The Best Destinations for Shopaholics to Visit

Research was conducted by Ubuy UAE to find out the best destinations for shopaholics to visit. The study considered factors such as VAT rate, safety index, international tourism expenditures, total luxury store numbers, and hotel prices. Each country was assigned a score based on these criteria.

UAE

UAE, Dubai tops the list with a perfect score of 10.00 due to the luxury shopping experiences offered at places like The Dubai Mall and a very high safety index. Tourists have searched for shopping opportunities in the UAE more than 7 million times, which is the highest on the list. The city has 129 luxury stores in its main shopping areas and provides access to more than 1,200 retail stores.

Italy

Italy ranks second with a score of 9.25, attracting shoppers with its well-known fashion districts in Milan. It leads with the highest number of luxury stores, totaling 434. Although it has a higher VAT rate of 22%, Italy compensates with a VAT refund policy for purchases over approximately $170.

France

France is the third-best destination for shopaholics, scoring 8.75 out of 10 for offering chic shopping experiences. The country has a 20% VAT rate and a refund policy for purchases over approximately $110. France has the second-highest number of luxury stores, totaling 377.

Canada

Canada, coming in fourth place, scored 7.32 out of 10. It’s one of the two countries that do not have VAT refunds to tourists. Yet almost half a million people are searching for shopping options in the country. Along with moderate safety, Canada has the highest hotel prices, totaling $1486 for a 5-night stay for 2 adults.

Switzerland

Switzerland comes next, scoring 6.37, offering exclusive and high-quality shopping, especially in cities like Zurich and Geneva. The country has 123 luxury stores and offers a VAT rate of 7.7%, with a refund for purchases over approximately $350. Switzerland has a high safety index and second-highest hotel price of $1,435 for two adults.

Australia

Australia takes sixth place on the list, scoring 6.10 out of 10. The country has a VAT rate of 10% and offers a tourist refund, allowing visitors to reclaim this for goods bought within 60 days of departure. With a high safety index across major cities, Australia also has lower hotel prices for two adults, totaling $713.

Sweden

Sweden, with a score of 5.75, is the seventh-best destination for shopaholics. It features 31 luxury stores and has the highest VAT rate among the top ten at 25%, applying to purchases over approximately $20.

Spain

Spain takes the eighth spot with a score of 4.94. It has 118 luxury stores and a 21% VAT rate with a refund for purchases over approximately $100. Madrid has a lot of active shopping locations, where a hotel for a 5-night stay for 2 adults can be, on average, $1094.

Germany

Germany, with a score of 3.88, ranks ninth as the best destination for shopaholics. With over 171 luxury stores, it ranks fourth in the number of luxury shopping destinations. The country has a 19% VAT rate, alongside a refund policy for purchases over approximately $55, which makes it cost-effective compared to the higher rates in countries like Italy and Sweden.

UK

UK completes the top ten places for shopaholics with a score of 3.06. Home to 216 luxury stores, UK is not offering VAT refunds. Yet more than a million people are searching online about shopping in the UK. The country has a lower average hotel price of $456 for two adults and a moderate safety index.

Methodology

The research identifies the best destinations for shopaholics by analyzing key factors relevant to shopping and tourism, which include hotel costs for a 5-night stay for 2 adults, tax rates, safety index, search popularity for shopping, and the number of luxury shops. The luxury store counts were specifically based on the presence of brands, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Dior, and other renowned brands. Each was scored on a 0 to 10 scale, where lower hotel costs, higher tax rates (for potential refunds), better safety, more search interest, and more luxury shops all contributed to a higher overall score for a country.