The Dubai Mall: The Ultimate Shopping Destination in Dubai

For residents of the UAE, shopping is a national activity in which they can be considered professionals. The main shopping center of the country is considered to be Dubai. In this city, you can buy everything from cosmetics and perfumes, clothing and shoes to exclusive jewelry and new electronics. Shopaholics and ordinary vacationers will not leave the city without shopping if they stop by the Dubai Mall.

The largest mall not only in Dubai, but also the largest shopping and entertainment center in the world is visited by almost all tourists – even those who do not plan to visit boutiques. You can spend a whole day in Dubai Mall and never get bored – for this purpose there are cinemas, an aquarium and an underwater zoo, food courts and a waterfall, an abundance of attractions, slot machines and even the skeleton of a diplodocus (it is more than 155 million years old and it is 90% original – 10% of the bones had to be recreated artificially).

General information

The area of Dubai Mall in Dubai is more than one million square meters, of which about 400,000 m2 are given over for trade. The construction of the famous shopping center, which has become the largest project of the Emaar Malls Group, began in 2004 and lasted for four years. Already at the time of the grand opening, 600 stores were functioning in the Dubai Mall – today their number has doubled. In 2009, a two-story entrance to the mall was built from Doha Street.

Useful to know! In 2018, the Fashion Avenue shopping gallery was opened in the new Dubai Mall building. Luxury brands are represented in 150 boutiques. For many of them, this is their debut in the Middle East.

Dubai Mall is part of the Downtown business district concept. It has more than 1,000 boutiques, parking for 14,000 cars, a 250-room hotel, more than 200 food outlets, 22 cinema halls and a 7,000 m2 amusement park, but the mall continues to expand, wanting to receive up to one hundred million visitors a year.

The shops

The list of more than 1,300 stores operating in Dubai Mall leaves no doubt that this shopping and entertainment center strives to please everyone who wants to buy souvenirs, handmade items, authentic Arab outfits, etc. The branch of the French department store chain Galeries Lafayette, the British toy store Hamleys and the American Bloomingdale’s are happy to offer their products to visitors here.

While shopping in Dubai Mall, few people deny themselves the pleasure of looking at Fashion Avenue. The newly expanded territory of Modnaya street is home to boutiques of the most sought-after brands:

• Balenciaga
• Baldinini
• Bershka
• Balmain
• Burberry
• Bulgary
• Bobby Brown
• Boss Hugo Boss

These and other stores, a full list of which can be found on the official website of Dubai Mall, have allowed it to become a fashion hub for the entire Middle East. The full list of stores can be viewed on the official website of the shopping center thedubaimall.com in the “Shop” section.

Please note! Another component of the shopping center is Village. This is an open area, where many collections of denim clothing are presented, ideal conditions for unhurried promenades and recreation are created.

Restaurants

After spending a few hours shopping in the Dubai Mall, tourists don’t have to worry about going hungry. In the shopping and entertainment center, there are about 200 casual eateries, cafes, fast food outlets and prestigious restaurants scattered throughout its territory. Fans of American and British cuisine, French and Italian, Japanese and Chinese, Indian and national Middle Eastern cuisine, as well as fans of healthy eating and baking can enjoy a quick snack or enjoy delicious dishes at a leisurely pace.

On a note! On the ground floor of Dubai Mall, you will find a 3,000 m2 Candylicious candy store. The giant room is literally filled to the ceiling with chocolate, marmalade, toys and souvenirs.

