Famously home to some of the tallest skyscrapers on earth and a lifestyle that’s as luxurious as it gets, Dubai is arguably best known for its “shop at all hours” ethos. The city’s malls are not simply shopping spaces, but also architectural wonders and points of entertainment and culture that see millions from around the world passing through. This post will delve in to five of the famed malls of Dubai that have just about anything and everything you could ask for, from shopping experiences extraordinaire to dining delights and entertainment options galore.
1. The Dubai Mall
Location: Downtown Dubai
Size: 12 million square feet
Number of Stores: Over 1,200
The Dubai Mall — The Mega of Them AllIf we are to talk about shopping and not mentioning something with the calibre of a city, then it is hard for us turn our heads from this titan. Officially the largest shopping mall in the world by total area, The Dubai Mall is more than just that — a retail destination. It’s an enormous entertainment and leisure complex to unpack customers with unparalleled experiences on every corner- From dining to gamezones; not everything you do here comes out of your pocket!
Shopping Experience
Whether you are a luxury brand lover or favour affordable high-street fashion, The Dubai Mall has over 1,200 retail stores to cater every kind of shopper. Some of the most famous brands in flagship stores are found at this shopping mall, and include Chanel Louis Vuitton Gucci The mall including fashion has stores for electronics, home furnishing and jewelry.
You would be hard-pressed to find something not in The Souk, a section of the mall reflecting traditional Middle Eastern souks with goods including spices, textiles and jewelry. The mall has been designed to feature the best attributes of a modern shopping centre while also providing an authentic Arabian market experience, as demonstrated in this part.
Entertainment and Attractions
The Dubai Mall, is however not just for shopping but also major entertainment destination. Among its most popular sites of interest is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, which showcases thousands of aquatic animals and allows visitors to explore a 48-meter tunnel inside surrounded by sharks and rays.
One of the early attractions in The Dubai Mall is an Olympic-sized ice skating rink that offers public skating sessions, lessons and even hockey matches. It is also equipped with a 22-screen cinema complex for movie buffs and The Platinum Suites that offers luxury VIP experience in the house.
One of the most famous attractions at The Dubai Mall is the record-breaking Olympic-sized (almost) Dubai Fountain, one of world’s largest choreographed fountain systems. The fountain is located past the mall and puts on light, water, music show for free each evening.
Dining and Cuisine
Dubai Mall is a giant in eating out with over 200 food and beverage outlets available for diners. Fast food, casual dining to fancy and everything in between, catered for your tastebuds or otherwise. A few of the favourite dining experiences are Social House, The Cheesecake Factory and Zuma.
Also, if you are looking forward to enjoy scrumptious food with the view, heading out of the mall through Waterfront Promenade will lead you to a few restaurants that serve outdoor at edge seating from where one can have ultimate views of Burj Khalifa and Dubai fountain.
2. Mall of the Emirates
Location: Al Barsha
Size: 2.4 million square feet
Number of Stores: Over 630
Mall of the Emirates is another famous destination in Dubai for luxuries shoppers and it has an ever unique indoor ski resort. The mall, which first began welcoming customers in 2005, is popular among locals and tourists alike for its fusion of luxe retail boutiques with entertainment attractions as well diverse dining options.
Shopping Experience
Mall of the Emirates features over 630 retail outlets including an exciting mix of international luxury labels, high-street fashion brands, and lifestyle stores. Especially popular are the flagship shops of leading designer labels, including Dior, Chanel and Versace, in its Fashion Dome and Luxury Wing mall. To add even more, it has a huge electronics and home decor and beauty offerings in their line up as well.
The Harvey Nichols department store in Mall of the Emirates provides a distinctive shopping experience with its unparalleled assortment fashion, beauty and home☑️ VOX Cinemas, a 24screen multiplex with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology also located at the mall offers luxury cinema experiences such as THEATRE by Rhodes and GOLD by Rhodes.
Entertainment and Attractions
Ski Dubai, the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort is really what separates Mall of the Emirates from anything else out there >
Apart from Ski Dubai, the mall boasts some one-of-a-kind entertainment options such as Magic Planet which is their family entertainment center playing host to all manner of arcade games, rides and even attractions for families with kids of various ages. Dreamscape, a virtual reality experience that sends visitors to otherworldly places, is also in the mall.
