Dubai Mall is a grand shopping mall in Dubai with a total area of over 1.2 million square meters and over 350,000 square meters of retail space. It lies in the prestigious Downtown Burj Khalifa district. Read the Property Investments Dubai material about how this place became a modern commercial and business center.
History and Characteristics of Dubai Mall
Construction of Dubai Mall began in 2004. Its opening on 4 November 2008 developers postponed twice earlier. On the opening date, the mall had 600 stores, which was a world record, as the malls that had opened earlier had much fewer outlets. Before the opening, the mall recruited volunteers to help customers navigate this ‘city of goods.’ During the first five days of operation, tourists bought more than 60,000 tickets to visit the tunnel under the aquarium and the Discovery Centre Zoo.
The retail premises of The Dubai Hill Mall span four floors. The total area of the shopping mall is more than 1 million sq m (more than the area of 50 football fields), and the location of internal premises is 548 thousand sq m, of which 350 thousand sq m are in lease. This area is home to over 1,200 retail stores, 165 belonging to brands not previously represented in the UAE, two large department stores, over 120 catering outlets, and sports and entertainment facilities. The complex includes more than 14,000 parking spaces located in three covered multi-level car parks.
What is interesting about Dubai Mall
The centre opened on 4 November 2008. It was part of the large-scale Downtown Dubai project, which turned this place into a modern commercial and business center. The Dubai Festival City Mall houses 1200 shops and numerous world-class cultural and entertainment venues. The mall is adjacent to The Address, a five-star hotel with 250 rooms and 450 serviced apartments.
Dubai Mall’s car park can accommodate 14,000 cars. More than 75 million people visit Dubai Mall annually, making it the most visited destination in the world. 2013, it surpassed New York, London, and Niagara Falls in popularity.
In 2019, the center’s area increased by almost 15,000 sq m with the opening of an additional building—Dubai Mall Zabeel. The new building is connected to Dubai Mall by an air-conditioned covered pedestrian bridge.
In 2023, the mall opened the Dubai Mall Chinatown department, offering a massive selection of goods from the Far East – from gadgets to art. There is also a branch of the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, Singapore’s Hawker Chan.
Dubai Mall’s opening hours are from 10:00 to 00:00, and it is noteworthy that it is pretty crowded in the afternoon.
Interesting facts
- The total area of the shopping center is equal to 50 football fields.
- The Address Hotel and the Burj Dubai skyscraper are 2 km apart, but both buildings can access Dubai Mall.
- The construction of the complex required 13,800 tonnes of steel, more than was used for the Eiffel Tower.
- More than 600,000 people visited Dubai Mall in the first 24 hours after its opening.
What else is worth seeing in Dubai Mall besides the shops
Dubai Mall is not just a shopping center but a whole world of entertainment, fashion, and technology. It is a symbol of the luxury and grandeur of modern Dubai. Even just looking at the photos of this shopping center, it becomes clear: it is not just a place for shopping, but an actual city within a city! Here are the most interesting locations worth visiting:
The Dubai Mall Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
One of the complex’s most prominent attractions is the aquarium. It is home to the world’s largest monolithic acrylic sheet, measuring 33 × 8.5 m and 75 cm thick, which holds 10 million liters of water. Inside the aquarium is a 48-meter-long transparent tunnel that allows visitors to see more than 140 species of marine life.
The model of the Creek Tower skyscraper
It’s a future competitor to Burj Khalifa and expects to surpass its height by 100 meters. The model is 20 meters high and has become one of the key installations in the Dubai Mall atrium.
The waterfall with pearl fishermen
It is a spectacular installation and an important symbol of Arab culture. Once upon a time, pearl mining was the primary source of income for the local population, and this waterfall with the figures of divers reflects the historical heritage of the Emirates.
The Dubai Dino dinosaur skeleton
It is a real skeleton of a Diplodocus found in the United States. It is 25 meters long and 7 meters high, and 90% of its bones are authentic. In 2014, Emaar Properties brought it to Dubai, where it became a unique free exhibition.
KidZania
There is an interactive educational space where children can try on more than 40 professions, such as doctors, firefighters, or business people, and even use their children’s currency.
VR PARK
There is a virtual reality park with unique attractions, including a simulated flight over the future Dubai (Dubai Drone VR) and a virtual jump from the Burj Khalifa (Burj Drop).
Dubai Mall Cinema
There is a modern multiplex with 22 halls, innovative screens, and a powerful sound system. It also has a children’s room and the Reel Dine-In cinema restaurant, where you can combine watching a film with a delicious dinner.
The Infinity des Lumieres Digital Art Museum
It is a unique space with 130 projectors, 58 speakers, and a 200 m² screen. The exhibition takes visitors to the world of Van Gogh’s fantasies, 19th-century Japanese poetry, and space landscapes.
The Dubai Mall Ice Rink
It is a popular ice skating destination in the heart of the desert. The local hockey team even trains here!
What to see near Dubai Mall
For those who are wondering what to see near Dubai Mall, we can recommend visiting its main attractions:
- Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper in the world (over 800 meters). The At the Top observation deck has fantastic city views inside the building.
- Dubai Mall Fountain is the world’s tallest dancing fountain. This incredible show is worth seeing in person.
- Dubai Opera is an opera house where you can see the world’s best shows.
How to get to Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is easily accessible by public transport:
- Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall is located next to Dubai Mall and is connected to the mall by a pedestrian bridge. Terminal 1 of Dubai International Airport (DXB) has a Red Line station of the same name, which also connects to the mall. You need a train bound for the EXPO station.
- By bus: Buses 27, 28, 29, 30, 50, and 81 stop near the mall. In addition, you can easily reach Dubai Mall from the most popular attractions. For example, take bus number 104 from the Global Village fairgrounds, get off at the stop near Al Jafiliya metro station, and continue to the mall by metro.