When you first come to Dubai, you will be forgiven for daring to believe that shopping is the official sport in this city. With about 96 malls scattered throughout the metropolis, there is no better place to find the perfect dress, the flawlessly tailored suit, or the most representative souvenir. But the city’s malls don’t just offer shopping therapy. They contain indoor theme parks, cultural attractions, and more.
Please find below the malls in Dubai worth visiting ordered by size.
The largest mall in the world, Dubai Mall has something for everyone, including an Olympic-sized ice rink, the Dubai Aquarium, and the Underwater Zoo. Under the same huge roof, you will be able to find over 1000 stores, including the well-known Topshop and Zara or department stores such as Bloomingdale’s or Galeries Lafayette. Luxury labels find their place on Fashion Avenue, a wing of the mall dedicated to elite designers such as Chanel, Lanvin, or Elie Saab, and the nearby Level Shoe District has brands such as Christian Louboutin, Fendi, or Dior.
Located in Al Barsha neighborhood, the Mall of the Emirates is a strong contestant for the amazing Dubai Mall. Not only it is conveniently located and linked to the metro station, but apart from more than 600 shops, the venue is also home to the first indoor ski slope resort and penguin habitat. For the bargain lovers please note that the mall also has some outlets for big brands like Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Versace, and many more. Multiple fun zones for kids, restaurants, and cinemas are completed by the supermarket available on the ground floor making this mall a very friendly shopping place.
The long history of the BurJuman Center as a favorite commercial destination, together with a wide variety of top retailers, a state-of-the-art cinema, and a lot of various places, make visiting this mall a tourist must. Over time, this once luxurious commercial destination now holds popular international brands such as H&M, Forever 21, Splash, Zara, Mothercare, Nine West, Adidas Original, The Toy Store, and many more.
A short car ride away from Dubai city center will take you to Dubai Outlet Mall, a worthwhile endeavor for any bargain hunter. Here you can find discounts all year round, with lots of things to discover, from designers like Diane von Furstenberg, Burberry, and Marc Jacobs, to electronics and perfumes. If you are visiting the property on Mondays you will receive additional discounts of up to 50% at certain stores.
Ibn Battuta Mall was named after the explorer, and the six sectors of the mall are inspired by the regions through which he traveled: Andalusia, Tunisia, Egypt, India, and China. The mall is decorated with tiles, a huge golden elephant, and a high ceiling painted like the blue sky, and outside you will find lush gardens for drinking tea. Beyond the interior decor, Ibn Battuta Mall is home to countless fashion, lifestyle, and sports stores, which regularly offer promotions and anniversary discounts.
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City Center Mirdif is home to over 430 stores, all centered around major retail chains such as Carrefour, Debenhams, and Centrepoint. Although it is one of the truly suburban malls in Dubai, it manages to stand out using innovative entertainment concepts such as indoor sky-diving at iFly or Little Explorers kids activities, interactive football at Soccer Circus Dubai, and cosmic bowling on 12 tracks at Yalla! Bowling.
Located on the seafront, Dubai Marina Shopping Center offers a regular family shopping experience. It hosts a variety of international shops, offering fashionable and affordable beauty items and products in a relaxed atmosphere. You will have a multitude of lunch options, with outdoor tables set on the waterfront.
8. Wafi Mall
Housed in a building built in ancient Egyptian style, the iconic Wafi Mall retains its style inside. Visitors can be carried away by the experience of shopping for Arabic items. The multitude of oriental clothing boutiques offers the latest models of kandora, burqa, and abaya.
Located on the banks of the Dubai Creek Canal, Dubai Festival City Mall is home to over 400 stores, including the huge IKEA department store, HyperPanda supermarket, and ACE Hardware. This mall also offers you the opportunity to walk along its charming canal-side alley or board the abra, for 1 dirham, and go to one of the beachfront restaurants. Here you will also find the only Hard Rock Cafe in Dubai.
When Middle East architecture meets European shopping, one of the most Instagram-ed locations in Dubai is born. Located between Dubai city center and Jumeirah Beach, with amazing views of Burj Khalifa, this new mall offers a whole new shopping experience. Open markets in the London style and oozing of high-end boutiques, Michelin stars restaurants, and a lot of entertainment possibilities make City Walk a good location this year.
There are many other malls worth mentioning even tough not necessarily big, they still offer the main stream, high street fashion shops with the convenience of being close to home for the shoppers. Many other malls in Dubai also house supermarket brands making them a one stop shop for families.
Such malls are City Centre Deira, Mercato Shopping Mall, Dragon Mart, Arabian Center.
For a complete list of malls and also future malls that are currently under construction please check here.