Best Things to do in Dubai Mall
Key takeaways
The Dubai Mall is more than just a shopping mall; it is a large, world-famous entertainment, luxury, and leisure destination that embodies Dubai’s grand vision. Its size is quite overwhelming since it is one of the largest malls in the world. Still, incredible experiences can be found within its spacious corridors. This is a space where an ordinary day out becomes an incredible adventure.
Why Visit Dubai Mall?
A visit to the emirate is not complete without witnessing the spectacle of Dubai Mall. This iconic building has everything one could wish for, with world-class shopping and entertainment galore. It is not just a shopping place; it is a lively microcosm of the city itself. It is a shining place where luxury, global cultures, and family fun come under a single magnificent roof. The experience involves immersing oneself in a site that defines modern Dubai.
Top Attractions in Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is known all over the world for its world-class and record-breaking attractions offering diverse entertainment and adventure. These unique venues make the mall a destination in itself. There are numerous Dubai Mall activities you can choose from that offer a unique experience.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
One of the most captivating attractions is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. The mall’s main hall presents a stunning view of a massive 10-million-liter suspended aquarium, which is among the largest of its kind in the world. The 48-meter walkthrough tunnel is the most immersive part. It surrounds you with thousands of aquatic animals, and you get to see sharks and rays swimming right above you in complete silence. The Underwater Zoo, situated above the main tank, showcases various creatures from Rainforest, Rocky Shore, and Living Ocean zones. You can meet adorable otters and the fierce King Croc at the zoo.
Burj Khalifa At the Top (Access via Dubai Mall)
Although already world-famous, the journey to the observation decks of the world’s tallest building starts at Dubai Mall. The entrance to At the Top, Burj Khalifa is on the lower ground floor. From here, a high-speed elevator will take you up, accompanied by a multimedia presentation. You can visit the observation decks on levels 124 and 125 to see breathtaking views of Dubai’s skyline, the desert, and the ocean. Or, you can opt for the premium SKY experience at the height of level 148.
Dubai Ice Rink
It's a surreal experience to find an Olympic-sized ice rink in the heart of a desert city, but the Dubai Ice Rink offers just that. This top-notch facility offers public skating for all ages and levels, from novices using penguin aids to experienced individuals. The rink has a lively atmosphere with sessions like Disco night and also offers skating lessons from its academy. It even has a "Dubai Snowfall" activity that gives a winter vibe. This is a fun way to escape the heat through an active and enjoyable experience.
VR Park Dubai
For those seeking a journey into alternate realities, VR Park Dubai is an essential visit. This huge indoor theme park offers a ton of VR and AR experiences. You can feel the adrenaline of a virtual roller coaster, work with others to survive a zombie apocalypse, or peacefully explore digital worlds. It is a futuristic attraction that provides a more unique experience for individuals and groups.
Reel Cinemas
The Reel Cinemas complex in Dubai Mall is one of the largest and most luxurious cinema destinations in the world. The movie-watching experience is upgraded with the newest technology, including Dolby Cinema and ScreenX. Moviegoers have a number of options, from comfortable regular screenings to the luxurious Platinum Suites. These suites feature comfy reclining armchairs, a full-service butler, and a scrumptious menu so you can enjoy your film like it's a first-class event.
Hysteria Haunted Attraction
If you like being scared, Hysteria is an experience that doesn’t just scare you; it will terrorize you. Get ready for an unnerving ride through dark halls and themed rooms filled with startling special effects, creepy sounds, and shocking surprises at this haunted attraction! The use of live actors masterfully creates suspense and jump scares to set it apart. The story depicts a family's lost kids and will scare you. It is one of the most intense adventure things to do in the mall, and it’s strictly not for the faint-hearted.
Trampo Extreme
Trampo Extreme is an amazing indoor trampoline park that provides a great high-energy outlet for kids and adults. The park features a link of trampolines, a large foam pit, a climbing wall, and a dodgeball area. It's a great place for families to have active fun together or for people who want to get an enjoyable workout. The well-lit and secure atmosphere makes it a favorite for taking an active break from retail therapy.
Infinity des Lumières (Digital Art Museum)
Located within the mall, Infinity des Lumières is the region's largest and most impressive digital art museum. The site uses many projectors and speakers to produce huge, immersive exhibitions that bring famous artworks to life in an epic fashion. You can walk through animated versions of works by artists like Van Gogh, and it feels like you’ve walked into one of his paintings. Or you can step into whimsical digital worlds created by today’s artists. This experience is enchanting and uses multi-sensory features to revamp art forms.
