One of the most-popular things to do in Dubai is shop. Whether you’re after luxury fashion or high street trends, Dubai’s malls have it all. Here are the best malls in Dubai to do your shopping in.
BurJuman
One of the oldest shopping malls in the City, BurJuman shouldn’t be overlooked, being 2.8million sq ft of shopping fun – and it even has its own metro station. Clarks, Guess, H&M, Levi’s, Matalan, Next, Nine West, Steve Madden, Pan Emirates, Reebok and more will help you get fully kitted out with new clobber, while entertainment-wise you can check out Magic Planet with the kids or catch a movie at the ten-screen VOX Cinemas. There’s a massive 5,780 sq ft Carrefour too, for all your supermarket shopping wants (don’t head here in peak times unless you’re prepared). All your tried-and-trusted food joints are there too, from Tim Hortons to Pizza Hut, so you won’t go hungry either.
Open daily 10am-10pm. Bur Dubai, www.burjuman.com.
City Centre Deira
There’s many a City Centre shopping plaza across the UAE, but City Centre Deira is the original flagship mall for the developer’s massive portfolio. Open since 1995, old school expats will tell you this was the place to be and the place to shop, and many will still say the same. With more than 370 stores to choose from, over 58 spots to dine at, a massive Magic Planet, VOX Cinemas and more, City Centre Deira is a mall you could easily spend the day at. Love fashion? Take your pick from the likes of adidas, Debenhams, H&M, Next and Zara. Looking to spruce up your home? Head to Home Centre. In need of some me-time? Get a massage at Dreamworks Spa or your nails done at The Nail Spa. You get the gist – there’s something for everyone, and then some. Be warned though: you may stay longer than expected.
Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Deira, www.citycentredeira.com (04 209 3105).
Dubai Festival City Mall
If a mall features a whole IKEA store, it’s already a winner in our eyes. We’re sure it’s been the source of many an argument, but ultimately most of our homes are kitted out with the Swedish furnishings. But that’s not the only draw to this mall – there are more than 50 restaurants and cafés including PF Chang’s, Sugar Factory, Tortilla and a Hard Rock Café. There’s even an 18-screen Novo Cinema with 4D IMAX, plus a Fabyland. And how could we forget the dual Guinness World Record breaking light and laser show IMAGINE? Boasting the largest water screen projection and the largest permanent projection mapping it’s set along Dubai Creek and is a stunning show.
Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Dubai Festival City, www.dubaifestivalcitymall.com (800 332).
Dubai Festival Plaza
Festival Plaza opened its doors in December 2019, housing 120 shops. It has the region’s largest IKEA, which even has a 500-seater café – the first one in the world that you don’t have to go through the store to get to (nice easy access for those Swedish meatballs). The new local lifestyle destination covers a whopping 64,800 sq m and has more than 2,300 parking spaces – all built around your convenience. It also has more than 40 restaurants, cafés and food outlets including Tim Hortons, Denny’s and Cinnabon. There are plenty of homeware shops such as Pan Emirates, with a massive ACE Hardware due to open soon.
Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10pm-midnight. Jebel Ali, www.dubaifestivalplaza.com.
Dubai Marina Mall
This mall doesn’t have all the major shops others do, but it’s decent if you’re looking for a present or day-to-day clothing. Shops include high end stores such as Tommy Hilfiger and Ted Baker, while there are also high street chains such as Accessorize, H&M and Dune. There are lots of kid-friendly shops (and a little train that goes around the mall for when things get boring for them), while the highlight for many is Waitrose. Looking to catch a film? There’s a Reel Cinemas on the upper level to check out the latest releases. Restaurant-wise Dubai Marina Mall contains a Carluccio’s wagamama, tashas and Yo Sushi, among others for a pre-, post- or mid-shopping pit stop. And if you’re after a licensed place to dine, the mall is directly connected to Pier 7 – which as the name suggests is seven storeys of restaurants – including Mama Zonia, The Scene and Asia Asia.
Open Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. Dubai Marina, www.dubaimarinamall.com (04 436 1020).
Dubai Outlet Mall
Looking for a bargain worth your time? It may be a little out of the way, but ultimately, the short drive down Al Ain Road (aka Route 66) makes Dubai Outlet Mall definitely worthy of the trip. Here, sales run year-round at more than 1,200 international brands across 240 stores. Discounts range from 30 percent to a whopping 90 percent off. There are plenty of deals to be found, from designer labels such as Diane von Furstenberg, Burberry and Marc Jacobs, along with a variety of electronics and perfumes. As for food and family entertainment, a Chuck E. Cheese has been set up there featuring plenty of games. If you love a bargain as much as we do, this one has your name all over it.
Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Dubailand, Dubai Al-Ain Road, www.dubaioutletmall.com (04 423 4666).
