The Dubai Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in the world and is located in Downtown Dubai, right next to the unmissable Burj Khalifa. The mall spans 4 floors and houses not only over 1200 stores, but also a huge aquarium, an artificial ice rink, and an impressive water cascade. No wonder, that the Dubai Mall is considered a magnet for visitors.
How do I get to the Dubai Mall?
The journey by cab is of course the most uncomplicated and comfortable. Since the Downtown district is in the center of Dubai, the ride should cost a maximum of 50-60 AED, or about $15.
Cheaper and not necessarily less convenient is the clean and reliable Dubai Metro. The mall is connected to the Dubai Mall metro station and therefore extremely easy to reach by metro. It’s quite a long walk from the station to the mall, but it’s well air-conditioned – like most public places in Dubai.
Climate in Dubai Mall
A useful tip for visiting the Dubai Mall: You should definitely pack a light sweater, because in Dubai it is rather a little more air-conditioned than too little.
Dubai Mall opening hours
Dubai Mall is open from 10am-2pm, seven days a week. As a visitor, you should note that the weekend in the Emirates is on Friday and Saturday, so you can expect a lot more crowds on those days. At times, you really have to squeeze through the huge mall. Sunday, on the other hand, is one of the most relaxing days to visit.
Exciting activities around the Dubai Mall
8 good reasons to visit Dubai Mall
#1 Shop till you drop
As already mentioned, there are over 1200 stores in the Dubai Mall. Whether clothing, electronics, toys or even home supplies – no matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.
In addition to the typical Western brands and vendors, stores with traditional Arabic offerings can be found on the first floor, in The Souk area. A short stroll there is worth it just for the atmosphere.
But the Dubai Mall attracts not only with its numerous stores, but also with regularly changing seasonal exhibitions, such as at Christmas.
#2 Dubai Fountain Show
The Dubai Fountain is a music-controlled fountain show that takes place right in front of the Burj Khalifa. Playing hours are from 6pm-11pm, every half hour.
At lunchtime there are also 2 shows between 1 and 2 pm. The big advantage here is that the crowds are MUCH smaller than in the evening.
Each show lasts – depending on the length of the music track – about 4-5 minutes and varies constantly. Accordingly, multiple visits are a good idea. In addition to classical and Arabic music, the fountains also dance to well-known Western songs, such as Thriller by Michael Jackson or Perfect by Ed Sheeran. But no matter what music is played, the fountain show is always an impressive sight.
#3 LED-Show am Burj Khalifa
Barely has the fountain show ended when the next spectacle unexpectedly begins: the Burj Khalifa shines in the most magnificent colors. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, game times are at 7:15 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, game times are at 6:45 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
However, as far as I know at the moment, the light show is only shown from New Year’s Day to the end of March. If you happen to be in Dubai during that time, don’t miss this spectacular performance. After all, it was awarded two entries in the Guinness World Record Book.
#4 Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
The Dubai Aquarium is hard to miss in the mall as it spans three floors. The gigantic glass front gives visitors a fantastic view of the tens of thousands of fish, sharks and rays – completely free of charge.
To enter the almost 50-meter-long underwater tunnel that runs through the basin and thus see the animals swimming very close around you, you need to buy a ticket. This you get from about $39 per person. This includes access to the underwater zoo, where you can see a giant crocodile as well as penguins, otters and turtles.
Tickets can be purchased either on the official homepage of the Dubai Aquarium or at Get Your Guide. The advantage with Get your Guide is that you can cancel for free up to 24 hours before the activity starts. Very convenient if plans change spontaneously. The entrance fee is quite high, but the visit is worth it if you are passionate about marine animals. Especially the underwater tunnel is a great attraction. For many visitors, however, the free view from the outside should already be enough.
#5 Ice Skating at Dubai Ice Rink
Ice skating in the desert – sounds crazy, but Dubai makes it possible. The first floor of the Dubai Mall is actually home to an ice skating rink of remarkable size. If you miss the winter in Germany or just want to cool down a bit, this is the place to be. Adults pay about $19 for 90 minutes of fun on the ice during the “Public Sessions,” which begin at either 10 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
If you book the “Dubai Snowfall Session”, which takes place several times in the afternoon and evening hours, you even get to enjoy snowfall. Yes really, it’s snowing in the Dubai Mall! Für die Eislauf-Session zahlen Erwachsene dann ca. 23€. Children smaller than 100cm pay just under $11 for each session. Tickets can be booked in advance here.
#6 Indoor Wasserfall
The 24m high waterfall inside the Dubai Mall extends to all four floors of the mall and can thus be viewed from every floor. This beautiful attraction is a must-see – especially because it’s free.
#7 Feasting in restaurants and food courts
What should not be missing during an extensive shopping tour? Of course, a tasty snack in between. Fortunately, the Dubai Mall has plenty to choose from in this regard as well.
In addition to the typical fast food giants we are familiar with, such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC, you will also find American upstarts like Five Guys and Krispy Kreme – and at absolutely moderate prices similar to those in Europe.
If you want to go out for a more comfortable and fancy meal, there are also a lot of more stylish restaurants that still won’t break your budget. As a hot tip, I recommend the Cheesecake Factory. Everyone will find something on the seemingly endless menu and the cheesecakes are simply out of this world. Tasting is mandatory!
#8 Souk al Bahar
The Souk al Bahar market is located outside the Dubai Mall, but is connected to it by a small bridge. The Souk al Bahar is a nice place to stroll because the Arabic interior is impressive with its high archways and use of natural stone. A dream of 1001 nights! If you are looking for authentic Arabic goods such as handicrafts or carpets, you should definitely stop by there.
In addition, from the Souk al Bahar you have a great view of the Dubai Fountain and the Burj Khalifa. Especially for dinner, a visit to one of the restaurants directly on the waterfront is a must – with the best view of the fountains.
Conclusion: Is a visit to the Dubai Mall worthwhile?
Yes, absolutely! Even if you don’t want to do any shopping, you can check out numerous free attractions that are probably only available in Dubai. You should plan 2-3 hours for the visit to take in all the highlights.
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