If you have only one day to explore Dubai, there is no better place to do it than The Dubai Mall.
Spanning a whopping 12 million sq ft space (equal to 200 soccer pitches), this spectacular mall is the biggest in the world and houses over 1,200 retail stores and 200+ dining destinations.
But The Dubai Mall is far from ‘just a mall.’ Under its vast space, this iconic landmark houses some of the most popular attractions in the city, including the Dubai Fountains, At The Top of Burj Khalifa Observatory, the Dubai Aquarium, and so much more. Safe to say, a trip to Dubai is incomplete without a visit to The Dubai Mall.
Because the mall is like a mini city on its own, it’s a good idea to create a plan and rough ‘itinerary’ of what you want to do during your visit to get the chance to take part in all the top things to do in the mall. It’s hard to cover everything the mall offers in a day, but if you can only visit once, planning ahead will help you tick the most important things off your bucket list.
This article will take you through everything you need to know about The Dubai Mall, including the most popular landmarks, retail stores, and dining destinations, along with important information like dress code, location, and how to get there and help you decide what to do in The Dubai Mall.
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Things To Know Before Visiting The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall Opening Hours
The Dubai Mall is open from 10 a.m. to midnight from Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday to Sunday.
The Dubai Mall Dress Code
The Dubai Mall does not have any particular dress code. You can wear anything you like, as long as you follow the modesty rules of the mall, which include no beach wear and no clothing shorter than knee length. We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and shoes as you will walk a lot!
The Dubai Mall Accessibility Facilities
The Dubai Mall offers a fully accessible experience to people of determination with various facilities, including accessible parking, on-site wheelchairs, which are available for rent free of cost, ramps, and accessible washrooms.
Best Time To Visit The Dubai Mall
If you want to avoid big crowds, the best time to visit the mall would be during the early hours of the day as there aren’t as many people as there would be at night. If you can, choose to visit on a weekday instead of the weekend, as the crowd increases significantly during the weekend.
The Dubai Mall Parking Facilities
The mall has a large parking space spanning multiple floors that is free of cost for all visitors. As the mall is very large, we recommend checking beforehand which parking will be the closest to your intended destination and parking accordingly. Don’t forget to snap a photo of your parking spot; it’s very easy to forget where you’ve parked.
Other Facilities at The Dubai Mall
- Free, high-speed Wi-Fi is available at the mall for all visitors.
- You can easily navigate the mall with the help of digital maps available all across.
- Separate washrooms and prayer rooms are available for male and female visitors.
- Power banks are available for loans in exchange for a refundable security deposit.
- Guests can book a buggy service that takes that around the mall without having to walk themselves.
How To Get To The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall is centrally located in Downtown Dubai and can be easily accessed by car, public transportation, or taxi.
By car: The Dubai Mall is located in Downtown Dubai, which is easily accessible by car. You can park the car in The Dubai Mall parking free of cost.
By public transportation: The mall is easily accessible by public transportation. If you are taking the metro, you can get off at the Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa station and walk to the mall via an air-conditioned overpass.
By taxi: You can also take a taxi to the mall from anywhere in Dubai. It’s a popular destination, and most taxi drivers will be familiar with the location.
The Different Zones At The Dubai Mall
Fashion Avenue
Being one of the world’s top high fashion shopping destinations, one of The Dubai Mall’s most famous areas is Fashion Avenue, which houses 70 signature high fashion stores, including France’s leading luxury lifestyle store, Galleries Lafayette and Bloomingdales along with various other popular names.
Level Shoe District
One of the most unique shopping concepts in the world, Level Shoe District is a 96,000 square feet store in The Dubai Mall dedicated solely to luxury footwear with 40+ designer boutiques housing over 200 top footwear brands, including Saint Laurent and Christian Louboutin.
Souk Al Bahar
Translated to “the sailor’s market,” Souk Al Bahar is a unique part of The Dubai Mall that offers an uplifting marketplace vibe with the allure of traditional Arabia through its unique, historical architecture. Connected with the main mall through a bridge over Burj Lake, the market is filled to the brim with top restaurants and retail shops with traditional souvenirs, jewelry, cultural clothing, and more.
The Souk
Different from the Souk Al Bahar, The Souk is another part of the mall inspired by old Arabian architecture and houses many jewelry shops and more. The Souk is also home to The Dubai Mall’s famous Dubai Dino exhibit featuring a Diplodocus longus dinosaur skeleton from the Late Jurassic Period, dating almost 155 million years ago.
