The Dubai Mall is by far the largest shopping mall in Dubai. It is home to over 1,000 stores and restaurants. It also offers a number of tourist attractions including an ice rink, an aquarium, and a multiplex cinema.
The mall is situated at the Downtown Dubai, a massive development that also includes the world’s tallest building, numerous hotels, plus residential apartments and villas. The Souk Al Bahar is also here and offers more shopping and dining options.
The mall boasts four levels; Level LG (lower ground), Level G (ground), Level 1 (first floor), and Level 2 (second floor). They are connected by both lifts and escalators.
Anchor Stores
Large stores at the Dubai Mall include Bloomingdale’s, Galeries Lafayette, and Debenhams.
Galeries Lafayette is a luxury French department store. Departments include women’s fashion, men’s fashion, cosmetics and fragrances, jewellery and watches, and home interiors. With a floor area of 215,000 square feet, spread over three floors of the Dubai Mall, it is the largest department store in Dubai.
Women’s fashion is particularly impressive. Brands stocked include 7 For All Mankind, Armani Jeans, Cavalli Class, Hoss Intropia, Juicy Couture, Karen Millen, Manoush, Missoni, Pinko, Reiss, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, Ted Baker, and True Religion.
Bloomingdale’s at the Dubai Mall is the US department store’s first international venture. There are two parts to the store; a 146,000 square foot main store with 3 storeys (Level G to Level 2) and a 54,000 square foot home store on Level LG.
Departments in the main store include beauty and fragrances, fine jewellery and watches, men’s and women’s footwear, plus men’s, women’s, and children’s fashion. The home store offers furniture, textiles, glassware, ceramics and decorative items.
Fashion Avenue
Fashion Avenue runs along the southern edge of the mall and is home to the largest collection of prestigious fashion retailers in Dubai. Over 70 stores occupy an area of over 44,000 square feet, spread over Level G and Level 1.
Stores on the ground floor include Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen, Christian Louboutin, Valentino, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, and Dior.
Shops on Level 1 include Paul & Shark, Agent Provocateur, Moschino, and Elie Saab.
Grand Atrium
The Grand Atrium is home to a number of luxury jewellers and watchmakers. Stores here include Cartier, Bvlgari, Chopard, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Breguet, Hermes, and Tiffany & Co.
Supermarket
Most malls in Dubai boast a supermarket and the one here is Waitrose. The 55,000 square foot store is situated on Level LG and is the UK supermarket chain’s first international store. Its product range includes fresh fish and meat, fruit and vegetables, cheese, frozen produce, bread and pastries, and household products.
Other Shops
Kinokuniya is a huge bookstore on Level 2 of the mall. It moved from a larger location in 2017 but is still the biggest bookstore in the UAE. Departments include English magazines, literature, travel, history, computers, business and management, children, hobbies and craft, food and drink, Arabic books, foreign languages, art and design, comics, and performing arts.
The Virgin Megastore is the best place in the mall to buy music CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Disks, and books. The store also stocks a good range of electronic products including games consoles (Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox 360 etc.) and games, mobile phones, and MacBooks. Tickets for many concerts and events in Dubai can also be purchased here.
Hamleys, the world-famous toy retailer, opened their first store in the UAE at the Dubai Mall. The 32,000 square foot store stocks a huge range of premium toys, gifts and gadgets. It also offers regular workshops and activities, plus events where children can meet their favourite cartoon characters. The store is located on Level 2, near KidZania.
The Dubai Mall offers a massive selection of restaurants and food and drink outlets. None of the restaurants in the Dubai Mall are licensed. Restaurants serving alcohol can be found in the Souk al Bahar or in the hotels in Downtown Dubai.
Most of the sit-down restaurants are situated on the southern side of the mall. Many have views of the Burj Khalifa Lake and the Dubai Fountain.
There are two main food courts at the Dubai Mall; one on Level 2 and the other on Level LG.
The food court on Level 2 is the largest. It is convenient for those visiting attractions such as the Reel Cinema or KidZania.
Attractions
In addition to a huge selection of shops, the Dubai Mall is also home to some of Dubai’s top tourist attractions.
Dubai Ice Rink
The Dubai Ice Rink is the biggest ice skating rink in the city. Public skating sessions are held every day of the week. Evening disco sessions are also offered.
At The Top – Burj Khalifa Observation Deck
The Burj Khalifa, located right next to the mall, is currently the tallest building in the world. Visitors wishing to take a trip to its observation deck begin their journey in the Dubai Mall.
KidZania
KidZania is a children’s edutainment theme park on Level 2 of the Dubai Mall. It offers youngsters the opportunity to experience adult life through role play in a mini-city with streets, shops, restaurants and other businesses.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
The Dubai Aquarium is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world and is home to more than 30,000 aquatic animals. Much of the aquarium can be seen for free from the mall. Paying visitors get to walk through the aquarium tunnel and see additional species in the zoo.
Dubai Fountain
The Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest musical fountain and the city’s most popular free tourist attraction. Performances are held every day. It’s located on the Burj Khalifa Lake, right outside the Dubai Mall.
Reel Cinemas
This 26-screen multiplex cinema is the biggest in Dubai. It offers a variety of movie experiences.
