Purchasing in Abu Dhabi

[_rubinho_]

I'm off to Abu Dhabi next week for a couple of days break and then work (guess what I'm doing?).

I'd like to visit a few places in order to view (and maybe purchase) new and used watches. I read somewhere that the Gold Souk (Madinat Zayed Shopping Mall and Gold Centre?) is a good place to view pre-owned watches from reputable sellers. Does anybody know if this is the case?

Can anybody recommend any other locations? I'd be looking for stores not stalls and only for items with boxes and papers.

What about Dubai; it's only an hour up the road?

Thanks!

[_rubinho_]

NeMiSiS said:

MY GUESS:

Setting up tents and gazebo's for the F1 hangers on, then once they have gone packing them away and putting them back in the van.

As for the watches, I don't know.

I am at the F1 but in a rather more technical capacity than putting up tents and gazebos.

[neilski]

Ahmed Seddiqui & Sons. There are a few branches and I bought from the one at Dubai City Centre. They were open to haggling if paying in cash. (Vulgar I know, what with this being PH but I got my butler to carry it etc etc.)

http://www.seddiqi.com/en

[Eleven]

_rubinho_ said:

What about Dubai; it's only an hour up the road?

Thanks!

But a million miles away culturally.

For example they don't show the Flintstones on TV there because they don't understand the humour. But Abu Dhabi do.

[73 Duchess]

Eleven said:

But a million miles away culturally.

For example they don't show the Flintstones on TV there because they don't understand the humour. But Abu Dhabi do.

Just like the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that walk into the bar...... The barman says "I'm serving Narnia!"

[TobyLaRohne]

73 Duchess said:

Eleven said:

But a million miles away culturally.

For example they don't show the Flintstones on TV there because they don't understand the humour. But Abu Dhabi do.

Just like the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that walk into the bar...... The barman says "I'm serving Narnia!"

You two are Qatarded

[_rubinho_]

neilski said:

Ahmed Seddiqui & Sons. There are a few branches and I bought from the one at Dubai City Centre. They were open to haggling if paying in cash. (Vulgar I know, what with this being PH but I got my butler to carry it etc etc.)

http://www.seddiqi.com/en

Looks good. No Omega but a few other brands I'm interested in.

[michael gould]

_rubinho_ said:

I'm off to Abu Dhabi next week for a couple of days break and then work (guess what I'm doing?).

I'd like to visit a few places in order to view (and maybe purchase) new and used watches. I read somewhere that the Gold Souk (Madinat Zayed Shopping Mall and Gold Centre?) is a good place to view pre-owned watches from reputable sellers. Does anybody know if this is the case?

Can anybody recommend any other locations? I'd be looking for stores not stalls and only for items with boxes and papers.

What about Dubai; it's only an hour up the road?

Thanks!

remember that you should pay 20% VAT if you bring it back into the country.......if you get caught smuggling then they could confiscate it

[TobyLaRohne]

michael gould said:

_rubinho_ said:

I'm off to Abu Dhabi next week for a couple of days break and then work (guess what I'm doing?).

I'd like to visit a few places in order to view (and maybe purchase) new and used watches. I read somewhere that the Gold Souk (Madinat Zayed Shopping Mall and Gold Centre?) is a good place to view pre-owned watches from reputable sellers. Does anybody know if this is the case?

Can anybody recommend any other locations? I'd be looking for stores not stalls and only for items with boxes and papers.

What about Dubai; it's only an hour up the road?

Thanks!

remember that you should pay 20% VAT if you bring it back into the country.......if you get caught smuggling then they could confiscate it

[HarrySmash]

I appreciate that you should declare duty/ tax free purchases over a certain value on returning to the UK, but what if you wear the new purchase home and send the box & papers back via UPS. That should involve minimal risk of a smuggling charge

[85Carrera]

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

[TobyLaRohne]

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?

[85Carrera]

Interesting, where do you buy it?

When I've priced IWC and Zenith here they've been no cheaper than the UK

[TobyLaRohne]

85Carrera said:

Interesting, where do you buy it?

When I've priced IWC and Zenith here they've been no cheaper than the UK

51 East

[michael gould]

HarrySmash said:

I appreciate that you should declare duty/ tax free purchases over a certain value on returning to the UK, but what if you wear the new purchase home and send the box & papers back via UPS. That should involve minimal risk of a smuggling charge

you of course correct .......but just to be righteous and point out the obvious.......smuggling is a criminal offence and the smuggled watch will always be subject to VAT every time you enter back in the UK.

[jshell]

michael gould said:

you of course correct .......but just to be righteous and point out the obvious.......smuggling is a criminal offence and the smuggled watch will always be subject to VAT every time you enter back in the UK.

Wot? You have to pay VAT every time you travel back?

[michael gould]

jshell said:

michael gould said:

you of course correct .......but just to be righteous and point out the obvious.......smuggling is a criminal offence and the smuggled watch will always be subject to VAT every time you enter back in the UK.

Wot? You have to pay VAT every time you travel back?

no you only pay VAT once ........but if you have never paid it then you could be asked about where the watch came from at any point in the future .......I have a very good friend who failed to disclose a high value item on returning the UK and was caught and the item was confiscated.

[Eleven]

michael gould said:

jshell said:

michael gould said:

you of course correct .......but just to be righteous and point out the obvious.......smuggling is a criminal offence and the smuggled watch will always be subject to VAT every time you enter back in the UK.

Wot? You have to pay VAT every time you travel back?

no you only pay VAT once ........but if you have never paid it then you could be asked about where the watch came from at any point in the future .......I have a very good friend who failed to disclose a high value item on returning the UK and was caught and the item was confiscated.

How on earth would Customs ever know? I doubt watch serial numbers are matched against tax paid - even if your average Customs bod would know where to find the serial number.

[don logan]

Eleven said:

michael gould said:

jshell said:

michael gould said:

you of course correct .......but just to be righteous and point out the obvious.......smuggling is a criminal offence and the smuggled watch will always be subject to VAT every time you enter back in the UK.

Wot? You have to pay VAT every time you travel back?

no you only pay VAT once ........but if you have never paid it then you could be asked about where the watch came from at any point in the future .......I have a very good friend who failed to disclose a high value item on returning the UK and was caught and the item was confiscated.

How on earth would Customs ever know? I doubt watch serial numbers are matched against tax paid - even if your average Customs bod would know where to find the serial number.

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!

[neil-f]

HarrySmash said:

I appreciate that you should declare duty/ tax free purchases over a certain value on returning to the UK, but what if you wear the new purchase home and send the box & papers back via UPS. That should involve minimal risk of a smuggling charge

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