Online shopping, residents say is the in-thing when looking for up-market products.

Local shopaholics have said they save 30 to 40 per cent while purchasing luxury products over the internet as compared to buying them at shops.

Kasper Larsen, a Danish national residing in Dubai said, “When I checked out for scuba diving equipment in Dubai, I found out that two costumes along with the regulators and equipment would cost Dh5,726. But when I checked the prices on www.leisurepro.com, an American website for leisure goods, I bought two scuba diving suits and equipment for Dh4,260 inclusive of tax, shipping costs and other expenses.”

Kasper has been here for the last seven years and according to him shopping for luxury goods in Dubai has become increasingly expensive.

“A Rolex watch at outlets in Dubai costs Dh21,000, but the same model of the watch cost me Dh18,000 including taxes,” added Kasper.

Larsen continued, “An increasing number of my friends are buying products from Europe and the United States because purchasing them from the UAE is not only expensive but certain models are becoming increasingly difficult to find. I assume the reason that these products are so highly priced is because of the high rents for retail property and a shortage of luxury goods.”

Nikon D3 12.1 mega pixel camera’s body alone costs Dh20,000 at all Grand Stores in the UAE, with the lense price ranging from Dh3,000- Dh10,000. The same camera can be bought on e-bay.com for Dh15,973 exclusive of shipping costs, duty and other taxes.

When the camera was launched in 2001, the body was priced at Dh23,000.

Local web sites like souq.com and arabianbazaar.com, a popular website that offers Arabian perfumes, oud, meswak and other traditional scents are quite popular in the foreign market.

Shoppers can buy second hand products online and also bid for the same at souq.com. 

Another Danish national Nicolai Solling raised similar saying, “Other than luxury commodities being overly priced the selection for them are limited in the UAE. The exchange rate on the pound has been falling, and people can save a lot of money if they were to shop from the UK. Besides shipping and taxes are also a lot cheaper and you can easily save 20- 25 per cent when you purchase products online from online web sites.”

Solling said he wanted to buy a Black Dice watch for his wife. “The listed price for the product in the UAE is $300, but I can buy it for $200 in the UK. Shipping time takes three to four working days, and the shipping costs are not too high.” said Solling.

Virtual retail stores like the e-bay are becoming increasingly popular but consumer goods like clothing are still cheaper in the UAE as compared to buying them from the UK or the US.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com