The Dubai Mall, more than just a mere shopping center, embodies a captivating metropolis within its walls. Expansive, grand, and teeming with boundless activities, this remarkable retail complex has cemented its status as Dubai’s pulsating “central square” throughout the years.
The mall’s sheer magnitude is awe-inspiring, housing an abundance of retail outlets, dining establishments, exhilarating amusement parks, and an extraordinary aquarium that stands among the most awe-inspiring in the world. A visit to the Dubai Mall promises an immersive experience, transcending the boundaries of traditional shopping excursions. With over a thousand stores, ranging from luxury brands to eclectic boutiques, the Dubai Mall caters to every taste and preference. Be it haute couture, electronics, or artisanal crafts, the mall boasts an extensive selection that captivates even the most discerning shoppers.
Beyond its shopping allure, the Dubai Mall beckons adventurers with its enchanting array of entertainment. From adrenaline-pumping rides at the theme park to mesmerizing light shows at the iconic Dubai Fountain, there is no shortage of exhilarating experiences to partake in. Not to be missed is the captivating Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, where visitors can marvel at a breathtaking display of marine life, including majestic sharks and vibrant coral reefs. The immersive tunnel walk offers a truly unforgettable encounter with the wonders of the deep sea.
- Things to know about the Dubai Mall
- Small Guide to Dubai Mall Shops
- Things to do and see at the Dubai Mall
- Best Places to Eat in the Dubai Mall
- Insider tips for visiting and shopping at the Dubai Mall
- Things to see and do around the Dubai Mall
Things to know about the Dubai Mall
- The Dubai Mall is located in Downtown Dubai, in the heart of the most modern, futuristic and exclusive part of Dubai. Above the Dubai Mall stands the Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world.
- The Dubai Mall overlooks a complex of artificial lakes where in the evening you can watch the amazing show of the Dubai Fountain, a choreography of water, light and sounds.
- The Dubai Mall is huge: its size is equivalent to more than 50 football fields. This makes it one of the largest shopping malls in the world.
- There are over 1300 shops and over 200 restaurants and cafes in the Dubai Mall. In addition there is a 250-room luxury hotel, a 26-screen cinema and a plethora of theme parks to delight visitors of all ages. There is even an olympic ice rink.
- Inside there is an aquarium with over 30,000 marine animals and a tank of over 10 million liters, making it one of the largest aquariums in the world.
- If you like sweets you will love the Dubai Mall: here you can find Candylicious, the largest candy and sweet shop in the world.
- The Dubai Mall welcomes around 80 million visitors annually, more than New York or Los Angeles!
Small Guide to Dubai Mall Shops
The Dubai Mall is a real shopping paradise: here you can find thousands of shops, and the products of the best international brands. Furthermore, some goods may have particularly advantageous prices due to low taxation.
If you love shopping, be prepared, the Dubai Mall is really huge! Probably more than you are used to. This means a lot of offer, a lot of people and a lot of chaos (especially in the sales periods and during the Dubai Shopping Festival). Consider that to see all the shops you will have to spend the whole day here, or even more.
Fashion, Luxury, Beauty and Perfumery
Fashion Avenue
In the Dubai Mall you will find the best of luxury and international fashion. On the ground floor you will find Fashion Avenue which is home to over 150 high-end stores, including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Burberry, Cartier, Prada, Max Mara, Dior, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Hermes, Rolex and Dolce & Gabbana.
Each shop is set up with refinement and elegance, first-class staff (and obviously capable of speaking several languages), high technology and white marble and crystal surfaces. Everything is designed for a five-star experience, complete with personal shoppers, chauffeur-driven buggies, and washrooms fit for royalty.
Bloomingdale’s and Galeries Lafayette
If you are looking for a more easy-going experience, it is better to go to the Second Floor. Here are the two Dubai Mall’s upscale department stores: the three storeys of Bloomingdale’s and the French shopping icon Galeries Lafayette, where you will find homewares, fashion and accessories.
If you are looking for a nice pair of shoes, the right place is on the ground floor where you can find Level Shoes, a huge shop that sells the best brands of footwear.
Other Clothing and Accessories Stores
On the ground floor and first floor you will find many other clothing brands, including the stores of the famous European brands Zara, H&M, Mango and Ralph Lauren.
Jewelry, Watches and Diamonds
If you want to buy a nice jewel for someone special on the Ground Floor there is an entire area dedicated to jewelers where you can find the best European and Italian jewelry brands, as well as local diamond and gold shops.