The Dubai Mall Zabeel
The newest addition to the mall, The Dubai Mall Zabeel, is an exciting new extension that includes multiple dining and retail destinations. The Zabeel extension is connected to the main mall through a passageway that is lined with interactive art pieces, making it a must-see location for every visitor.
The Village
Exclusively open during the winter, The Village is a quaint little informal shopping precinct located in The Dubai mall featuring a retractable roof that houses many popular shopping destinations. The Village is also home to the famous colorful umbrella passageway that you must have come across on social media.
The Best Things To Do In The Dubai Mall
Here are the top attractions in The Dubai Mall that you can take part in during your visit.
At The Top, Burj Khalifa
The Dubai Mall is right next to Burj Khalifa and houses the entrance to the world’s highest observatory on Levels 124 & 125 of the tallest tower in the world. If you want to see the city like never before, head to the At The Top Observatory in Burj Khalifa for an unforgettable experience. The experience begins with the history and backstory of the tower, after which you will ride the fastest elevator in the world all the way up to the observatory.
The At The Top experience gets booked out very quickly, which is why it is recommended to book your tickets online and reserve your spot in advance.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
The Dubai Mall features one of the biggest aquariums in the world, with 140+ marine species, including Tiger Sharks and Stingrays. The aquarium is a spectacle to behold and can be viewed for free from the mall. However, if you want to witness the animals up close, you can head to the aquarium tunnel that takes you under the tank and gives you a unique opportunity to view the fish closely.
You can also add the underwater zoo to your experience, which includes three zones, the Rainforest, Rock Pool Coastline, and UAE Night Creatures, and helps you explore and learn more about the habits and lifestyle of the underwater animals. The zoo houses many unique creatures, including the giant King Croc.
Dubai Ice Rink
The Dubai Mall also houses an Olympic-size ice rink, the largest in the city, that is perfect for a fun day out on the skates with friends and family. The rink can be visited for a casual skating session or for attending one of its many ‘learn to skate’ programs.
Reel Cinemas
Fancy catching your favorite movie on the big screen? Head to Reel Cinemas, The Dubai Mall’s local theatre that features every new movie from different languages on its 26 screens with multiple shows throughout the day.
PlayDXB
The Dubai Mall also features the world’s largest indoor virtual reality park, PlayDXB, which includes 30+ exciting gaming zones perfect for kids, teenagers, and adults. This thrilling park has something for everyone, from fun arcades and top VR games to carousel rides and ball pits, making it one of the most fun things to do in The Dubai Mall.
Infinity des Lumières
The biggest immersive museum in the world, Infinity des Lumieres, uses light, sound, and reflection to display the spectacles of art giants, including Gaudi, Klee, and Kandinsky, to create an unforgettable experience.
Hysteria
If you’re in the mood to face your fears, head to Hysteria, The Dubai Mall’s thrilling haunted house that will have you running from your nightmares. This one-of-a-kind experience takes you through a spooky journey across the “haunted” mansion, where you will encounter ghosts and goblins of all kinds and have to find your way out to the light to escape.
Trampo Extreme
Jump into extreme fun at one of Dubai’s biggest trampoline parks located inside The Dubai Mall. Both kids and adults can enjoy an exciting time jumping in the main bouncing area, wall climbing across the park safely, and other thrilling activities that will keep you on your toes all day.
Ekart Zabeel
Launched in the new Zabeel extension of The Dubai Mall, Ekart Zabeel is a unique indoor electric go-karting attraction that uses modern, state-of-the-art tech to create a fun and thrilling go-karting experience for everyone.
Zabeel Sports District
Bring out your sporting spirit and head to the rooftop of The Dubai Mall Zabeel to the exciting Zabeel Sports District, a multi-sports, dynamic complex spread across a space of 20,000 sq ft. The sports club houses multiple courts, including padel, tennis, volleyball, badminton, cricket, and basketball courts, giving you an opportunity to enjoy an exciting session with spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa.
Emirates A380 experience
Get an opportunity to experience the excitement of flying the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the A380, in this world-class flight simulator. Take control of the aircraft, pick your destination, and challenge your friends and family on a flight-off in this unique attraction located at The Dubai Mall.
Kidzania
A little world on its own, Kidzania offers little ones from the age of 4 to16 an opportunity to experience life as grown-ups on their own as they play different professions and roles and earn ‘Kidzos’ for their hard work that they can then spend in the make-shift city’s ‘shopping complex,’ all while being managed and looked after by highly-trained supervisors. Kidzania is one of the most exciting things kids and toddlers can do in The Dubai Mall.
