Within the Tourist Club Area are an array of souk-style shops that sell Persian rugs and other carpets from the Middle East, in addition to trinkets and cultural souvenirs. More expensive souk-style shops can be found in The Souk at Qaryat Al Beri. You’ll also find some of these items at the Heritage Village in the workshops where traditional craftsmen ply their trades and produce souvenir replicas, as well as more contemporary keepsakes such as keyrings, t-shirts and bags.

For ladies, pashminas are in abundant supply and make lightweight, handy gifts for family and friends. In some of the souvenir shops, you’ll find simple, but extremely heavy, silver wedding jewellery. If the style is not to your liking, these coveted pieces of historical art make excellent displays when mounted in a glass box frame. Alternatively, if gold is more to your taste, the Gold Centre at Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre offers the capital’s largest collection of gold vendors and jewellers under one roof.

Once valued more highly than gold, the dried resin from the frankincense tree of southern Oman has been traded for centuries and, nowadays, is often sold in a small wooden chest and with a charcoal burner to give off its evocative scent. Oud is a popular and expensive oil used in many of the perfumes, while myrrh and other sweet smelling mixtures are also sold. Ask for some to be burned, so you can smell it before deciding on your purchase. Arabian Oud has kiosks and shops in most malls.

Shisha, or hubbly bubbly, pipes are fun souvenirs which, along with flavoured tobacco, make a great gift. The more authentic versions can be picked up in the souks or in the Arabic stores on the top level of Marina Mall but, if your friends and family are unlikely to know any better, good but cheaper shisha pipes and tobacco, in flavours such as apple, strawberry and grape, are sold in Carrefour. Where edible souvenirs are concerned, look out for delicious Lebanese sweets or local dates, both preserved and (in season) fresh, plus date-based products in all supermarkets.

Explorer publishes a number of great, multi-language coffee table books, calendars and postcards with stunning photos depicting the diversity of this vibrant city. Visit the Explorer e-shop to order copies. In addition, most of Abu Dhabi’s tourist attractions also offer their own souvenir shops where you can purchase items to remember your visit.