Shopping Malls in Dubai

UPDATED JULY 2024
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If Paris is the city of love and New York is the city that never sleeps...could Dubai be the city of...shopping? Maybe you’ve always wondered how many shopping malls are in Dubai? Already over 70, but it’s almost too hard to count since new and yet more breath-taking ones are being added all the time. From unique souvenirs to high-end fashion, Dubai offers visitors some of the best shopping in the world.

Yet that’s not all the Dubai malls are about. As summer temperatures in the UAE soar as high as 49 degrees, everyone prefers to be indoors, so the huge climate-controlled malls provide communal spaces where people gather to meet, stroll or socialise. Plus, as the fourth most-visited city in the world Dubai is keen to offer reasons to travel! The world’s tallest building, cinemas, ski slopes, light shows and a giant aquarium...you’ll find it all in the mega-malls that are more like mini cities than merely shopping centres. Too much to take in? Let us help. Whether you’re after luxury goods, bargains or pretty much any kind of entertainment, join us on a quick tour of what’s on offer in the best shopping malls in Dubai.

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What to buy in Dubai

Credit cards at the ready! But, before we plunge in, let’s take a look at some of the best buys. Pick up perfume, pashminas and Persian carpets and rugs. Get your hands on glittering gold and jewellery and unique house-wares like Asian lanterns and coffee pots. Stock up on spices, dates and chocolate made from camels’ (not cows’) milk!
And of course you’ll find fashion for every taste and budget - from H&M, Zara and GAP to Chanel, Dior or Louis Vuitton. For the best discounts check out the outlet malls or hit the annual shopping festivals which have become attractions in themselves. Dubai Summer Surprises, a nine week long summer shopping extravaganza starts in July. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, the Gulf Information Technology (GITEX) festival delivers huge discounts on phones, laptops, TVs and home appliances. But best known is the Dubai Shopping Festival in January, accompanied by a carnival with outdoor entertainment. The shops are open until midnight and offer not only huge discounts but some incredible giveaways - we’re talking cash, gold, Bentley cars and apartments! Mind-blown? Let’s not delay any longer - it’s time to hit the shops at...

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Dubai Mall

Renowned as the world’s biggest shopping mall, Dubai Mall covers 12 million square feet - that’s more than 200 soccer pitches! So you can easily spend a day amongst its 1,200 shops, stalls and boutiques offering everything from off-the-catwalk fashion to traditional Arabic art and crafts. At its heart, a fabulous four-story waterfall gives a fresh feel so you won’t get hot and sweaty chasing down bargains at flagship stores including Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Valentino, Chanel and Ralph Lauren. Look out for luxury footwear from Louboutin, Fendi and Dior. Alongside high street names including Zara and H&M and department stores Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdales, connoisseurs of couture will find luxury labels at Fashion Avenue just one of the mall’s ‘neighbourhoods’.

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And if shopping is still not enough, the mall boasts over 200 international dining options and amazing leisure attractions for the whole family. Glide on the ice at the Olympic-sized ice rink or meet underwater friends at the Dubai Aquarium.

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When the sun goes down, Dubai Mall lights up. Be sure to stick around for the famous fountain display that takes place each night, accompanied by music. And of course, since it’s right next door, you can also catch the light show displays at the awe-inspiring Burj Khalifa.

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Mall of the Emirates

Located near the Sheikh Zayed Road in the Al Barsha district, this retail paradise delivers another 630 stores, alongside 100 restaurants and cafes and even an indoor ski slope! Stay cool skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing or meeting the penguins at the world-famous Ski Dubai, then explore luxury brands in the even cooler Fashion Dome.
Dig Kate Spade, DKNY - and don’t forget the high-tech Apple boutique. Browse high street names like Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Forever 21, as well as quirky independent boutiques and high-end department stores including Harvey Nichols.
Once you’ve shopped fit to drop, the experiences are still only just beginning. Catch some culture at art galleries and VOX cinemas, discover the Dreamscape VR experience and let the kids loose in the Magic Planet play and entertainment centre.

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Ibn Battuta Mall

Time for another ‘largest’ - this time the world’s largest ‘themed’ mall, which takes you on a 270-shop journey around the globe, in dedication to its namesake, medieval explorer Ibn Battuta. The six themed areas are based on Battuta’s travels to Egypt, India, China, Persia, Tunisia and Andalucia, with decor inspired by the art and culture of those regions. Look out for elaborate tiling, an enormous golden elephant and high ceilings designed to feel like blue skies. Needless to say, the shopping is equally impressive, majoring on fashion, lifestyle and sports stores, many with regular in-store promotions.

