The great online shopping rush

Forget Amazon or eBay, the UAE's virtual shopping arena is buzzing with festive treats. From the classic gadget gift for him to jewellery and perfumes for her, our locally headquartered online shopping destinations are stocked up with seasonal gift options. And what's more – they won't take a week to deliver.

Many operators also say that they are witnessing record number of visitors this season.

Phil Davis, the group managing director of website redsource.com says: "The number of hits during the holiday season, which usually starts in the middle of November, goes up by 100 per cent. Then we see another spike round about this time for last minute shoppers who have realised that it's too late to get anything posted."

Kajsa Bokakis, the managing director of another site, quickdubai.com, says because of growing competition, online shopping destinations have to come up with innovative selling ideas. "We have recently introduced a talking tag option where senders can personalise their gifts by recording a message online. This is then delivered with the gift, making it very personal," she says.

So if you haven't gone shopping yet, here's a guide to some of our favourites...

1 www.quickdubai.com Already two-and-a-half years old, this gift website has really made a name for itself. It has everything from his and hers gift hampers to luxury chocolates and children's favourites. The "voice tag" option even lets you record personal messages. Order before 2pm and have your gift delivered the same day in Dubai. Delivery costs Dh19.

2 www.emirateshighstreet.com Emirates airline's online shopping destination just got bigger and now has gadgets, toys, jewellery and limited artwork. Frequent fliers can also use their Skywards miles to purchase gifts and the company delivers to more than 60 countries. There is also a designated pick-up spot in Dubai for those who can't wait for delivery.

3 www.emiratesflowers.com Covering the entire GCC, India and Singapore, you can order flowers, cakes and other gifts from this Dubai-based company. Purnima Mehta, general manager, says although most orders originate outside the UAE for locally-based addresses, the number of local visitors to the website is also growing. All prices are inclusive of delivery.

4 www.souq.com One of the most comprehensive online market places this side of the Arabian Gulf, souq.com is the place to go to buy and sell. Bid for your favourite gifts or get in touch with other service providers. Have the goods delivered to your doorstep or interact directly with vendors once your transaction is through. Check out their creative "festive gift ideas" list.

5 www.kentessa.com Another Dubai-headquartered portal, you can have your last-minute shopping delivered immediately within the UAE through this website. Choose from a range of more than 500 products including flowers, chocolates, perfumes and cosmetics. Delivery is free for certain items (e.g. perfumes) while the rest are charged at Dh25.

6 www.redsource.com This is one of our favourites for overseas friends. Currently delivering to destinations across Dubai, Hong Kong, the UK, Europe, Australia and South Africa, this is a present source aimed at expat cities where the range of products and experiences changes by destination. Last we heard, there were more locations being added.

7 www.arabianbazaar.com A one-stop-online-shop for everything to do with Arabian perfume oils, oudh and incense sticks, this Sharjah-based website also delivers to a number of international destinations at extra cost. Check it out for specially designed gift boxes and festive sales. There is also a wholesale price option for those who bulk buy.

8 www.techsouq.com They call themselves the UAE's tech supermall and from mobile phones to computers, this is a techy's best bet to find gadget deals. Delivery within the UAE is free for some locations. They also have a "swipe at site" facility where you can shop with your card at your doorstep.

9 www.brownbag.ae Founded by two Emirati brothers, this website has established itself as one of the most recognisable online shopping destinations in the UAE. It delivers everything from magazines and iPods to coffee makers. A same day delivery option is available depending on time of order. Delivery area is across identified locations in Dubai.

10 www.diabetic-care.com Yes, a site for products targeted at people living with diabetes. Run by a doctor, this website recently won an award for its content. Stocking a range of products including footcare and organisers, the portal's owner, Dr Adarsh Kishore, says there is usually a surge in visitor numbers during the holiday season. Delivery charges apply.

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