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Entertainments

Dubai Mall is hard to beat in anything, including the number and quality of entertainment venues that attract more and more foreigners to the United Arab Emirates:

1. Dubai Aquarium. A fifty-meter aquarium as high as a three-story house has become a cozy home for 33 thousand marine animals and fish. A tunnel is laid through the center of the aquarium, which provides an undistorted view of all its inhabitants. It is here that tourists take their famous photos from the Dubai Mall with dangerous sharks and smiling rays. The full tour will cost 199 dirhams on weekdays and 209 on weekends (for children under 3 years old-free of charge), there is a dive option for experienced divers and beginners with an instructor. For more information about the aquarium, see this article.
2. KidZania is a” small town ” that occupies 7,400 m2 and has 22 themed halls for children of all ages. Here they can rent a car, visit a beauty salon or a cooking class, “get an education”, try different professions, work in a publishing house, a polyclinic, a police station, etc. For adults, there is a recreation area. Admission for children from 2 to 3 years old costs 110 dirhams, for children from 4 to 16 years old – 195 dirhams, for adults — 80.
3. Movie theaters. Reel Cinemas is a complex with 22 screens, 3D effects, Dolby Atmos sound system, VIP sofas and armchairs, as well as the ability to call a waiter and order snacks and drinks. The cost of tickets for a session in a regular chair is about 50 dirhams, in a luxury one – about 180.
4. Gold Souk. If you want to invest in gold, you are welcome here. 220 shops of the Golden Bazaar offer an incredible selection of jewelry. You can buy ready-made products or create an exclusive copy to order.
5. SEGA Republic. The 7100 m2 park is filled with many attractions for children and adults. You can swing on the Halfpipe Canyon swing, show the wonders of acrobatics in Lazeraze, ride on the ice track in Storm G and much more. Visiting SEGA Republic involves several forms of payment, including Pay & Play Pass, Power Pass, Premium Power Pass, and Family Power Pass cards with different levels of access to attractions. You buy the card itself and top it up with the amount of money you need to pay for your favorite entertainment.
6. Dubai Ice Rink. Another record holder is an Olympic – sized ice rink with an ice thickness of 38 mm and rental of high-quality skates. Learn to ride, and if you already know how, join a game of broomball, ride an IceByke, or rock a disco party. There are activities for kids and adults alike. Ice rink tickets cost from 90 to 125 dirhams depending on the time and day of the week.
7. The Grove. Tired of entertainment, head to the “Grove”. This is a whole street with a sliding roof, where you can walk among the greenery and fountains, have a snack in the fresh air and just relax.
8. The Emirates A380 Experience. The ultra-modern flight simulator will appeal to those who want to take off and land a plane at one of the world’s airports. Correct take-off and accurate landing are rewarded with points.
9. Hysteria. An extremely scary ride for those who dream of thrills and a powerful dose of adrenaline. A lot of scary elements, scary characters and creepy “surprises” are not designed for the faint of heart and children. Get ready to scream with panic and delight by paying 100 dirhams in advance.

Rules of conduct

When planning to visit the Dubai Mall, keep in mind that:

• your clothing should cover your shoulders and knees;
• you can’t bring your pets with you;
• smoking is prohibited in the shopping center;
• you can not perform dangerous actions, for example, ride on a skateboard on the territory of a shopping and entertainment center;
• kissing and other explicit displays of love are prohibited.

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Practical information

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 10: 00 to 23: 00, Friday to Sunday-from 10: 00 to 12: 00.

How to get:

1. The mall can be reached by metro. Get off at Burj Khalifa station and cross the pedestrian bridge to the mall. If it’s too hot outside, take the free Shuttle-Bus # 25.
2. From any part of the city to Dubai Mall, you can take bus routes 28, 29, 81, F13.
3. The No. 27 bus to Dubai Mall departs every 15 minutes from Deira’s Golden Market stop (in the old city).
4. You can get a taxi on the street or order it through the services of Uber, Careem, KiwiTaxi, RTA Dubai, Smart Taxi.
5. While driving a rented car along the Sheikh Zayed Highway, take in the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, which is located next to the Dubai Mall.

Parking lot. There is a place for 14 thousand cars in three parking lots and polite service staff.

Official website. Before heading to the Dubai Mall, take a look at thedubaimall.com to study the shopping center map, find out news, check prices, and pay for certain services online.