Beauty and Perfumery
To take a look at cosmetics and fragrances, you can take a stroll through the boutiques of the various brands, scattered between the ground floor and the first two floors of the Dubai Mall. There are shops of all the most famous international cosmetic and perfumery brands. If you are looking for something particularly luxury you will surely find it on Fashion Avenue.
Also take a look at the Souk Al Bahar which is a reproduction of an old traditional souk, with craft shops, souvenirs, jewelry and perfumery. It is located on Burj Khalifa Lake and is connected to the Dubai Mall with a spectacular bridge that crosses the lake.
Electronics
The range of high-end electronics products is so vast that it satisfies the desires of all technology enthusiasts: smartphones, computers, digital cameras, drones and all the best technological innovations.
For fans of sound there are shops such as Bose (second floor) and Bang & Olufsen (first floor). On the first floor you can find the Apple Store, while on the second floor there are the stores of Huawei, Samsung and Sony. Photography enthusiasts will find the Canon (second floor) and Leica (ground floor) stores.
On the second floor there are several megastores dedicated to electronics: Virgin Megastore, Grand Stores Digital and Sharaf DG.
Something Sweet
On the Lower Ground Floor you will find many shops of sweets, chocolates, biscuits and delicious cakes, including La Cure Gourmande or the large candy and confectionery shop Candylicious.
Things to do and see at the Dubai Mall
Those who visit the Dubai Mall sometimes do it for shopping, but most visitors go there because it is full of attractions: from the aquarium to ice skating as well as many theme parks for children.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
The Dubai Aquarium is located inside the Dubai Mall and is one of the largest aquariums in the world. Its tank of over 10 million liters houses over 30,000 marine animals and is crossed by a crystal tunnel that allows people to walk inside it.
The path continues with the Underwater Zoo where visitors can meet many aquatic animals, including crocodiles, penguins and reptiles!
Burj Khalifa At the Top
Climb the world’s tallest skyscraper and enjoy the breathtaking view of the city!
From the Dubai Mall you can access the elevators that lead directly to the top of Burj Khalifa. The 124th, 125th and 148th floors can be visited and it is possible to access the external terrace of the observation deck, from which you have an incredible view of the city.
The best view is at sunset: with the golden hour light, and the sparkling lights of Dubai skyscrapers, it will be a truly unforgettable experience!
Queues for tickets are always very long, so make sure you get your tickets online.
The Dubai Fountain
Do not miss the magnificent choreography of the Dubai Fountain: an immense show of light, sounds and dancing fountains that stretch for almost 300 meters in length.
The water shot reaches 150 meters in height, and is illuminated by 6600 lights and 50 colored projectors. The dances are synchronized with the music that ranges from classical to contemporary.
Dubai Fountain performances take place at 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM and then every 30 minutes from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM).
The show can be seen from the terraces of the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, or from the terrace of one of the restaurants in the Dubai Mall. The most spectacular way to admire the show is directly from the lake, aboard an abra.
Dubai Mall Ice Rink
An ice skating rink open all year round, right inside the Dubai Mall, this attraction is ideal for escaping the desert heat for a while.
Even beginners can try this experience and it doesn’t matter if you don’t have ice skates with you, you can borrow them there.
VR Park
This theme park is located inside the Dubai Mall and is entirely dedicated to virtual reality.
It was created on the basis of the old SEGA Republic (closed since 2017) and offers twenty games that through virtual reality allow participants to play epic battles, drive race cars or pilot fighters.
Dubai Dino
When you are in the Dubai Mall go say hi to Dubai Dino!
The Dubai Dino is the authentic fossil of a Diplodocus, a large long-necked dinosaur. The fossil originates from the USA and is over 7 meters high and 24 meters long.
You can see it on the Ground Floor, in front of Level Shoes.
KidZania
KidZania is every child’s dream park!
This theme park is a child-sized replica of a real city: there are buildings, shops, airports, factories, restaurants and theaters. There is even a police station and a courthouse, while vehicles and pedestrians moving along its streets.
Here children aged 4 to 14 can do their dream job, be policemen, lawyers, doctors, firefighters, journalists, cooks or plane pilots! The activities that can be done are many and really serve the functioning of the city of KidZania.
Each child can earn KidZos (KidZania’s currency) while performing the tasks of his job and then he can spend the KidZos to play in other activities, or to buy something within the game.
Children are supervised during the game, so that parents can freely enjoy a walk in the Dubai Mall during the game.
Hysteria Dubai Mall
Ok, you have left your children to play in KidZania, well maybe now it’s the turn to play for the older ones!