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Mercato Mall

Mamma mia! Step inside the Mercato Mall and you might feel you’re in Italy rather than the MENA regions. Mercato is, of course, Italian for ‘market’ and this soaring metropolis of shops is designed in the style of a Renaissance-era Italian village, complete with cobbled streets and welcoming piazzas where people gather. The shops are right up to date however, with a wide selection of internationally recognisable mid-market names such as Gap, Mango, Bershka, H&M, Laura Ashley and Hallmark. There’s even a pet store - and a wide selection of places to eat and drink. For the true taste of the Emirates, drop into the Arabian tea house for tasty local bites and a cup of strong karak chai. Meanwhile, kids can let off steam at indoor play area, Fun City.

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Wafi Mall

Your jaw is on the floor before you’ve even stepped inside at Wafi Mall, with a facade of obelisks, towering Egyptian statues and a central pyramid giving more than a clue to the decorative inspiration. 300 stores from a host of international labels are set amongst more statues, ancient scripts and colourful mosaics - as well as more contemporary art. Wafi is home to several galleries offering varied exhibitions of East and Western art, from old masters to modern painting, sculpture, photography and installations.
Back at the sharp end, popular stores include Matalan and Marks & Spencer but you’ll also find local brands and Middle Eastern fashion boutiques selling beautifully decorated kandoras and abayas (Arabic dress for men and women).
Wafi Mall is known for its light and sound shows in the evening and its mammoth Christmas tree decorations in December, so prepare to be dazzled!

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Festival City Mall

This temple of fashion and fun sits on the banks of Dubai Creek, with views across the water to downtown Dubai. 250 stores include the Robinson’s department store, packed with luxury brands. Other popular outlets include Beverley Hills Polo Club, DKNY, Mango, Zara, Toys R Us - and Dubai’s first (enormous) IKEA furniture store. There are plenty of places to eat too; hop aboard an abra (traditional small ferry) to reach one of the waterfront restaurants or drop by the Cheesecake Factory or the Sugar Factory for deliciously Instagrammable desserts.
In the cooler months or in the evening, stroll along the 6.4km waterfront Dubai Water Canal - and take in the view of the city’s shimmering skyline from one of 5 pedestrian bridges. Whatever you do, don’t miss the spectacular IMAGINE laser, light and fountain show in Festival Bay.

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City Centre Mirdif

The sky’s the limit (well nearly) at City Centre Mirdif - with indoor skydiving venue i-Fly just one of the entertainment options available. Known for its eco-credentials, this retail paradise is located in the family-friendly neighbourhood of Mirdif so has lots of fun on offer. Little Explorers is a play centre combining education and entertainment, whilst there’s also a 12-lane bowling alley for competitive families. Oh and did we mention almost 500 stores?
Browse beautiful styles from contemporary Arab fashion designers at United Designers and Yoshii Boutique or check out popular stores including Hamleys, Decathlon, Pottery Barn and Debenhams.

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Dubai Marina Mall

Beside the sparkling marina, this is a mall that’s a little less ‘extra’. Whilst it still has its share of luxury brands, the emphasis is on more affordable high-street fashion and beauty brands in a relaxed environment. Billabong, Monsoon, River Island and H&M are just some of the popular names. There are plenty of dining options too. Families enjoy the jungle vibes at the Rainforest Cafe, while Pier 7 features seven exciting foodie concepts, all with waterfront seating.

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Dubai Outlet Mall

We’re almost shopped out but not before we mention the behemoth of bargains that is the Dubai Outlet Mall, well worth the 40-minute drive from downtown. Year long sales and generous discounts tempt those looking for electronics, perfumes and designer names like Diane von Furstenberg, Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Adidas, Coach and Fred Perry. Visit on a Monday for further discounts of up to 50% at selected stores.

We hope that’s given you more than a glimpse of the good deals to be had in the marvellous malls of Dubai. And you’ll always be sure of a good deal more adventure for less, with Go City. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the info and top tips, wherever your adventures take you.

Jo Cooke
Go City Travel Expert

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dubai in march
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Dubai in March

