Dubai is a shopper’s paradise! The city is home to so many marvellous malls. If you’re in the mood to shop, then we can’t think of anywhere better to be. We’ve complied a list of our favourites to help you decide just where to head. Read on and discover where our favourite places in the city our for a little retail therapy…
Table of Contents
The best places to go shopping in Dubai
1. The Dubai Mall
If you call yourself The Dubai Mall, you’re clearly staking a claim to be the main mall in town. We’ve not been to all the malls that Dubai has to offer, but from the ones we’ve been to, this one is number one for a reason! Located on the same site as the immense Burj Khalifa, it’s the city’s largest mall and the second largest in the whole world!
Big doesn’t always mean better, but if you can’t find something that takes your fancy here, we’ll be amazed. Dubai Mall is home to over 1,200 shops!
As well as shops galore, it’s also home to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, a world of aquatic wonders. Plus, there’s a haunted house, a kid’s area, a diplodocus skeleton and so much more. It’s one of the top places to take your kids when you’re in Dubai. If you’re only going to visit one mall in the city, this has to be the one!
2. City Walk
Though not strictly a mall, we feel that City Walk is somewhere you really can’t miss. It’s not technically a mall because it doesn’t have a roof, but it does have all that a mall has to offer. This delightful precinct is full of fascinating shops and boutiques as well as a wealth of wonderful places to sit and eat al fresco and watch the world go by.
One of our favourite places for a spot of lunch or dinner is the Farzi Café, which has some of the tastiest modern Indian cuisine you could hope to eat. After visiting some of the areas brilliant shops, we’re sure that a break to recharge and refuel will be very welcome indeed!
3. Mercato Mall
What makes Mercato Mall different from the other malls? Maybe, you think that once you’ve seen one mall, you’ve seen them all. Well, we can assure you that’s not the case. For example, Mercato Mall gets its name from the Italian word for “market” and the reason for this is that the mall is designed to look like a medieval Italian town. That’s not something you see every day, is it? In fact, we think it makes Mercato Mall a visit in and of itself, regardless of whether you want to do any shopping.
The mall might look like it’s come right out of a Renaissance painting but it features all the top brands, from Massimo Dutti to H&M. There’s also a cinema and a place for the kids to play. If you’re looking to stock up on supplies, there’s a great supermarket too that the locals love. And all that just a stone’s throw from the beach! That’s the kind of shopping mall that really floats our boat.
4. Mall of the Emirates
The Mall of the Emirates is another enormo-mall. Enormously big and enormously brilliant! What makes this one different from the others? Well, for starters, it’s the best place in Dubai to go skiing!
Home to the Ski Dubai indoor ski resort, it features the longest indoor ski resort in the world. So, spend the afternoon on the slopes before hitting the shops. Or the other way round! You’re on holiday, so it’s up to you. But we think you’ll have to agree that skiing in a shopping mall in the UAE is something you don’t get to do every day.
As well as Ski Dubai, the mall is home to more than 600 shops, with top international brands from Marks and Spencer to a Carrefour. There’s also the Magic Planet family entertainment centre so if the kids start complaining about traipsing around the shops (or tumbling down the slopes), the Mall of the Emirates has them covered. Our bus hops off right outside, so what are you waiting for?
5. Ibn Battuta Mall
The Mall of the Emirates is another enormo-mall. Enormously big and enormously brilliant! What makes this one different from the others? Well, for starters, it’s the best place in Dubai to go skiing! Home to the Ski Dubai indoor ski resort, it features the longest indoor ski resort in the world. So, spend the afternoon on the slopes before hitting the shops. Or the other way round! You’re on holiday, so it’s up to you. But we think you’ll have to agree that skiing in a shopping mall in the UAE is something you don’t get to do every day.
As well as Ski Dubai, the mall is home to more than 600 shops, with top international brands from Marks and Spencer to a Carrefour. There’s also the Magic Planet family entertainment centre so if the kids start complaining about traipsing around the shops (or tumbling down the slopes), the Mall of the Emirates has them covered. Our bus hops off right outside, so what are you waiting for?
6. Dubai Marina Mall
The Dubai Marina Mall is more of a straightforward mall. There’s no aquarium or explorer-themed designs, but it does have more than 100 store, 20 places to eat, a cinema and a brilliant children’s play area. Anywhere else, it would be a standout. In Dubai, it’s one of the many malls, but it’s excellent location and great selection of stores mean we think it’s definitely worth a visit.
We’d even recommend hopping off our red route to pay it a visit. Maybe before hopping again to visit the beach or for a spot of lunch before heading to the Aquaventure Waterpark.
7. The Outlet Village
One of the best things about shopping is the thrill you get when you find a bargain. If that’s something that appeals to you then The Outlet Village is somewhere you just can’t miss. This Tuscan-inspired mall (what is it with Dubai and Italian-style malls?) is home to a world of high-end outlet stores. From Adidas to Armani and Dolce & Gabbana to Diesel, there’s something here for all tastes and at prices that make the normally unaffordable affordable.
8. Bur Dubai Souk Market
For something completely different from Dubai’s marvellous mega-malls, head to the Bur Dubai Souk Market, a short walk from our Old Souk stop. This bustling street waterfront street market is a lively traditional market where you can buy everything from amazingly embroidered kaftans to fantastically fragrant spices. It’s a completely different way to shop in Dubai and just as an essential a part of the Dubai shopping experience.
After you’ve had your fill of the souk’s heady mix of sights, sounds and scents, head to the water and find somewhere to enjoy a refreshing and incredibly cheap coconut water as you watch the boats pass by. If you’ve been to even half the places in this guide, we’re sure that you’ll deserve it!
All shopped out!
Shopping is definitely an important part of the Dubai experience. There are so many malls that you can visit. It can be difficult to know where to begin. We hope that our little guide helps you choose the best places for you, but we’re sure that wherever you go, you’ll have an incredible time in this amazing futuristic city.
Preguntas Frecuentes
The top 5 biggest malls are Dubai Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Outlet Mall and Dubai Festival City Mall.
Each mall has its own opening hours. They tend to be open until late, with Dubai Mall, for example, staying open until midnight and the Mall of the Emirates closing at 23:00.
Most malls have a modest guest code, so it’s the same as for most other places in Dubai. Men can wear T-shirts, and trousers whereas women can wear tops, knee-length shorts, and wide-legged jeans.