Dubai takes its reputation as a legendary shopping destination very seriously. The city’s spectacular mega malls have to be seen to be believed, with floor after floor of the globe’s most iconic designer labels and biggest high-street brand names offering endless choices.
But Dubai’s malls are about much, much more than just shopping. The sky’s the limit for entertainment here, with novelties such as indoor roller-coasters, shark-filled aquariums and dancing fountains drawing in the crowds. Expect to see tourists, expats and locals alike spending full days at the mall, shopping, eating out, playing sports or getting pampered in glam salons. In fact, in Dubai’s best malls, there’s enough to do without ever even setting foot in a shop – from inventive kids play areas to great restaurants, cinemas, bowling alleys, ice rinks and ski slopes.
Creatively designed, perfectly air-conditioned, and jam-packed with things to do, these are Dubai’s best malls.
1. Dubai Mall
One of the largest malls in the world, Dubai Mall is a shopper’s dream come true, with over 1,200 shops that include the glitziest of designer boutiques (don’t miss the ultra-luxe Fashion Avenue), enormous toy stores, a gold souk, homewares, souvenir shops and more. But Dubai Mall is as much an entertainment hub as a shopping centre, and you’ll also find a giant aquarium, a virtual reality park and an Olympic-sized ice rink here. It’s also a great dining destination, with everything from fast food outlets to chic Parisian-style cafes and restaurants serving world cuisines. There’s direct access from the mall to top attractions Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain too, making it a super option for a bucket list day out.
2. Mall of the Emirates
As famous for its indoor ski slope as its shops, a trip to Mall of the Emirates is quite the experience. Ski Dubai delivers real-snow slopes, penguins, and a snowy play area, plus there’s even a chalet-style cafe for hot chocolate afterwards. The shops here are less flashy than in some of the other malls, so it’s a good place to go for mid-range high street brands that won’t break the bank. There are several great places to eat too, including gourmet Lebanese and upmarket Chinese as well as lots of sweet treat options – ice cream, cookie and waffle stalls galore. The large movie complex here is very popular.
3. Ibn Battuta Mall
Ibn Battuta Mall is a high-concept themed shopping centre, with every section inspired by a region that 14th-century traveller Ibn Battuta visited in his heyday, including India, China, Persia, Egypt and beyond. Expect to see vaulted ceilings, hand-painted tiles and dramatic domes as you shop, making the mall feel more like a gallery than a shopping centre.
It tends to be a lot quieter and more relaxed than some of Dubai’s bigger malls, and is popular with families as there’s a cinema, bowling alley and several kids play areas. Stores tend to be on the lower end of the price scale, with less of the ultra-glam designer boutiques and more everyday fashion and homewares brands sold here.
4. Dubai Festival City Mall
Dubai Festival City Mall is a spacious, laid-back mall, with a decent spread of international brands and a large IKEA. It’s a great dining destination as there’s an enormous food hall called Market Island, which contains a range of gourmet outlets serving everything from lobster to gelato. There are also plenty of casual cafes and restaurants by the waterfront, overlooking Dubai Creek. The mall pulls in the crowds each evening for its IMAGINE show on Festival Bay – this immersive laser, light and water extravaganza is set to music and is easily one of the best free attractions in the city.
5. City Walk
It’s not technically a mall, but City Walk is one of Dubai’s sleekest shopping hubs. It’s an indoor-outdoor retail district with a European boulevard style – a totally different vibe from the city’s mega malls. There are fashion boutiques and lifestyle stores here as well as a number of spas, salons, beauty and wellness facilities, plus a lively string of street cafés. The Green Planet bio-dome is also housed here, an enclosed tropical forest where visitors can interact with plants and animals.
6. The Outlet Village
Looking for designer gear without the hefty price tag? Head to The Outlet Village, a Tuscan-inspired mall packed with heavily discounted luxury brands. Cut-price clothing, shoes, sportswear, fragrances and accessories can all be found here, and big-name brands including Coach, Michael Kors, and Armani have outlets. The mall is located adjacent to Dubai Parks and Resorts and contemporary hotel Rove at The Park is very nearby – ideal if you’re planning on indulging in several back-to-back days of shopping.
7. Mercato
Mercato on Jumeirah Beach Road is another elegantly themed mall. Renaissance-era architecture and an enormous overarching glass ceiling means the mall is full of natural light, making it a pleasant place to spend a few hours. Pastel façades, wrought-iron balconies, and cobbled walkways add to the feeling of shopping in a small Italian town. Mercato is smaller than most of Dubai’s malls but still has a decent selection of fashion, homeware and beauty brands as well as some chic cafes and coffee shops. There’s also a large cinema here with several VIP screens.
8. Dubai Hills Mall
Dubai Hills Mall is one of the city’s newer shopping centres and has become popular fast, due to its broad mix of high-end and mid-range stores, several immersive kids play areas, a cinema, decent dining options and all-importantly, plenty of parking. But of course it wouldn’t be a true Dubai mall without a quirky USP, and Dubai Hills’ is a record-breaking indoor rollercoaster. The Storm Coaster loops through the mall itself on a 670m track and features a dizzying 50m-high vertical launch. Not for the faint-hearted!
