Shopping Malls in Dubai
Mall of the Emirates:
This shopping mall opened in October 2005 and is the largest shopping mall outside North America. It is situated on Sheikh Zayed Road, very near the beach. It is bigger than 73 football pitches with more than 400 retail outlets.
What more can you ask for, every possible shop ranging from the traditional Arabic area through to a SKI SLOPE!!!!- YES an indoor ski slope is situated next to Virgin Records, here you can show off your skills on the slopes, play in the snow and even have lessons. Imagine telling your friends you learnt to ski in the desert!
It is advisable to bring your own ski gloves as these are the only item not supplied by the ski centre. Prices are very affordable, the equivalent of approximately £20 for a 2 hour session. A day pass can be purchased for approximately £34!
This is no ordinary ski slope , it has fully operational ski lifts along with 5 different runs, the longest being over 400m. The highest point for experienced skiers is more than 60m! This is the worlds first indoor black run.
Below are some local favourites situated in mall of the Emirates:
Splash
This shop has men’s, women’s and children’s clothing all unique in their design and all at amazing prices. The shop itself is split into 3 sections and comes under the umbrella name Centerpoint.
Marble Slab
If you like ice cream make sure you visit the Marble Slab which is located outside the ski slope, just take a look at the menu and be amazed as they produce an ice cream of your choice on marble slabs in front of you……..they are delicious!
Magic Planet
For children make sure you visit the two storey Magic Planet play area. The word magic describes this amazing futuristic play zone. You can purchase small credit cards which can be topped up and swiped through a bar code reader at each ride and all arcade games have a small swipe machine. The benefit of purchasing a swipe card means you can use the card at all the Magic Planet zones in Dubai.
For the real bargain hunters enter the supermarket Carrefour, you will be amazed at the clothing and shoe section. It is a bargain hunters paradise!!!
The shopping mall itself is open from:
10am-10pm Sunday-Wednesday
10am-12am Thursday –Saturday
It will get very busy Thursday-Saturday evenings as in Dubai Friday and Saturday are classed as the weekend.
Deira City Centre
This is another large shopping mall. It is situated near Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. It has over 300 retail outlets, an 11 screen cinema complex and another Magic Planet. Shops range from Top Shop and H&M, to Hugo Boss and Ted Lapidus.
Wafi Mall
This shopping mall is the one for couture, and is considered to be Dubai’s most elegant shopping mall with lots of designer boutiques such as Versace, Jaeger, Chanel and Tag Heuer to name a few. Wafi is built as an Egyptian theme, with three pyramids forming the centre point of the complex. Whilst you may wish to spend time shopping children can be entertained in the Encounter Zone, an amazing 80,000sqm complex.
Attached to the mall is the pyramids complex, follow the signs to the restaurants, spa and leisure club. Here you will find Planet Hollywood, a Spanish tapas bar and some of Dubai’s trendiest nightlife including Chameleon and Vice, Vintage and Carters and Ginseng.
Burjuman
This shopping mall is situated on the Trade Centre Road in Bur Dubai, and has over 300 retail outlets. You will see banners and advertising hoardings promoting itself as the Residence of High Fashion. If you like designer then this is the place to visit with household names such as Saks 5th Avenue, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior, DKNY, Polo but to name a few.
For children there are several play areas on the third floor including an interactive fountain that even amazes the adults!
Mercato
This shopping mall is situated in Jumeirah and is a magnificent themed mall that is based on a very unique and distinctive Renaissance period. You will be amazed at the granduer and the distinctive Spanish, Italian and French ambience. Add to that a fantastic array of top class designer shops and a wide selection of top quality restaurants, coupled with a state-of-the-art cinema complex, The Mercato Shopping Mall is a must visit destination when your in Dubai.
Lamcy Plaza
This mall is situated next to the American Hospital near Sheikh Zayed Road. It has over 150 retail outlets and one of Dubai’s best children’s play areas called Loulou Al Dugong. This mall was constructed in 1997 and you may find parking very difficult if you have children or are in the latter stages of pregnancy. Please request valet parking, should you spend more than Dhs25 at any outlet the Dhs5 will be refunded for the valet parking. The shopping mall is open 9am-11.30pm.
Ibn Battuta Mall
This development was constructed by Nakheel and was opened in May 2005. It is situated between junction 5 and 6 on Sheikh Zayed Road heading towards Abu Dhabi. This mall has easy access for tourists staying in Jumeirah, Jebel Ali and Dubai Marina.
It is a mall with a twist as you will travel through six different countries. China, India, Egypt, Tunisia, Andalusia and Persia, it was named after the 14th century explorer Ibn Battuta who spent over 30 years travelling through the Middle East and Asia. This mall offers an amazing shopping experience, a fantastic food court and Fun City based in the Tunisia section for children. Within the complex you will find the first IMAX cinema screen in the Middle East, along with a 21 screen cinema.
Festival City
Spanning 1,300 acres and stretching three kilometres along Dubai Creek, Dubai Festival City offers a rich and vibrant living experience that encompasses the finest and easily accessible shopping, dining, entertainment, homes, schools, hotels, offices and leisure all in one place.
With easy access via the 13 lane Business Bay Crossing, Garhoud Bridge and the airport tunnel, situated only two kilometres from Dubai International Airport, Dubai Festival City’s unique waterfront setting delivers vibrancy and a sense of place to Dubai’s landscape.
Dubai Outlet Mall
For those shoppers amongst you, Dubailand has developed the biggest outlet mall in the world. It is the first dedicated shopping mall for all factory outlets and covers over 4.5million sqft .
Due to the fact this area is classed as a factory outlet area Dubailand will house all the budget hotels near this shopping mall. If the budget hotel is not to your taste then why not try the floating huts hotel which will place your room on one of the various lakes around the shopping mall.
Souk Madinet Jumeirah
This shopping mall is completely different! It opened in 2004 and is part of the Madinet Jumeirah complex and is located on the beach next to the world famous Burj Al Arab hotel, and is designed in traditional Arabic fashion.
It is a must see for everyone… not because of the shops but due to the atmosphere and the setting. It is ideal for people staying in the Jumeirah Beach area and a short drive from the Marina. Many people enjoy a night out within the complex as there is a vast choice of restaurants and bars, where you can sit alongside the waterfront and watch water taxis float by. The atmosphere is electric and the background is unbelievable. Make sure you bring your camera.
Shopping Malls in Dubai are magnificent, above we have named the larger complex’s however there are many more smaller individual shopping centre’s. Please find below a small selection.
- Magrudy’s Shopping Mall- www.magrudy.com
- Oasis Centre – www.landmarkgroupco.com
- Reef Mall – www.reefmall.com
- Town Centre – www.towncentrejumeirah.com
- Al Ghurair City - www.alghuraircity.com
- Sahara Centre – www.saharacentre.com