Free Things To Do In The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Dancing Fountain
One of the most popular fountain shows in the world, the Dubai Dancing Fountain show, is an experience that should not be missed. With 6,000 lights and 22,000 gallons of water, the fountain dances to popular music and songs from different genres. The fountain show takes place every half an hour starting from 6 p.m.
You can experience the fountains from the Burj Lake bridge for free, or choose to witness it up close from an Abra with the Dubai Fountain Boat Ride that gives you an opportunity to view them from the Burj Lake or head to the Dubai Fountain Boardwalk, which allows you to watch the fountains from the closest boardwalk.
Dubai Dino
At The Dubai Mall, you can travel back in time and discover the mall’s resident dinosaur located in The Souk. The dinosaur skeleton on display belongs to a Diplodocus longus dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period and is free to view throughout the day
The Dubai Waterfall
A unique sculpture and art installation, The Dubai Waterfall is one of the most iconic photo stops in the mall. The ‘waterfall’ consists of two 24-meter-high cylindrical walls that stretch across three floors and feature fiberglass figures of men diving into the fall in unison, creating a truly spectacular sight.
Shopping At The Dubai Mall
With over 1,200 retail stores, The Dubai Mall is one of the top shopping destinations in the world. You can find a wide range of stores ranging from high-end luxury brands and jewelry shops to local stores and kiosks under one roof. Whether you are looking for designer shoes or bags, local souvenirs and clothing, makeup and skincare, or your everyday brands like H&M and Zara, you will find it all in The Dubai Mall.
Here are some of the top retail outlets you can find in The Dubai Mall
- Bloomingdales
- Galeries Lafayette
- Levels Shoe District
- BVLGARI
- Breitling
- Sephora
Check out the full list of retail outlets in The Dubai Mall here.
Popular Dining Destinations In The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall houses 200+ dining destinations, from fine-dining restaurants to fast-food locations, cafes, and dessert parlors. No matter what your preference is, there is something for everyone.
You can choose to have a casual meal in one of the many food courts in the mall that house the likes of Mcdonald’s, KFC, Al Baik, and Burger King. If you feel fanciful, you can head to one of the many fine-dining destinations, including New Shanghai, Social House, CZN Burak Gurme, Peppermill, and more, many of which offer spectacular fountains and Burj Khalifa views.
Here are some of the top dining destinations you can find in The Dubai Mall
- Black Tap
- Eataly
- Social House
- Jones The Grocer
- Laduree
- New Shanghai,
- The Cheesecake Factory
Check out the full list of dining destinations in The Dubai Mall here.
Things To Do Around Dubai Mall
If you have already completed your Dubai Mall bucket list and still have time to spare, there is plenty of things to do around the area. Here are a few exciting places to visit near The Dubai Mall
Dubai Opera
The Dubai Opera is the city’s exclusive performing arts center located within The Opera District in Downtown Dubai, right next to The Dubai Mall. With 2,000-person seating, it is one of the region’s largest spaces of its kind. The opera always has exciting performances taking place around the year that you can experience during your visit. If you aren’t interested in watching a show, you can also tour the Dubai Opera house and concert hall when available.
Check out all the events happening at The Dubai Opera.
Sky Views Observatory
If you are looking for one of the best views in the city, look no further than Sky Views Observatory. The 220 meters high observatory located in The Address Sky Views Hotel offers a jaw-dropping panoramic view of the iconic Dubai skyline and Burj Khalifa from its floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The observatory also offers other exciting experiences, like the glass slide that transports you between the two levels of the observatory through a glass tube, providing a unique view of the city from below.
You can also choose to take part in the thrilling edge walk experience, where you can walk on the building’s open ledge hands-free while hanging on the edge of the building without any barriers. This exhilarating experience is perfect for adrenaline-seekers and provides an unmatched view of the city.
Burj Park
The Burj Park is a free leisure park located right next to The Dubai Mall, perfect for a little sunlight and relaxation. You can relax all day at the park and enjoy beautiful views of the city with friends and family. The Burj Park is also home to many iconic photo spots in the city, including the famous Wings Of Mexico that perfectly frame the Burj Khalifa.
Burj Club
The Burj Club is an exclusive and high-end fitness and leisure retreat located in Burj Khalifa that offers multiple wellness facilities. Spread across five levels, with one dedicated exclusively to women; the Burj Club offers various activities, including a gym, a spa, an iconic rooftop swimming pool with gorgeous views of the Burj Khalifa, and a lot more. If you are looking for a relaxing day out, the Burj Club is the perfect place to be.
