"The Odd Piece, Al Quoz. Tucked in an alley in Al Serkal Avenue, this two-story haven carries a mix of eclectic furniture and home goods catered to every taste. This is the kind of place you can spend hours perusing in to figure out which vintage pieces, funky seating and arabesque-inspired art are right for your home."

"Dubai Garden Market, Al Quoz. Bizarre in the best sense of the word, the Dubai Garden Centre outdoor market is a haven for plant enthusiasts and hoarders alike. The massive space behind the centre is home to everything from plants and flowers to garden furniture and decorations. There's even a carpenter's workshop where you can custom build anything you can dream up, as well as vendors selling hand-crafted jewelry and homeware. Charming, to say the least."

"Gold Souk, Deira. Located in the heart of Deira, Dubai's Gold Souk is a traditional market with hundreds of shops primarily selling gold and jewellery. Walking along the aisles of stores filled with gold, one begin's to understand how Dubai is sometimes known as the 'City of Gold'. With it's location remaining the same since its humble beginnings in the early twentieth century, enjoy exploring this historical souk and shop smartly – know what you're looking for and agree on a reasonable price before showing any cash. Also, make sure to steer away from individuals standing outside shops wanting to sell fake watches or handbags. The Gold Souk is always alive with shoppers and jewellers and their appreciation for gold."

"Country Video, Deira. Country Video is more a library for films, music and entertainment from Iran then a standard video store. Rows of shelves are filled with DVDs and music CDs of both classic and contemporary Persian entertainment. Make sure to speak to the brothers that own the store. They will be happy to show you their collection of postcard sized film posters from classic Iranian cinema carefully archived in folders. If you're lucky enough, they might give you some store memorabilia! Country Video is adorned with photographs of individuals with retro haircuts and outfits. You will occasionally spot music or films by Arabic and Western entertainers. But the overall store is super nostalgic and reminiscent of a classic era in Iranian entertainment."

"Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai. It really doesn't need an introduction after you've seen Tom Cruise swinging around its walls! You won't ever get sick and tired of admiring this architectural feat."