Purchasing in Abu Dhabi

[Eleven]

don logan said:

Can`t they ask to see a receipt within a certain amount of time after you have been stopped? (say 14 days, a month etc) So every time you pass through customs you run the risk of being asked about your watch and having to provide a receipt? genuine question!

No idea where the receipt is.

But seriously they aren't interested. Back in the 90s I used to come into the uk with large boxes that screamed "expensive stuff upon which tax should be paid" and the most interest customs took was on one occasion helping me past a door with my overloaded trolley.

I strongly suspect that unless something big is going down or they are having a crack down on something specific they really are not interested.

[jshell]

Eleven said:

I strongly suspect that unless something big is going down or they are having a crack down on something specific they really are not interested.

This!

I commute out and in the EU once a week. I've never, ever been asked about my watch.

[Psychobert]

TobyLaRohne said:

85Carrera said:

I'd be surprised if you find it any cheaper than the UK.

Despite all the bullst about duty free shopping, there are very few things (outside of cars, petrol, fags and electrical goods - which is not a bad list) that are cheaper than the UK and often things cost more.

I've found Singapore cheaper for watches than the UAE

I paid 7,000GBP for my SS Daytona a few months ago, remind me again of the retail price in the UK?

When looking for new watches, I've managed to get comparable or better quotes from DomH on most things I was interested in compared to over here, albeit I've not been looking at Rolex.

Shop mentioned has a decent enough reputation and I've never failed to be offered 15-20% off the marked price even in a big mall when I've asked for the best price.

In terms of secondhand, only place I know of is Dubai Star Watches Market. I think they have a physical store in Dubai (Jumeriah), but when you google them I've managed to pick up all sorts of spam sites trying to open at the same time/redirections, (most of which are blocked by the ISP over here) so I'm feeling something dodgy going on..

[_rubinho_]

Well I'm back from Abu Dhabi but without a watch. I had less time to shop than I thought and the OH wasn't keen on being dragged round watch shops. From comments on here and people I have spoken to, Dubai seems the better place anyway. I emailed a couple of ADs and got prices back which were more or less inline with UK prices so not big savings. The only tempting deal was ~£3500 for an Omega Seamaster 600m Planet Ocean GMT which is even lower than the Iconic Watches price (£4025). I didn't buy though as it might be a little large for my skinny wrists. I was running out of time to get my flight and didn't want to make a rash decision I'd live to regret. Maybe next year! Thanks for all your help.

[Buster73]

neil-f said:

I knew someone who did this, the box got opened by customs and they got fined and watch confiscated!

Find that hard to believe to be honest , a slap on the wrist and make them pay the outstanding fees at most.

I've never heard of a confiscation before.

[erics]

Stayed a emirates palace earlier in the year. Got offered rolex ceramic blue black brand new for £5k.

[TheBMWDriver]

I always found the prices where more or less inline with the uk but they are tax free so actually 20% more expensive than the uk

[Jules360]

If in Dubai you should go to the watch dealers in the old Gold Souk in Deira rather than the flagship stores in the malls. I would recommend Tourbillon. Always a good stock especially Rolex and very good discounts, even on SS Daytonas.

The duty free rolex store at qatar airport is also cheap. They had both black and white faced SS Daytonas for QAR 42k

[eyebeebe]

Jules360 said:

If in Dubai you should go to the watch dealers in the old Gold Souk in Deira rather than the flagship stores in the malls. I would recommend Tourbillon. Always a good stock especially Rolex and very good discounts, even on SS Daytonas.

The duty free rolex store at qatar airport is also cheap. They had both black and white faced SS Daytonas for QAR 42k

Is that particularly good? I paid about £150 more than that last year at the Rolex boutique in Zurich including 8% VAT

[HarrySmash]

erics said:

Stayed a emirates palace earlier in the year. Got offered rolex ceramic blue black brand new for £5k.

That is a cracking price, did you buy? I didn't get any movement on the £5,950 list price in the UK from my usual AD.