Souk at Qaryat al Beri

The Souk at Qaryat al Beri, Shangri-La Abu Dhabi

The five star legendary Shangri La group recently opened it’s first hotel in Abu Dhabi, about 20 minutes drive away from the city centre in a newly developed area  called Qaryat al Beri or the ‘Between the Bridges’ district where you will find the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.  The hotel itself is amazing as you would expect from this elegant chain of hotels, however in addition to the hotel building, Shangri La have built an adjacent shopping arcade in the form of a traditional souk.  Most five star hotels as a norm do feature a small shopping area at the ground level of their hotels.  However, the Souk at Qaryat al Beri, Shangri La, Abu Dhabi is a huge independent building filled with a variety of shops such as Bateel, the dates store, a number of stores selling ‘Oud’ the traditional Arabian fragrance in oil, bark and powder form, traditional clothing stores, jewellery stores, art galleries and many more including famous name restaurants such as The Meat Co. and Noodle House as well as the craving fixer – Starbucks.  What makes the Souk at Qaryat al Beri, Shangri La attractive is the layout and décor of all the small shops and stalls which resemble old time Arabia.  If you are visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Shangri La, Souk at Qaryat al Beri is only a stone’s throw away and the perfect place to chill for a coffee or lunch.  After you’ve revived yourself, walk through the array of small shops and indulge yourself in some shopping- you are bound to find last minute gifts here.  We found some of the prices to be pretty reasonable at some shops, especially the Ottoman House stalls, which was refreshing for a five star hotel.  After this, head outside and take a stroll alongside the canal walkways and if you wish, hop on an abra (gondola) for a free ride on the canal which will give you lovely views of the rooms at the hotel and the pool areas.  Definite must-see for Abu Dhabi!

Points of note

• The Souk al Qaryat al Beri is the perfect place to combine a visit with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as it’s only a 5 minute car ride. 
• If you are after a perfect dining venue for a special occasion, almost all restaurants at the Shangri La and Souk are brilliant with many offering alfresco dining on the waterfront.  Our personal favourite is Board Eau – a French eatery within the Shangri La hotel complex. To make it extra special, you can call beforehand to arrange an abra ride right after your meal. 

When – The Souk is open from 9am with most shops opening till 9pm, some maybe a little later.  Restaurants are open till 1am. 

How long – A leisurely experience of the souk including a bite to eat and an abra ride should take you 2-3 hours.

Location  – “Shangri La, Qaryat al Beri - Souk”, between the bridges.

Cost – Free, if you don’t eat or shop!

More info: http://soukqaryatalberi.com