Dining and Cuisine
Dining — You can grab a quick bite at Mall of the Emirates food court or look for more upscale options, from fast-food chains to gourmet restaurants. Dining District of the mall serves everything from Italian and Japanese to Middle Eastern eats, as well as all-American brands. Dining395775 Texas de Brazil DiningBook Now364810 Din Tai Fung 389360 Common Grounds.
The Lakeside Eating House houses a selection of restaurants with outdoor seating suitable for those seeking an upscale dining experience, as well provides the ambiance required to savour your meal in peace.
3. Ibn Battuta Mall
Location: Jebel Ali
Size: 5.6 million square feet
Number of Stores: Over 400
This mall, inspired by the 14th-century explorer Ibn Battuta himself, is designed to provide an original shopping experience in atmospheric halls and corridors representing six regions of the world. The Mall has six sections inspired by the countries visited by Ibn Batutta and they are Egypt, Persia, India, China.
Shopping Experience
Ibn Battuta Mall has a range of more than 400 shops that cover fashion, electronics, home and lifestyle products. It is best known for having themed sections that all represent the architecture and culture of their respective regions.
Some international and local fashion brands are also available within the mall for all those who love shopping! Tech malls: Tech shopping destinations such as the lebanese owned Sharaf DG, and Emax are conveniently located in this mall.
Entertainment and Attractions
Ibn Battuta Mall also boasts an extensive selection of entertainment options for all ages. In addition to the very best of international high-street brands, it also has a 21-screen Novo Cinemas complex that delivers movies in supreme comfort.
China Court, launched by a huge life-size Chinese junk boat – the body of Ibn Battuta’s travels to China. The bustling mall includes a bowling alley and an indoor trampoline park, among other family-oriented activities.
Dining and Cuisine
You can Although there are over 50 restaurants and cafes to chose from at Ibn Battuta Mall. Food Court – The Food Court in the mall serves international dishes like Indian, Chinese, Italian and Middle Eastern. In regards to the dining spots, it includes Pizza Express ast well as Zafrann and Yo! Sushi.
For a more serene dining experience, Garden Court located in the mall is another choice of eateries with places to eat outdoors giving you peaceful environment to dine.
4. City Walk
Location: Al Wasl Road
Square footage: 10 million (when coupled with residential and office components)
Number of Stores: Over 200
A modern, urban district that combines commercial, residential and entertainment offerings in the heart of Dubai — City Walk. City Walk is an outdoor Dubai destination resembling a street in Europe lined with shops, restaurants and entertainment options.
Shopping Experience
Dubai has some massive malls, City Walk on the other hand is more boutique. City Walk houses a variety of high-end fashion boutiques, lifestyle stores and offbeat concept store across more than 200 outlets. Prominent names at City Walk include Level Kids, Maje and Coach.
City Walk is also famous for its couturiers, home décor stores, beauty boutiques and gift markets. We found that a very popular open-air shopping area with dining and entertainment, often frequented by local residents was City Walk.
Entertainment and Attractions
City Walk Has More To Offer Than Just Shopping THE GREEN PLANET The newest attraction, this indoor rainforest is home to more than 3,000 plants and animals. Green Planet — A tropical biodome with exotic birds, reptiles and a sloth
Hub Zero is the other large draw at City Walk, which is an indoor entertainment zone that features video games of all types from immersive to VR and arcade=title type. Roxy Cinemas at City Walk is the ideal location for movie buffs wanting to enjoy a more exclusive and premium cinematic experience.
Dining and Cuisine
Tempting the taste buds of all, City Walk is a hub for foodies as it offers an exhaustive list dining options appealing to every palate and preference. The district is famed for its variety of eateries and dessert kiosks offering al fresco seating overlooking the Dubai skyline.
Farzi Café and La Ville Hotel & Suites, where you can enjoy several dining options and a rooftop bar that offers panoramic views of the Dubai skyline. City Walk also has anything from the exotic to international menus such as; Sikka Café for an authentic Emirati meal, L’ETO which offers dishes in a European taste, and Burger Joint New York providing customers with everything they would expect at a classic American diner.
