Broad selection
Reviews describe a decent range of wines, liquors and beers, with essential brands and both budget and premium choices.
African + Eastern - International City
International City
African + Eastern is a liquor store in International City where shoppers can browse wines, spirits and beers, including both budget-oriented and more expensive options. Reviews also mention applying for a licence at the store, while its main-road location can make getting in and out straightforward.
Reputation Score
4.0
★★★★☆
325 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Main-road access
The outlet is next to the main road, which one reviewer found convenient for arriving and leaving.
Licence option
One review says customers can apply for a licence in-store and start purchasing while waiting for the printed card.
Helpful service
Several reviews praise the support team and billing staff, including help choosing drinks and carrying purchases.
Promotions
Customers mention frequent promotions, including a reported free reward with a purchase of about 250 dirham.
Tips for a Better Visit
Go earlier. For a quieter visit, try a weekday between 9am and 3pm; a review says the shop gets crowded after 4pm.
Check licence. If you do not have a licence, ask whether you can apply in-store; one review says purchasing can begin immediately.
Allow time. Build in extra time at weekends, when one customer says the shop remains busy and queues form.
Check closing. Do not rely only on the listed closing time: one customer arrived at 9:59pm and was told the store had already closed.
Travel light. Expect bag checks or storage requests at the entrance, and note that a reviewer found no proper lockers for belongings.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Pavilion - adjacent to Union Coop
Warsan First - France Cluster, Dubai
| Mon | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Tue | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Wed | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Thu | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Fri | 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Rude security
Repeated reviews complain about security staff speaking rudely, enforcing unclear rules and handling customer interactions poorly.
Long queues
The branch can be especially busy on weekends, with reviews reporting waits of 15 to 30 minutes.
Bag handling
Some customers object to being asked to leave bags, phones and money in a corner without proper lockers.
Parking difficulty
Parking is described as limited, and one customer said the charges felt unusually high.
Chiller outage
One visit found no AC and no power to the chiller, leaving customers with room-temperature beer and a long queue.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
AED270
licence fee
“Just EID card and licence fee AED270 and take snapshot of the barcode until card arrives will suffice for future purchases!”Google review · November 2020
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
African + Eastern in International City is a liquor store for buying wines, spirits and beers, with reviews pointing to a decent range that includes essential brands as well as budget-oriented and more expensive options. Some customers find the store well organised and quick when it is not crowded, while others value the support team’s help in choosing drinks. Licensing is an important practical detail.
A review says you can apply for a licence at the store and begin purchasing immediately, although the printed card may take 21 days. Another review says a licence is mandatory except for tourists, so confirm the current requirements before arriving if you are unsure. Timing matters here.
The shop is described as crowded after 4pm and particularly busy at weekends; one reviewer recommends weekday visits from 9am to 3pm. Parking has also been criticised, and one customer said the charges were high. The main concern is the entrance experience: numerous reviews describe rude or invasive security interactions, including bag-storage requests without proper lockers and complaints about women’s queue arrangements.
There has also been a report of a no-AC, no-chiller-power visit, so chilled beer may not always be available.