DRAGONMART
Lace up those trainers, pack some snacks and get ready to spend a day racking up 10,000+ steps at this one. Dragonmart is a treasure trove of essentials, with everything from sports gear to homeware, garden furniture, kids’ stuff and more. You can even get your curtains sorted here.
Open daily 10am-10pm. Al Awir Road, www.dragonmart.ae.
Ibn Battuta
For a global experience tucked away in one building, Ibn Battuta Mall is the traveller’s destination. The mall gets its name from the famed explorer who travelled the world centuries ago, and you may well need a map here. During his travels, he went to Andalusia, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India and China, which just so happen to be the six different districts the building is influenced by. The décor in the mall is something to ogle at – with elaborate tiling, a gigantic golden elephant, a sizeable Chinese ship, a high ceiling painted to look like blue skies, and lush outdoor tea gardens. It’s pretty packed alright. Lush interior design aside, Ibn Battuta Mall features a wealth of different shops, including fashion and lifestyle stores, electronic stores, a Novo Cinema with one of the most luxurious screen rooms, and sporting shops with regular promotions.
Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Jebel Ali, Sheikh Zayed Road, www.ibnbattutamall.com (04 368 5543).
Mall of the Emirates
If you thought you couldn’t ski in the desert, you’d be wrong. Mall of the Emirates is home to the massive Ski Dubai, where you can ski, snowboard, go zorbing or make friends with penguins. When it comes to shopping there is loads of choice thanks to more than 600 shops, including department stores Harvey Nichols and Debenhams, as well as Marks & Spencer. For high-end shopping there’s everything from Chanel to Gucci or if you’re on a tighter budget high street stores Mango, Zara, Topshop and H&M are among the big names. Kids will be entertained at Magic Planet, there’s also a VOX Cinemas and Yalla Bowling if you’re looking for a full day out. Peckish? Stop by Common Grounds for a tasty breakfast (get there early, it’s always packed), Gossip Girl favourite Sarabeth’s or top-notch dim sum joint Din Tai Fung (there’ll be a wait but it’s worth it). Mall of the Emirates is one of our favourites due to the wealth of options.
Opening Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. Al Barsha, www.malloftheemirates.com (04 409 9000).
Mercato Mall
With picturesque cobbled streets and charming piazzas to walk around in, the mall resembles what it was like to shop in Renaissance-era Italy, except with loads of high street shops. We bet the Renaissance period didn’t have an exclusive chocolate bar either – Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar it worth a stop for those with a sweet tooth. It’s the place to go for the creamiest chocolate around, but that’s only one shop. Mercato has a Spinney’s for all your grocery needs, a VOX Cinema to watch the latest blockbusters and a host fashion shops such as Gap, H&M, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Nike, Pull&Bear and many more. It may not be the biggest of Dubai malls, but as the saying goes – it’s quality over quantity, and the mall’s stunning design and shops certainly give it an edge.
Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah, www.mercatoshoppingmall.com (04 344 4161).
Nakheel Mall
Palm Jumeirah’s massive mall is a cracking addition to the scene, with loads of homeware shops, a cinema and more. Not everything is full open yet, but there will be more than 300 shops and restaurants, including an H&M, American Eagle, Kurt Geiger, Gant, and The Toy Store. There’s also a Waitrose covering 4,200 sq m. Restaurant-wise there’s the popular Taiwanese dim sum eatery Din Tai Fung, The Noodle House and Café Bateel among others, while the shining star is Depachika – a gourmet food hall housing Kushi by Reif and more. Looking for somewhere low-key to watch a movie? VOX Cinemas has 15 screens, plus there’s soft play park Fabyland and a massive trampoline park Trampo Extreme for the kids. The high-octane park is almost 4,000 sq ft of bouncing fun with 16 different jump activities ideal for tots of three up to teens of 13.
Opening Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. Palm Jumeirah, www.nakheelmall.ae.
The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world (by leasable retail space), and is home to some 1,500 retail, food outlets. There’s even a dedicated Fashion Avenue, home to high-end, luxury brands. While there are plenty of opportunities to leave with shopping bags hanging off your arms like some sort of credit-activated clothesline, The Dubai Mall is about far more than quenching your thirst for new clobber so why not make a day of your Christmas shopping trip? There’s the world’s largest virtual reality theme park, VR Park, Dubai Ice Rink, an enormous Reel Cinemas complex, and the world’s largest indoor aquarium and underwater zoo. There’s also a huge e-karting track, while The Dubai Mall is also home to the largest Apple and Nike stores in the world.
Open daily 10am-midnight. Downtown Dubai, thedubaimall.com.