The Meraas Outlets are also a must-see, offering numerous concept stores and restaurants exclusive to Dubai. Don’t miss Cocoa Kitchen where every dish on the menu has a hint of cocoa.
City Walk offers its guests more than just food although the dining options are anything but ordinary and include an ambience that adds to your overall experience. A foodies paradise, City Walk caters to all with family dining deals or romantic culinary experience for fancy characters.
5. Dubai Festival City Mall
Location: Dubai Festival City
Size: 2 million square feet
Number of Stores: Over 400
Nestled at the heart of Dubai Festival City Mall, one of UAE’s most instagrammable destinations and iconic shopping center is definitely a crowd favorite not only for its unobstructed waterfront views but also because it has world-class retail stores to offer. Situated on the Dubai Creek, this mall is a step down in terms of shopping from some of the larger malls around town.
Shopping Experience
Boasting more than 400 retail stores, Dubai Festival City Mall showcases a wide range of high-end fashion and electronics to home décor and lifestyle products. It is a popular mall on the international scene, with its anchor tenants including IKEA and Robinsons as well as British retailer Marks & Spencer. Shoppers looking for luxury shopping can find a variety of high end-fashion brands at the mall’s Luxury Boulevard, including Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch and Kate Spade.
Another interesting fact about this mall is that it has a direct connection to IKEA Dubai, providing an easy shopping destination for those looking for furniture pieces. ACE Hardware, where you can find home improvement needs is also available at the mall.
Entertainment and Attractions
The iconic property has carved its place in Dubai’s list of ritzy shopping spaces where the extravaganza is not limited to just retail but spreads out from shoppers young and newvalves alike. The city’s dazzling version of a fountain show, IMAGINE is an incredible light and water attraction that goes even further with its mesmerizing effects by including lasers and pyrotechnics along the way. The mall’s waterfront promenade serves as the setting of this must-watch show for everybody visiting.
The mall also houses VOX Cinemas, where you can catch all of the newest blockbusters in an agreeable ambiance. Families can choose to visit the Fabyland indoor theme park, which has a range of kiddies rides and attractions or head over to Bounce-X — an inflatable trampoline heaven for both kids and adults.
The less-fabulously wealthy can enjoy the all-family-friendly Dream Aero flight simulator, where weekending visitors have a taste of being at the controls in charge of commercial airliners. This once in a lifetime ride offers an authentic flight experience, making it a hit with aviation fans.
Dining and Cuisine
Dubai Festival City Mall has over 90 restaurants and cafes offering a variety of dining options. Festival Bay: Located during Ajman’s Festival City, this region contains the popular waterfront dining options with perspectives of Dubai C• and Lake Creek. From restaurants, Popular dining includes Peppermill, Joe’s Crab Shack and Hard Rock Café.
The mall houses culinary world cuisine options, from Italian and Asian to American and Middle-Eastern. One is Belgian Café, for the diner with a view and Eataly which allows you pre-order pasta or pizza.
And Sugoi and Magnolia Bakery has sweets to satisfy your sweet tooth. With a variety of coffee shops and cafés as well, the place is ideal for an afternoon break to charge those batteries.
Conclusion
More than merely destinations to shop, Dubai’s malls are major cultural and entertainment complexes that reflect the citys cosmopolitan lifestyle. Whether it is the spectacle of The Dubai Mall, or Ibn Battuta that houses themed experiences in its interior layouts there are not many malls around where both residents and visitors can come for a lot more than just shopping.
Dubai is home to some of the world’s unique and top shopping centers where you can savor luxury shopping, experience one-of-a-kind entertainment or relish a meal with amazing views at these malls that are not just all about retail. And throughout these landmark shopping centers you will find every mix of retail, entertainment and dining experiences that help confirm the Shopping capital line underlining Dubai as one of the most premiere global destinations to buy.
Thus the next time you land in to Dubai, make sure you visit these 5 iconic malls and indulge yourself with exclusive shopping experiences along with entertainment. Whether your passion lies in shopping, food or adventure Dubai Malls have something for everyone.
