The city known for its majestic malls and shopping festivals is home to most of the world's major brands.

After a hiatus that lasted almost two years, the world is slowly resuming tourism as the aviation industry takes off towards a recovery, making safe spaces like Dubai a major attraction. Despite successive waves of the pandemic, the UAE was able to stand its ground thanks to online platforms as well as medical records to track and trace infections, while it went on to host mega events.

Even as e-commerce thrived during the lockdown, the outdoor shopping experience pulled a considerable amount of people towards Dubai, which has also been hailed for setting up a digital infrastructure. The connectivity, gadgets as well as online presence that the Middle Eastern tech oasis has to offer, is now being channelised to bolster its position as the shopping destination of the future, by adding AI to the mix.

Smart search coupled with intelligent navigation solutions, has opened doors for tourists and residents alike, to clinch the top deals as well as discounts in Dubai, through a map. The platform turns shopping in the emirate, into a treasure hunt of sorts by pointing out the most beneficial purchases, which are also relevant to an individual based on personal preferences.

With info about all offline discounts rolled out by brands across Dubai, the HiDubai platform has become a one stop virtual shop for deal hunters in the city.

As the new normal takes over, guiding people towards the stores with offerings most suitable for their choice patterns, can also prevent unnecessary crowds. The new feature will join ranks of to technology that's reshaping the Emirati shopping experience, along with robots at stores and outlets where people just need to scan pay and walk, without human contact.

Businesses are also benefiting from the AI-backed hybrid set up, since malls in Dubai are offering algorithms for brick and mortar stores to compete with e-commerce apps. Surveillance systems are now equipped with machine learning, that tracks footfalls and analyses consumer behaviour to offer key insights.