The Waterfall
The Waterfall is an impressive work of art, traversing all levels of the mall.
PlayDXB
PlayDXB is an indoor entertainment centre offering around 20 interactive augmented reality and virtual reality experiences.
Entry is free. Participants pay for games individually or can purchase multi-game passes.
It is situated on Level 2 of the Dubai Mall, next to Reel Cinemas.
The area was previously home to SEGA Republic.
Hysteria
Hysteria is a haunted house experience of Level 2 of the Dubai Mall.
Opening Times
All the shops and attractions at the Dubai Mall are open 7 days a week.
Current opening times for the stores are 10 am until midnight.
Evening performances of the Dubai Fountain start at 6 pm and run every half hour until 11 pm. There are also afternoon shows at 1 pm and 1.30 pm (Fridays 1.30 pm and 2 pm).
Facilities
Information desks are located throughout the mall and offer maps of the Dubai Mall and store listings. Facilities and services include toilets, free WiFi, baby changing rooms, prayer rooms, plus wheelchair and stroller hire.
Getting There & Directions
Taxis
Every taxi driver in Dubai will know how to get to the Dubai Mall. Departing by taxi is easy. The main taxi rank is situated on the ground floor close to the Waitrose supermarket. There’s always a huge line of taxis waiting to pick up passengers. There’s no need to book.
Car
Visitors arriving by car should leave Sheikh Zayed Road at Interchange 1 and take Financial Centre Road (previously Doha Street) to the Dubai Mall. It is clearly signposted.
The mall boasts spaces for over 14,000 vehicles in three multi-storey car parks; Grand Parking, Fashion Parking, and Cinema Parking.
The mall is extremely large so it is best to park near the intended destination:
- Grand Parking Level 1 – for Galeries Lafayette, Paris Gallery, Grand Atrium, Dubai Aquarium, and Bloomingdale’s
- Fashion Parking Level LG – for At The Top Burj Khalifa
- Fashion Parking Level G or 1 – for Fashion Avenue
- Cinema Parking Level G – for the Dubai Ice Rink
- Cinema Parking Level 1 – for Debenhams, Marks & Spencer
- Cinema Parking Level 2 – for KidZania and Reel Cinemas
Valet parking and car washing services are available.
Metro
The nearest Metro station is Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall. It is a Red Line station.
It’s a fair distance from the station to the mall. The Metro Link Bridge opened in 2012 and connects the station directly to the mall. It’s enclosed and fully air-conditioned and features airport-style travellators. Walking the ½ mile walkway take around 10 minutes.
Those not wishing to walk, can take a feeder bus from the Metro station to the mall.
Bus
Bus service 27 goes to the Dubai Mall and departs from the Gold Souq Bus Station in Deira.
Bus service 29 from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station also goes to the mall.
Hotels
Hotels near the Dubai Mall include The Armani Hotel Dubai, Address Downtown, Manzil Downtown Dubai, The Address Dubai Mall, The Palace Downtown Dubai, Vida Downtown Dubai, The Address Boulevard Dubai, and Rove Downtown Dubai.
I’ve never been to the mall as yet but from what I watched and Read I can tell you so much about this mall, people who even stay in Dubai and visited the mall will be shocked I watched on TV how this mall had been built and how many light bulbs are in this mall, it is by far the biggest and best mall ever made you’ll should know this by just looking at it. Dubai mall atractions are so amazing Its like 1 of the 7 wonders of the world I wish I could go there just to walk all day in that mall and experience Dubai mall upfront. From the parking space to the enormously sized shops Dubai mall is the best.
how can I find BRICS and RIMOWA store?
is there any victoria secret outlet in duabi mall?
French fashion retailer The Kooples has opened a new store at the Dubai Mall.
The mall is worth coming to whether you want to shop are not. Shops are mainly international global brands so don’t expect to find anything you couldn’t find in any other major mall around the world. It is just a bit more convenient here. Everything is under one roof. Prices aren’t particularly very good though, so don’t expect any bargains. The place is huge and you could easily spend a few days here just looking around the shops and the attractions.
It is worth emphasizing that the Dubai Mall is not just a shopping mall. There is so much to do here even if you are not interested in shopping. There is a great musical fountain, and cool aquarium, ice rink, the biggest skyscraper in the world, and lots more. Go and see it for yourself. You will almost certainly see nothing else like it anywhere.
The mall is huge and the biggest in the world. It has every shop you can think of and more, plus a whole load of attractions. There are also plenty of places to eat, but mainly US and British chain restaurants and relatively few places serving local food.
You would need a couple of days if not a week to experience everything here. The mall is enormous and even makes most of the US malls look small. Prices are not particularly cheap. I didn’t see many real bargains but it was a good place to visit nevertheless. Don’t forget about the fountain show. It was great and free.
Which restaurants at the Dubai Mall serve alcohol?
The ones at the mall don’t have licenses as far as I am aware. However, most of those at Souk Al Bahar (just across the bridge) do.
This is an absolutely enormous mall with lots of things to do. Shops are organised loosely by type so it makes it easier to find what you are looking for. There are lots of places to eat, both cheap food halls and expensive restaurants. The fountain outside is well worth a look.