We continue the series of reviews dedicated to the best New Year shopping in the world. Today we talk about the main shopping centers in Dubai. Over the past decade, the projects of the most futuristic malls have been implemented here, which still amaze with their scale.
By the way, the New Year holidays in Dubai traditionally hold a big trade festival. This year it will last a record five weeks, from December 26 to February 2, with maximum discounts at the start. Among the participants of the festival are the main shopping malls of the emirate, which have long since turned from trading floors into real points of attraction of the city.
Dubai Mall, which accepted the first customers in the new commercial and business center of the city at the end of 2008, retains the title of the main marketplace and the largest mall in the world. The net sales area of Dubai Mall is more than 350,000 sq.m. The tenants include more than 1,300 operators, including Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s department stores, The Souk’s traditional Arabic goods market, fashion avenue with luxury brands, and about 200 gastronomic concepts. The total area of the mall is estimated at 550,000 sq.m. Another highlight that makes Dubai Mall unlike any other is one of the world’s largest aquariums with a 270-degree tunnel and an underwater zoo. Every year the mall receives about 80 million visitors.
The main competitor of Dubai Mall for the title of the best shopping center in Dubai and the entire Middle East – Mall of Emirates, famous for its first indoor ski slope in the region with a year-round amusement park with artificial snow. The mall unites about 630 international brands, 90 cafes and restaurants, a 14-room multiplex, a family entertainment center (180 attractions) and a gallery of 80 luxury designer brands on an area of over 230,000 square meters. It makes no sense to list the brands represented here – in the Mall of Emirates there is almost everything!
Wafi City is one of the first professional shopping malls of the emirate, which opened in 2002. In architecture and interior decoration, the emphasis was placed on ancient Egyptian motifs: copies of Sphinsk were installed at the entrance, images of pharaohs adorn the interior, and the roof of the mall is decorated with pyramids. Wafi City is less popular with foreign tourists and more focused on local residents, which allows you to make purchases in a more relaxed atmosphere, without queues. On an area of 80,000 square meters in Wafi City, there are about 200 tenants, mostly world famous brands.
Nakheel Mall in the heart of the island of Palm Jumeirah is the newest and most modern shopping mall of the emirate, opened in 2018. He has virtually no competitors. Nakheel Mall is a luxury destination that combines the most first-class shopping, dining, and entertainment in Dubai. On an area of 111,000 square meters on five trade levels, 350 premium and luxury stores and dozens of gastronomic concepts from around the world are represented. From the rooftop of the shopping center, where gourmet restaurants are open, you can enjoy panoramic views of Palm Jumeirah, the Persian Gulf and commercial center of Dubai.
Opened in 2005, Ibn Battuta Mall is perhaps the most extraordinary mall in Dubai in terms of architecture. The shopping mall is divided into six thematic zones, stylized as India, Tunisia, Persia, Andalusia, China and Egypt in honor of the famous traveler who made a campaign in the 14th century on six lands lasting 24 years. In each of the zones, large-scale sights have been established, inspired by the culture of six countries. Ibn Battuta Mall unites mainly mass-market brands, led by H & M, Kiabi, Marks & Spencer, GAP, Forever21, and Superdry.
Outlet Village Dubai is the first home in Dubai of first-class fashion and lifestyle brands with permanent discounts. In the shopping gallery are luxury Armani, Zegna, Lanvin, the company which consists of Fred Perry and DKNY and, of course, Nike, Adidas, New Balance. Outlet Village Dubai also boasts a restaurant area based on Tuscan streets. The area combines 15 excellent restaurants, cafes and food corners with delicious dishes and French, Italian, American and Middle Eastern cuisine.
Another place where the collections of world brands that are not sold out in the largest malls are brought to the Dubai Outlet Mall. The complex includes 240 stores and more than 1,200 brands with permanent discounts from 30% to 90%. Unlike Outlet Village Dubai, the mall represents a large number of multi-brand stores with a unique selection of Western brands. Among the tenants are also stores Marc Cain, Juicy Couture, Liu Jo, and others. An additional bonus in visiting the outlet is American Chuck E Cheese’s, which unites a family entertainment center and several restaurant concepts.
