Not many visitors may know it, but Bahrain is also a shopper’s paradise. One can buy a range of local products from Bahrain, right from real pearls and priceless Persian rugs to local spices and fresh dates, and many more things that genuinely capture the country's essence.

One of the most important parts of visiting any destination is to bring back something from the visit for souvenir or a gift for the near and dear. Everyone enjoys shopping and brings mementos and trinkets home from their travels. Though not many visitors may be aware, but Bahrain, an island nation, is among the best destinations to shop in the Middle East thanks to its thriving souqs, incredible street markets, and sizable malls. The best malls in Bahrain may be found as you explore the cities; these buildings not only define luxury but also provide a chance to buy international brands. With the entertainment, food options, and other amenities available, you can certainly plan a fun filled day. Bahrain is one big shopper’s paradise and you will quickly notice that for yourself.

What can one buy in Bahrain? Real pearls, priceless Persian rugs, local spices, fresh dates, and many more things are available in Bahrain that genuinely capture the country’s essence. Malls featuring well-known fashion labels and high-end brands are plentiful here.

One of the must visit mall in Bahrain is the Bahrain City Center mall, located in Manama’s Seef neighbourhood. This upscale mall, which is also the biggest in Bahrain, includes everything from budget-friendly boutiques to expensive luxury labels. More than 340 stores, including Saks Avenue, Debenhams, Centre Point, Pottery Barn, and Home Centre, as well as 60 restaurants and the largest Carrefour hypermarket, are here to make a visitor’s shopping experience spectacular. For those still with some more time and shopping desires, there is the Moda Mall inside the iconic Bahrain World Trade Centre which houses over 80 fashion luxury high-end brands like Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Dior, Fendi, Versace, Bottega Veneta, and Gucci. It has the largest luxury brand portfolio of international designers. Of course, when one goes to Bahrain, one will definitely want to shop for jewellery and the jewellery court in the mall is just spectacular with brands like Piaget, Chopard, and Cartier etc. The designs and glittery jewels will just leave you astonished.

The Avenues is a waterfront shopping centre situated along Bahrain Bay, and the location of this mall will entice you. It is located directly on the shimmering turquoise sea of the Arabian Gulf. With its distinctive 1.5 km long oceanfront location in the middle of Manama, it is the first shopping and leisure destination of its sort in the Kingdom of Bahrain. There are over 130 brands to explore here, along with over 60 restaurants and cafes to choose from. What’s really amazing about this mall is that after a day of shopping, one can just relax by taking a stroll along the waterfront or by enjoying a boat ride around the breath-taking Bahrain Bay. If you still have time, then you can also check out Dana Mall, Saar Mall, Dragon City, Juffair Mall, and the Bahrain Mall.

Seef Mall is the second largest mall in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It is renowned for its unusual architecture and energising ambiance. With 360 locations, it serves a variety of lifestyles with top-tier retail brands of clothing and jewelry for clients who care about quality. It also has 40+ eateries offering both local and foreign food. Seef Mall is a popular place for family outings because of the family entertainment options it provides, especially for kids. It features a kid-friendly play area, nurseries, and the indoor Magic Island theme park. Additionally, it has a Seef Megaplex with 10 screens and a Seef Cineplex with six screens.

A shopping trip in Bahrain wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the vibrant souqs of this island destination. Inside the souq, you have all kinds of shops selling spices, clothes, and other traditional items. Allow yourself to be enchanted by the exotic spices, vibrant crafts, and sparkling jewellery as you stroll through the meandering, tiny streets. For an authentic local shopping experience, there is no better place than the Manama Souq. It is also known as Bab Al Bahrain (literally, the Gateway of Bahrain), and the history of the marketplace goes back to 1949.

Right next to it, you will also find the two-story Gold Souq, in which you can admire several jewellers selling glittering gold and silver jewelry. Al Qusayrya Market, one of the oldest markets in Bahrain, is another that has grown tremendously popular over time. What makes it stand out in particular is its lovely architecture. If you want to shop for the best natural pearls that are certified, this market is the right place for it. What is interesting is that Al Qusayrya Market which is part of the Pearling Path was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

Now that we have told you which top places to shop in Bahrain are, here are the names of some of the must-have items to shop for. Exotic Persian rugs and other homewares, Bakhoor, which is basically a sweet-smelling incense extracted from the wood chips of fragrant trees, Arabic perfumes that usually have strong fragrances and come packaged in the most immaculately designed bottles, Abayas and scarves, dates, beautifully crafted pottery, some local spices, traditional Bahraini sweets etc. There isn’t a more fitting memento to take home as a reminder of Bahrain’s vibrant culture than a Bahraini pearl and gold.

Shopaholics, don’t miss out on this event. The largest shopping event in Bahrain is the Autumn Fair. This year the nine-day shopping event will take place from December 22-30 at Exhibition World Bahrain. From handy household items to mouth-watering food stalls, popular fashion to children’s toys, new products to old favorites this consumer fair has something for everyone!