So, you're thinking of planning your vacation in Dubai? It's a fantastic choice, featuring some of the most eye-opening and biggest attractions on the planet. But Dubai is also one of the hottest places in the world, so is March a good time to travel to Dubai? Let's explore that and more as we delve deep into our guide to Dubai. Let's talk about what to expect from the weather and what you'll be getting up to during your stay! Including: Dubai weather in March Indoor skydiving Ride the fastest rollercoaster on Earth Sail the seas on the Black Pearl Explore the dunes on camelback and more! Dubai in March: What to Expect Dubai is notoriously warm all year round, and March is arguably the last month before a long, long summer. As such, you can expect highs of around 82°F and lows of around 64°F. After March, max temperatures don't dip lower than 91°F, and during peak summer will easily hit 105°F or more. Therefore, if you're from colder climates and you're not looking to have your eyebrows burnt off, March could be the perfect time to vacation in Dubai! Dubai in March: What to Do Catch the breeze at iFly Dubai Indoor Skydiving Forget planes and parachutes because there are safer ways to free fall these days. Leap - or stroll - over to iFly Dubai and experience indoor skydiving as you've never seen before. Over the course of two 1-minute flights, you'll be bombarded by winds of up to 124mph. You'll feel your feet leave the ground as your entire body becomes suspended in the air. Then, strut your stuff as you fling your body this way and that, throwing shapes that would make the 90s proud. If all that sounds a bit overwhelming, don't worry. Each session has a trained instructor on hand who'll show you the ropes. They'll be able to show you the correct body positions to use so you don't simply flail about like an uncultured oaf. However, if you're a pro, or you've done it before, they'll happily step back and let you own it. Must go fast at Ferrari World If you like rollercoasters, then you'll love Ferrari World. Dubai's ode to the famous car manufacturer is home to the fastest rollercoaster in the world. It's called Formula Rossa, and it's a thrill ride like no other. Strap in, put your goggles on, and prepare to be blasted nearly 150mph in 4.9 seconds. You'll be feeling speeds of nearly 5Gs, which is equivalent to F1 racecar drivers. So yeah, pretty crazy. But Formula Rossa is just one of the fantastic breakneck rides you'll find at Ferrari World. At Flying Aces, board a bi-plane (connected to a track) and ascend over 200ft in the air before you descend through the world's highest rollercoaster loop at up to 74mph. Pretend your drag racing against a friend at Fiorano GT Challenge. And ride around a miniature recreation of Italy and see the sights at Bell'Italia. Perfect for kids and bigger kids, as well as those of you with only a passing interest in cars, Ferrari World is a must-visit attraction for your March vacation in Dubai. Sail the seven seas with the Black Pearl sightseeing cruise! Who doesn't love pirates? Fictional pirates, at least. Presumably, real pirates are much less lovable and a lot more terrifying. So, why not join the most well-known pirate on the planet for a jolly sail around Dubai's delightful landmarks? With none other than Captain Jack Sparrow as your guide and navigator, you'll be shown around the likes of the stunning Dubai Creek Harbour and on to Mohamed Bin Rashid, where you'll pause to marvel at the views of the Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world. Perhaps Captain Sparrow will marvel at he's never seen a building that big before, and you can snap a quick selfie with him as he gasps towards the sky. With the perfect mix of comedy and exploration, this sightseeing cruise is the best way to see the city from a different perspective. All aboard on this morning desert safari tour In March, you'll find that Dubai has rather temperate mornings. So, why not head out at dawn for a desert safari tour of the dunes? You'll miss the peak of the heat and have a damn good time doing so. Start the morning off with style thanks to your lift - a feature-rich 4x4 decked out in luxury seating and air-conditioning. Once they've picked you up from your hotel, you'll be whisked away from the reflective metropolis of downtown Dubai to the magical golden dunes outside the city. Then, you'll arrive at a desert camp and meet your new ride, a camel! You'll then ride the dunes on your new buddy and see the sea of sand up close and personal. And after all that, if you want to add some excitement to your morning, you can pay a bit more to try your hand at quad-biking or even ride a dune buggy. And, after all that, you'll be taken right back to your hotel, ready for your afternoon in Dubai! Go out and see Abu Dhabi on this tour from Dubai And we'll end our guide to Dubai in March with a trip to the nation's capital. Abu Dhabi is a mix of culture and modernity, offering a decidedly different atmosphere when compared to Dubai. Kicking off on the coast, you'll pass by famous spots such as the vast Jebel Ali Port, the National Exhibition Centre, Etihad Towers, the Louvre Museum, and Emirates Palace. All of them are worthy of more than a few pictures, so keep your phones charged and your memory free. The perfect answer to Dubai's extravagance, go see what all the fuss is about. And that concludes our guide to Dubai in March! Dubai is a city packed with things to see, experiences to undertake, and plenty more in between. So, if you want to see everything the city has to offer, Go City's got you covered. With our All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass, you can see all of Dubai's best bits when and how you want. Take the fuss out of your trip and put it all on one pass.
Dom Bewley
A Christmas panorama at a Dubai mall
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How to spend Christmas in Dubai

