In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is a city and an emirate noted for its upscale shopping, cutting-edge architecture, and lively nightlife. Not only beaches in Dubai make it so popular for tourists around the world, but various shopping malls also. Dubai Mall is the world’s largest shopping center. On a floor area the size of fifty football pitches, it houses no less than 1,200 shops. In addition to all the shops, there is also a dinosaur skeleton, an aquarium, an ice skating rink, and a giant cinema in the mall. This is by far one of the coolest experiences in Dubai!
Shops for everyone
With 1,200 shops to choose from, we guarantee you’ll find something to suit you. Here you can shop for everything from books, sweets, and toys to wedding dresses, camera accessories, and instruments. Many of the shops you’ll recognize, such as H&M, Topshop, Luis Vitton, and Rolex, but there’s also a whole host of Arabic brand stores and jewelers.
In Dubai Mall, exclusivity is just the name of the game. Be prepared for prices here to be like those in Sweden or higher. However, if you’re coming to Dubai in November, it coincides with the sales, so you can take the opportunity to bargain in the Dubai Mall!
Take home a traditional Arabian costume or why not buy a genuine Persian rug as a souvenir? Whatever you’re after, we recommend bringing a good pair of walking shoes, going through all the shops can take days. If you get lost in the giant mall, there is a car that can take you to the right place for free. It might also be a good idea to start your trip with a visit to the Dubai Mall, then when you have some time to spare at the end of your holiday you can return and see the rest of the spectacle on offer here.
Food & Drink
The Dubai Mall has a food court serving food from all corners of the world. Whether you’re in the mood for traditional Arabic food or an American burger, there’s a place for you to settle down. The Dubai Mall has 43 cafes, 47 fast-food chains, and 59 restaurants. You can find the list of all the watering holes here. You’re never far from a restaurant no matter where you are in the mall. Visit one of the restaurants overlooking the Burj Khalifa or why not sit down with the giant water fountain in your sights?
A real dinosaur
What’s a mall without a dinosaur skeleton? Inside Dubai Mall, a giant dinosaur named Amphicoelias brontodiploducus or Dubai Dino, as it’s popularly known, guards the mall. Discovered in 2008 in Wyoming, USA, it was flown to Dubai Mall in time for the opening in 2014 when the 7.6-meter-tall dinosaur was unveiled. It is the most complete specimen of Amphicoelias brontodiploducus to be seen anywhere in the world. A cool experience for young and old alike!
SEGA Republic
Of course, there’s also an amusement park in Dubai Mall. It has two floors filled with 9 cool rides, 250 different gaming machines, and other fun for both adults and children. For 175 dirhams (about 430 kr) you can stay here all day if you want!
Olympic-size ice rink
If you’re feeling warm after a full day of shopping or just want to take a break and feel at home again, you can always try the ice rink located inside Dubai Mall. For about 2 hours every day, the rink is open to the public. If you want an experience out of the ordinary, we recommend an evening rink after 6pm. The entire ice rink is then lit up by disco lights and Dubai Mall’s own DJs play the latest hits for you. Didn’t bring your skates with you to Dubai? Don’t despair, equipment is available for hire on site. A pair of skates cost 5 dirhams (about 12 crowns) and you can also buy socks on site.
The world’s largest dancing fountain
In addition to the world’s tallest building, you’ll also find the world’s largest dancing fountain right next to the Dubai Mall. Every day you can witness the water and light show with 6,600 super bright lights and cascades of water shooting 150 meters into the air. It’s the equivalent of a 50-story skyscraper in height and it’s said that you can see the bright glow of the lights from space! The fountain shows off its brilliance twice a day Saturday-Thursday at 1pm and 1.30pm, Friday at 1.30pm and 2pm, and once every half hour between 6pm and 11pm every day. In other words, you can’t miss it all. If you want to see the fountain up close, you can book a ride in one of the boats available here for 65 dirhams (about 160 crowns).
Giant saltwater aquarium
World records abound in Dubai, and of course, Dubai Mall also boasts one of the world’s largest saltwater aquariums, with an 8-meter high and 33-meter wide viewing area where you can see straight into the aquarium. The aquarium is home to over 33,000 fish and sea creatures, with as many as 85 species represented. Some of the most popular features are sharks and rays. You don’t have to worry about missing them, as there are 400 of them in the aquarium.
For those who don’t think standing on dry land and admiring the underwater life is enough, there’s a steel cage you can dive into the aquarium with and get really close to the amazing fish. If you’re looking for further excitement, you can dive into the tank with an oxygen tube directly among the large and harmless sand tiger sharks.
Good to know about Dubai Mall
The mall opens at 10am and closes between midnight and 1am depending on the day of the week.
Right next to the Dubai Mall you’ll find the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building. You can buy tickets to Burj Khalifa in Dubai Mall or even rent an apartment in Dubai at https://karta.com.
