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.

[_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.

[_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.