Swap the snow for the sands and the insulated jackets for the T-shirts, it’s Christmas in Dubai! The festive season is embraced by the emirate not for its religious importance – since only 14% of residents are Christian – but for its cultural significance. With 200 nationalities living, working and visiting Dubai at Christmas, there’s a vast miscellany of events to put you in the festive mood, from ballet performances to Christmas markets – and all with the sort of weather you probably won’t be getting back home until late spring or early summer. Keen to discover what Dubai is like at Christmas? Take a look at our favorite ideas! Getting into the Christmas spirit Christmas begins to take hold in Dubai from around the second week of December and continues well into January. Interestingly, the big day itself isn’t a public holiday, so you’ll see plenty of people heading to work as usual. This doesn’t stop anyone getting into the Christmas spirit. If you’re staying at one of the grander hotels that dot the cityscape, Christmas will probably kick off with an all singing and all dancing tree lighting ceremony. Christmas trees at many of the best-known names in accommodation soar from their lobbies up multiple stories, dazzling even the most hardened individuals. Catch the unveiling itself and you’ll be treated to some of Dubai’s finest voices, alongside complementary bites to eat and glasses of something special. Failing this, the shopping malls also spare little expense in providing their December visitors with fitting decoration. Head to the Dubai Mall, and as well as checking out the residents of Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, you can also admire the world’s largest bauble, weighing more than a ton! Explore the Christmas markets As you might expect from one of the world’s best shopping destinations, Dubai has plenty of opportunity to splash the cash on unique gifts and keepsakes with a Christmas market never far away. On the southern side of the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Harbor – the outer extent of Dubai Marina – is packed full of seasonal treats. Not only are there the stalls that make it a marketplace, but also a snow zone and ice rink. For further wintry wonderlands, head to Ski Dubai. Besides pitting yourself against the world’s largest indoor ski park, Santa stands by waiting to give out goodie bags to the kids whilst more sedate visitors can sit back and enjoy a Christmas movie at the snow cinema. Elsewhere, Fort Island’s Souk Madinat Jumeirah combines the traditional feel of an Arabian marketplace with a little extra Christmas sparkle. The food and drink options are particularly top-notch here, but there’s also plenty to keep the kids entertained as you soak up the ambience. Book tickets for a show With the Christmas weather in Dubai dominated by temperatures of around 25°C, even if the sun does disappear behind a cloud you’ll have little reason to head indoors. However, you may well want to, given the range of shows. For a traditional Christmas treat visit Dubai Opera. Sometimes overshadowed by its proximity to the observation decks of the Burj Khalifa, it is all the same a concert venue hosting the best comedians, music and performances of the moment. Come December, look out for tickets to the Nutcracker – a ballet set on Christmas Eve – and other seasonal favorites. Or satisfy your nosiness with a behind the scenes tour of the venue instead. The Theatre in the Mall of the Emirates also does all it can to welcome in the spirit of Christmas, putting on live performances of family-favorites such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. One of the newest destinations in Dubai, the QE2 floating hotel and venue has another stellar schedule of modern Christmas tunes and even traditional British pantomimes. Eat, drink and be merry Since the three wise men came from the east, it’s entirely possible their journey contained a stop at the small coastal settlement that Dubai would have been at the birth of Christ. You can get a feel for life in the desert with a safari and BBQ dinner, combining authentic cuisine and hospitality including belly dancing with more contemporary desert adventures. These include sand boarding after topping the dunes by 4WD. But for a full regional culinary experience turn to the Al Hallab restaurant, whose chefs lean on hundreds of years of cookery and recipes to bring you mezze, meat platters and sweet dishes packed full of flavor. If it’s a turkey dinner and all the trimmings you’re after, Dubai won’t disappoint either. There are plenty of restaurants open on December 25 and the surrounding days, with specially prepared seasonal menus listing no end of picks that will take you right back to your childhood. Take advantage of Dubai’s coastal location Anyone used to the frigid water temperatures of North America and Europe at Christmas might first baulk at seeing people in Dubai lounging on its beachfronts just as Santa is heading off on his epic present-giving extravaganza. But the fact is, with sea temperatures equal to those on land in the middle twenties Celsius, there are limited excuses for failing to switch to your swimwear. Drifting along the historic heart of Dubai on a traditional dhow made by craftspeople by hand is just as easy, and a great way to discover the areas of Bur Dubai and Deira, both of which relied on sea trade for centuries for their growth and wealth. An alternative way to take in the area is with a sunset kayak tour, putting you in control of your own vessel whatever your experience and skill level. Visit Dubai at Christmas and save! There’s no doubting Christmas is a good time to visit Dubai. The climate is amenable to getting out and about whether you aim to discover Dubai Creek or the dunes of the desert, whilst the festive offerings come thick and fast. Christmas markets, nights at the theater and food, glorious food are all part of what makes Christmas in Dubai special. But if you needed one more reason, that’s going to be Go City. Travel to Dubai with one of our passes and you’ll discover the magic of huge reductions on attraction admission to many of Dubai’s best things to see and do at Christmas.
Ian Packham

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