The Outlet Village by Meraas
If you’re looking for a mall with a setting that drops you right in the middle of Italy, Outlet Village is calling for you. Unlike any district in Dubai, the mall has been uniquely designed as it is to feel like you’re in San Gimignano, an adorable hilltop town in the countryside of Tuscany. It’s home to 500 brands, including homeware, sportswear and department stores all on the same level and sheltered under a conical glass roof. With it being Italian and all, you can expect a lot of high-end fashion brands, including Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Ted Baker, Valentino and much more. The best part? The mall boasts some of the hottest deals in all of its stores, sometimes going up to 90 percent off a product’s original price. It’s only a short 15-minute drive from JBR, so hop in that car and get yourself shopping.
Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Jebel Ali, www.theoutletvillage.ae (04 317 3999).
WAFI Mall
The amount of effort put into designing the surreal Egyptian décor seen outside and inside of this pyramid-shaped building is quite impressive, and we’re happy to gaze at it all day. The Oud Metha mall opened its doors in 1991 as one of the first malls in Dubai and 29 years later, it’s still going strong. There’s everything from homeware shops, independent brands, a Carrefour hypermarket and a plethora of luxury watch and jewellery shops. And if you’ve ever wanted to know what it was like to shop back in the 14th century, the Khan Murjan Souk will sort you out.
Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Fri 10am-midnight.Oud Metha, www.wafi.com (04 324 4555).
COMING SOON
Deira Mall
Nakheel Mall’s Deira Mall will be one of the region’s biggest malls with 4.5 million square feet of retail space. There will be more than 1,000 shops, cafés, restaurants and entertainment across three floors. There will also be a 3.8 million square feet multi-storey car park with 8,400 parking spaces.The signature of Deira Mall will be the 1km-long retractable roof, bringing natural light into the complex and allowing for open-air shopping in cooler months
Opening 2021. Deira, www.nakheel.com.
Dubai Hills Estate is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in the city, and Dubai Hills Mall is hotly anticipated. Dubai Hills Mall is located at the intersection of Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Street, within the Dubai Hills Estate. It’s an 11m sq m mega development from Emaar and Meraas and will have more than 650 shops and restaurants, over two floors. There will also be an 18-screen rooftop cinema, a 6,000 sq m hypermarket and more. It will have streets and squares to resemble a European shopping
district, too.
Opening 2021. Dubai Hills Estate.
Meydan One
This takes the word “massive” to a whole new level. Ground broke on the project in March 2019, and this 40 million square foot complex is scheduled to complete within three years. There will be 600 retail stores, a dedicated 400 metre-long “canyon” for high-end luxury brands, the world’s largest retractable skylight, a dancing fountain, a one kilometre-long indoor skiing slope, 100 food and beverage outlets, a cinema complex and a multipurpose sports facility as well as outdoor pitches, trails, and a skateboarding and BMX park. Oh, and the 711-metre-tall Dubai One residential tower which, along with the surrounding area, will be home to 83,000 residents.
Opening 2020. Meydan, Nad Al Sheba, www.meydanone.com.
5 top mall eats
Yuzu éclair at Kushiyaki by Reif, Nakheel Mall (Dhs32). This tangy yet sweet treat from top chef Reif Othman is worth repeat visits to the mall.
Chicken xiao long bao at Ding Tai Fung, Mall of the Emirates (Dhs30). You know these absolute stars of the dumpling world. Absolutely delicious little gems.
Vegan meatballs at IKEA, Dubai Festival Plaza (Dhs9). Brand-new to the region this winter, plant-based shoppers will no longer get FOMO during a post-sofa shopping session.
Banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery, Dubai Festival City Mall (from Dhs17). The creamiest, dreamiest pudding of them all.
Online shopping
Amazon UAE
Shoppers can snap up more than five million products – all delivered with the usual speedy service that has made Amazon famous across the globe. Amazon.ae also offers free next day delivery on orders over Dhs100 as well as paid same-day delivery to certain areas in the UAE.
www.amazon.ae.
Namshi
Online retail juggernaut Namshi isn’t just about clothes. It also stocks an impressive range of beauty and skincare products, homeware items, stuff for kids and more.
www.en-ae.namshi.com.
noon
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Whatever you desire, noon will most likely stock it. From electronics, fashion, homeware, beauty and fragrance, toys, games, the list goes on… There’s hundreds of brands and price points to choose from so whatever your budget may be, you’ll be well catered for here.
www.noon.ae.
Ounass
From fashion and beauty to lifestyle and homeware, there are over 300 luxury brands to choose here. If you’re watching your dirhams but are on the hunt for a super-luxe item, the sale section on the website features deals of up to 80 percent off.
www.ounass.ae.
Saffron Souk
You can discover small local brands and shop for everything from handcrafted creations to personalised items. There’s a section of gifts under Dhs50 too.
www.saffronsouk.com.
