Helpful advice
Staff are often praised for helping customers choose whisky and wine, including personal recommendations.
African + Eastern - Marina Mall
Dubai Marina
African + Eastern - Marina Mall is a liquor store in Dubai Marina where shoppers can pick up wine, whisky, beer and spirits. Reviews point to helpful staff, occasional promotions and prices some customers find reasonable, though the compact shop can be tricky to locate and busy at peak times.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
237 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Good promotions
Special offers can make selected bottles and cases better value than the standard shelf price.
Affordable finds
Several shoppers describe the prices as good, particularly on selected wines, spirits and promotions.
Wine discovery
One customer found a Chilean red wine especially memorable, despite not being highly particular about wine.
Payment choice
A review reports that both card and cash payments are accepted.
Tips for a Better Visit
Bring passport. If you are visiting as a tourist, bring your passport; reviews say it is needed for a purchase.
Visit weekdays. For a shorter wait, consider a weekday rather than the weekend, when queues are repeatedly reported.
Use P1. Look beneath Waitrose and use the P1 parking access; the shop is not on the mall’s more obvious levels.
Check bottles. Inspect wine bottles against the light before buying, following a review’s warning about storage or transport.
Check specials. Look for special offers, as reviewers mention that some promotions provide particularly good deals.
Plan parking. Allow extra time if visiting during a rush, since queues may extend into the parking garage.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Mall Marina - Level P1
Marsa Dubai - Dubai Marina, 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 |
Popular Mentions
Bulleit Bourbon
Bulleit Bourbon was the customer’s alternative when their preferred Jim Beam bottle was unavailable.
Jim Beam Straight Bourbon
This specific bourbon was requested but reportedly not available during one visit.
Captain Morgan
Captain Morgan appears in a customer-reported price example for a 1.5-litre bottle.
Beer
Beer is mentioned in a customer-reported price example, including a 24x33cl case.
Common Concerns
Long queues
Weekend and busy-period queues can mean waiting 15–40 minutes outside in the parking area.
Hard to find
The shop is accessed around the P1 parking level beneath Waitrose, and several visitors found it poorly signposted.
Small selection
The compact outlet may not carry a specific bottle; one shopper wanted Jim Beam Straight Bourbon but bought Bulleit instead.
Slow service
Service has been described as slow, with some reviews also reporting rude or unfriendly staff interactions.
Storage concern
One customer warned that wine quality can be affected by transportation or storage conditions.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
African + Eastern - Marina Mall is a compact liquor store in Dubai Marina for buying wine, whisky, beer and spirits. Reviews make it sound most useful when you want a convenient top-up near the mall, a staff recommendation on whisky, or a deal on selected bottles and cases. One shopper found a Chilean red wine exceptionally good; another left with Bulleit Bourbon after Jim Beam Straight Bourbon was unavailable.
The main practical catch is finding the shop. It sits on parking level P1 beneath Waitrose, rather than on an obvious shopping floor, so follow the route down from the Waitrose area. Parking close to the store is possible, but busy periods can spill into the garage.
Queues are the bigger concern. Multiple reviews describe weekend waits, including 15–20 minutes and one reported line of 20 people, with summer heat in the parking area making the delay unpleasant. A weekday visit should be easier.
Service reviews are mixed: many customers describe friendly, helpful staff, while others report slow service or rude cashier interactions. Tourists should bring a passport; reviews specifically mention it for purchases. Residents should check the current purchase requirements before setting out.
Prices are described both as reasonable during promotions and higher than other wine shops, so checking offers and inspecting wine bottles is worthwhile.