Shopping Experiences
At its core, Dubai Mall is a global mecca for shoppers. The retail stores in this place have been specially designed to suit every style, taste, and budget, from high fashion to everyday fashion.
Luxury Brands & Designer Stores
The mall’s grand Fashion Avenue is home to cutting-edge fashion design. This classy, expansive wing, with its high ceilings and sophisticated atmosphere, is solely dedicated to the world’s most prestigious luxury brands. Here, you can find the flagship stores of iconic fashion names such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Cartier, and Valentino. Shopping in these boutiques, which look and feel like a museum, is a personalized and expert service.
High-Street Fashion and Popular Chains
Apart from the exclusive air of Fashion Avenue, Dubai Mall features a vast range of well-known high-street labels and large international retail chains. You'll find large stores for fashion brands like Zara and H&M, and global department stores such as Bloomingdale's and Galeries Lafayette. You’ll find whatever you need, be it the latest trendy fashion wear, electronic gizmos, modern furniture, or cosmetics, from their mammoth directory of more than 1,200 stores.
Souk Al Bahar (Nearby, via pedestrian bridge)
For a shopping experience that offers a taste of traditional Arabian charm, a short, scenic stroll across a pedestrian bridge from Dubai Mall leads to the beautiful Souk Al Bahar. This beautifully crafted marketplace brings to mind a traditional Arabian souk with its stone pathways and arabesque details, but set in modern, air-conditioned comfort. You can shop for traditional crafts, exotic perfumes, handmade carpets, and jewelry here. It's the ideal spot for finding one-of-a-kind, genuine souvenirs and gifts.
Dining in Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall, home to over 200 food and beverage outlets, is a gastronomic paradise with something for everyone to taste.
Restaurants with a View of the Dubai Fountain
Many people wish to dine at one of the outdoor terrace restaurants overlooking the Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa. From casual cafes to high-end restaurants such as Wafi Gourmet, guests can enjoy front-row seats to the captivating water, light, and music show. For an unforgettable meal, be sure to experience the fountain show while you dine.
Food Court and Casual Dining Options
For a cheap, quick meal, the mall has two large food courts that offer an extensive choice of international fast food as well as casual meals. In addition to global chains like McDonald’s and KFC, you will find numerous popular chains from Asia, the Middle East, and India. A food court is ideal for a break in the middle of a busy day of shopping.
Fine Dining Inside the Mall
Dubai Mall features an array of upscale fine dining restaurants outside of the food courts. At Al Hallab, you can enjoy authentic Lebanese cuisine; at Jamie’s Italian, you can enjoy Italian classics; or enjoy prime cuts of meat at a high-end steakhouse. Suitable for a special lunch or dinner, these establishments offer a more relaxed and refined atmosphere.
Instagrammable Cafés & Desserts
There are many stylish cafes and dessert parlors in the mall to take a picture with. Paul Café has an old-world French bistro vibe, while if you want an indulgent coffee and a sweet treat, try out the ultra-luxurious Godiva Chocolate Cafe. These places are famous for their tasty food as well as their pretty interiors, which look good on social media.
Fun for Kids and Families
Dubai Mall is a very family-friendly destination, offering attractions of global standards that are sure to amuse and educate children.
Kidzania Dubai
KidZania is an award-winning "edutainment" concept where children can immerse themselves in role-playing over 60 real-world professions within a meticulously scaled-down, interactive city. Children can imagine being a doctor, firefighter, chef, or a pilot while having fun in these engaging and realistic environments. They receive “kidZos,” a special currency, for their job, which they can use to purchase services or products. This cleverly teaches them about work and finance while having fun.
Play Areas and Edutainment Zones
The mall has plenty of other specific play areas for kids of all ages besides KidZania. Indoor playgrounds for toddlers, as well as climbing walls and edutainment exhibits for older kids, offer children plenty of opportunities to play safely and learn in a fun environment. These areas give families a much-needed break while they’re spending the whole day at the mall.
Dubai Dino (Dinosaur Skeleton Exhibit)
The Dubai Dino is one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the mall. Inside the grand dome of The Souk is an authentic, 155-million-year-old Diplodocus skeleton discovered in Wyoming, USA. The gigantic and incredibly well-preserved fossil is permanently on display for everyone to visit, and it costs nothing. It is ideal for children and quite educational too.
Unique Experiences Inside Dubai Mall
Some of the mall's most unique art and architecture pieces are available at the mall, which one will not find anywhere else in the world.
