Whether you are setting up home or moving house, you’ll have to spend some time looking for white goods. In Dubai, unfurnished really means unfurnished and you’ll have to fork out for even the most standard items, like curtain rails for your windows. Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of places where you can buy goods and most international brands are sold here. Competition is high, so prices are reasonable and most dealers will offer warranties – some will offer a warranty extension for an extra year or two. You’ll find a similar range of products in all of the electronics stores.

Hyper Value
There are several stores dedicated to electronics and appliances in each of the larger malls and you’ll find large sections in the hypermarkets, including Carrefour, Geant and HyperPanda, which stock a superb selection of goods from well-known brands (and some lesser known ones that also do the job) and usually offer a delivery and installation service. Everything from top-of-the-range high-definition televisions to games consoles, fridges and ovens to irons, water coolers and so on. It’s worth waiting for the sales as there can be a noticeable drop in prices.

High end
Bang & Olufsen and Bose offer a pricey, but undeniably stylish, range of goods for the home. You’ll also find some high-end brands like Gaggenau on Jumeira Road and Miele at Trade Centre roundabout. For stylish kitchen appliances, head to Tavola, Bloomingdale’s and Galeries Lafayette.

Many stores offer delivery and installation services, which take the hassle out of mounting a plasma screen or setting up your surround sound system.
Check that the warranty is valid internationally if you wish to take items back to your home country. Also check that the item will work in all areas of the world and whether you will have to pay any import duty if you return back home. Find out who will service the items if there are problems. For second-hand items, check the adverts placed on supermarket noticeboards and online classifieds, like dubizzle.com.

Al Ain Mall in Bur Dubai is dedicated to computer equipment, and several places do repairs and upgrades.