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Compulsive shoppers

Scottish national Lynden Keal (16) proudly carried his brand new soccer boots and sports bag and continued to look out for more sporting equipment at a shopping mall in the city. A student from Oman, Keal is in Dubai with his parents on a holiday.

Speaking on his time here, he said: “I am staying at posh hotels and shopping for sporting equipment and I love it,” said Keal.

With retail outlets coming up with enticing ways to attract customers, the youth in Dubai today find it hard to resist the perfectly ‘displayed goodies in shops’. Experts and statistical research suggest that a major chunk of the revenue brought into the malls and stores come in from ‘spendthrift’ youngsters. Khaleej Times caught up with a few youngsters in shopping malls, speaking to them about their shopping and saving habits. Six of the seven people Khaleej Times interviewed said that they are compulsive shoppers, picking up things they don’t really need. A few others say that they are trying to save, for higher education or investment purposes. Most of them say that smart marketing strategies and product display in shops make it tougher for them to resist shopping.

Pakistani nationals and sisters, Aqsa (17), Nima (15) and Haniya Adil (10) do not follow the concept of a fixed monthly allowance. Students of Westminster School in Dubai, the sisters say they pick up things from shopping malls as and when they need it. “We get money whenever we ask our parents for it. I mostly shop for clothes, shoes, and gadgets. We ask our parents to buy us something whenever we need it,” said Aqsa.

Meanwhile, Nima is trying saving up for a trip to the Global Young Leaders Conference (GYLC).

“I love buying dolls, that’s where I spend most money,” said Haniya. The sisters added that they are working on saving up for an upcoming rock concert as well.

Sri Lankan national Dhilini Raddella said: “I have been living in Dubai for four years, and I have become a borderline shopaholic. I shop thrice a week. The thing about this place is that you have too many options. There are certain shops that I am addicted to, but on some days, I indulge in window shopping as well. I buy mostly clothes, shoes and fashion-related accessories.”

Praveen Dayalani, a retailer by profession shops at least twice a week. “We walk around shopping malls very often and in the time we spend here, we end up picking something or the other. I mostly shop for clothes, shoes and fashion accessories. I am in the retail business and I know for a fact that one of the strongest factors that contribute to shopping here is that the store display is fantastic. People just end up picking things they don’t really need,” said Dayalani.

Alisha D, an Indian national and artist said: “I mostly shop for household items and artist equipment. On an average, my husband and I spend Dh250 to Dh1,500 per month. We don’t use credit card though; purchase is done mostly in cash.” dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com