Human Waterfall
The beautiful human waterfalls are one of the mall’s most photographed features. The mall features a breathtaking water feature that flows down through all four stories, creating a soothing sound. The life-sized human diver sculptures made of fiberglass in silver paint make the structure stand apart and look unique. The figures seem to be plunging down into the waterfall, creating a powerful spectacle. It is a stunning centerpiece that is a must-see.
Dubai Fountain Boardwalk (Access nearby)
The Fountain Boardwalk offers direct and sensory access to the famous Dubai Fountain. This platform is built on Burj Lake, and it lets you get as close as 9 meters to the powerful sprays. You get a unique, intense take on the show from the boardwalk. You’ll feel the cool spray and hear the awesome, roaring jets going up to 150 meters in the air, as the show’s music and light illuminate them.
Dubai Trolley Ride (Downtown Loop)
If you’re exploring the Downtown Dubai district, take a ride on the adorable Dubai Trolley. It is the first hydrogen-powered, zero-emission, open-top tram in the world, which conveniently loops back to Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar. There’s no doubt that it is a great way to get around. You can enjoy relaxing views of the Burj Khalifa and the architecture in the district from a lovely, slow-moving vantage point.
When to Visit and How to Plan Your Time
To avoid the biggest crowds, the best time to go to Dubai Mall would be on weekday mornings or early afternoons. The busiest times are weekends (Friday and Saturday) and evenings. The mall is very big, so plan your visit carefully. When you arrive, pick up a physical map or use the mall’s official app so you can get around. If you prioritize what attractions and stores you would most like to see, you can maximize your time.
How to Get to Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is located in the center of Downtown Dubai and has very good connectivity. The most convenient way to arrive is via the Dubai Metro. To reach the mall, get on the Red Line and alight at the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station. From there, use the air-conditioned Metro Link Bridge, which is a long walkway with travelers that will take you directly to the mall. Taxis and popular ride-hailing services are plentiful, and there is extensive, free parking available if you want to drive.
Final Thoughts
Dubai Mall is more than just a shopping haven; it is a world-class, multi-faceted destination with the highest concentration of entertainment, dining, and leisure experiences in one location. The ability to watch sharks in a large aquarium or see the world’s tallest building from its observation deck are just some of the things you can do. A trip to this spot forms an important component of any Dubai itinerary. It can surely be a day of fun, discovery, and luxury.
FAQ
What are the nearest attractions to The Dubai Mall?
The Dubai Mall is located near several famous attractions. For example, Burj Khalifa, the tallest building, is just steps away, where visitors can view the skyline from the observation deck. They can also enjoy the view of Burj Lake, and visit downtown Dubai The Dubai Fountain has some of the most fascinating shows you'll ever see in your life; they occur daily. Dubai Opera is close and regularly hosts top performances, including music concerts or traditional theater. KidZania inside the mall gives children a chance to role-play real-world jobs. There's also an Underwater Zoo (the aquarium) inside the mall that allows visitors to observe over 140 species of sea life.
What is special in Dubai Mall?
For starters, it's one of the best malls, and like most things in the UAE, it's one of the largest. This famous location has over 1,200 shops with global brands and unique locations. It has everything for everyone: people can go ice skating (mind you, it's the desert), visit an underwater zoo, have fun at theme parks, taste delicious cuisine from nearly every location worldwide, and more.
Is it worth visiting Dubai Mall?
It's not just worth it; every person with any preferences will say they enjoyed their Dubai trip. Avid shoppers find luxury items from the best brands. Families enjoy the attractions inside, while tourists often visit for sightseeing purposes.
Is Dubai shopping cheap?
Well, most Dubai attractions are known for their exclusivity, meaning they're more on the expensive side of the spectrum, or at least above average prices. On the other hand, the price depends on your preferences: it can be a relatively affordable trip or an expensive one.
Is it worth going to Dubai Aquarium?
100% worth it! It's one of the major attractions with truly phenomenal designs. It's worth visiting because of the excitement you'll feel while standing in the middle of the aquatic wildlife. Many misinterpret aquariums for kids, but this location is entirely different. It's like visiting an alien world, so you should consider it.
Is Dubai Mall free entry?
Entry to Dubai Mall is free. Visitors pay only for attractions and shopping inside. You can always go window shopping or fish for locations if you don't want to follow the beaten path. The Dubai Mall has maps everywhere, so visitors can orient themselves inside and find locations that they want to visit. You may also visit an official website and check categories, like shopping, entertainment, etc. Each one lists shops, brands, and so on.