A haunted house in the middle of the Dubai Mall: evil spirits and horrifying creatures inhabit its rooms and are ready to kidnap guests and make them live an adventure worthy of the worst horror story.
It is scary enough to make you scream like a baby already in the third room, and you have 15 rooms to explore.
Reel Cinemas Dubai Mall
Not a simple cinema: 26 rooms, the best technology: 3D movies, MX4D, 270° screens and the best sound. Furthermore there is the possibility to live the “dine-in” experience by eating burgers and fries while watching a movie.
How to save on Dubai Mall attractions tickets
To save up to 60% on Dubai Mall attractions tickets you can buy the iVenture Dubai Unlimited Pass, which allows you free entry to all major attractions in Dubai, including those of the Dubai Mall, such as KidZania, Dubai Aquarium, Dubai Fountain, Reel Dine-In Cinema, Ice Rink, Burj Khalifa and so on.
Best Places to Eat in the Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is a place that foodies will surely appreciate. Its gastronomic offer is significant, with over 200 places to eat, have a coffee or a piece of cake with a cup of tea.
The best restaurants have a terrace overlooking the Dubai Fountain, offer the best of international cuisine, instagramable dishes and refined specialties. The prices are quite high.
All restaurants also have a good offer of healthy and vegetarian dishes and some have children’s menus, perfect for families.
For those who prefer a quick, tasty and cheap meal, the best alternative is to eat in one of the many fast-food restaurants in the Dubai Mall Food Court: you can choose from cuisines from all over the world, the portions are generous and have a good value for money.
Dubai Mall Opening Hours
In general the Dubai Mall opening hours are: from 10.00 AM until 10.00 PM, open 7 days a week.
Some restaurants and cafes open for breakfast at 9.00 AM.
How to get to the Dubai Mall
By Taxi
You can get to the Dubai Mall by taxi: every taxi driver knows the location of the Dubai Mall, so just ask. The taxi rank is on the ground floor, near the Waitrose supermarket.
This is undoubtedly the best solution for those arriving in Dubai on a cruise, taxis easily connect Downtown Dubai with the Port Rashid Cruise Terminal.
By Metro
The Dubai Metro Red Line connects the Dubai Mall with the rest of the city (including Dubai International Airport). The closest metro station is Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall.
The metro station is about 1 km from the Dubai Mall, which means at least 10 minutes walk. However, the metro station is connected directly to the Dubai Mall via the Metro Link Bridge, a closed pedestrian bridge with air conditioning and airport-style travolators.
By Bus
You can reach the Dubai Mall with Bus 27 which leaves from the Gold Souk Bus Station in Deira or with Bus 29 which leaves from Ghubaiba Bus Station in the Al Fahidi district.
The Hop On Hop Off double-decker bus stop is located right in front of the Dubai Mall main entrance. From here depart the routes that connect all the main attractions of the city, so it is very easy to include the Dubai Mall in your Dubai sightseeing itinerary.
By Car
To reach Dubai Mall by car you should leave Sheikh Zayed Road at Interchange 1 and take Financial Center Road to Dubai Mall. The road is well signposted. The Dubai Mall has three free multi-storey car parks with 14,000 parking spaces.
Insider tips for visiting and shopping at the Dubai Mall
Sales at the Dubai Mall
The sales season usually coincides with the Dubai Shopping Festival, which normally takes place in January.
Dubai Shopping Festival
For a month Dubai becomes the international capital of fashion and shopping. Events, fashion shows, fireworks shows, concerts and even a film festival are held throughout the city.
During this time millions of people come to Dubai from all over the world to shop, the city is particularly crowded (be sure to book all experiences and tours in advance) and the Dubai Mall is full of shopping enthusiasts looking for sales.
Dress appropriately
It is good to be respectful of local customs. Keep your shoulders and knees always covered. This applies to both men and women.
Respect during Ramadan
During the Holy Month of Ramadan according to local customs it is not possible to eat or drink in public during daylight hours. However, some places to eat remain open: you can find them in the covered food court on the second floor.
Things to see and do around the Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall is located right in the heart of Downtown Dubai. Right next to the Dubai Mall are the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain.
A few steps from the Dubai Mall you can visit the Dubai Opera and enjoy a leisurely cruise on Dubai Creek. The most popular meeting point in the Dubai Mall is the Dubai Mall Waterfall, one of Dubai’s most eclectic works of art.
Planning your trip to Dubai? Then you should check out the GUIDE TO THE BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN DUBAI.