Dubai makes use of a marketing strategy that describes it as an international shopping destination. They have a good reason for doing this as they offer for tourists excellent shopping facilities with a handsome selection of well-stocked malls.
Dubai’s shopping malls offering a host of different activities. Let us take you on a wondrous journey through 10 of Dubai’s best malls according to Gulf News.
Mall of the Emirates
Mall of the Emirates offers shopping, leisure and entertainment facilities to visitors. It is the first shopping resort in the world that has two five-star hotels attached to it. It is a three-storey mall that offers visitors 7000 parking spaces, located in aisles which are color-coded. It offers more than 250 fashion stores, including Prada, Christian Louboutin and Bogetta Veneta. If it is a food you need, you have a wide choice, including Costa Coffee, Pizza Hut and McDonalds.
Its main attractions include a large indoor entertainment area and Ski Dubai. It also houses the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Center, which features 18 art studios and a theater.
Deira City Center
This is not the largest center in Dubai, but remains a firm favorite for old Dubai residents. It offers visitors a perfect combination of shopping, food and entertainment facilities.
Stores such as Zara, H&M and several more retail stores can be found here. Restaurants include Coco’s, Texas Roadhouse and Chili’s, along with KFC and Chowking.
Its key attractions include Magic Planet, which is an entertainment center for young adults and children. There are VOX Cinemas offering 11 screens, including two 3D digital screens.
Burjuman Center
This mall offers visitors more than 300 top-end fashion brands, including Dior, Versace, Valentino and Chanel. It has two food courts and several restaurants to feed the hungry.
Its main attractions include a Big Bus tour hub which allows visitors to take a trip around the city and view the sights.
Dubai Festival City Mall
Dubai Festival City Mall is located on the banks of the Dubai Creek. It contains a range of stores, including IKEA and Toys R Us. Its dining venues, placed on the waterfront, offer visitors a wide choice, including Hard Rock Café and Jamie’s Italian.
There is a 12-lane bowling alley and families can enjoy several games and karaoke facilities in the mall. There is also a 12-screen cinema.
Ibn Battuta Mall
This mall was inspired by Ibn Battuta, a 14th Century Arab scholar who traveled around 120000 kilometers over a 30-year period. It offers visitors a view of all the areas he visited during his travels. The mall is comprised of six courts – Indian, Egyptian Chinese, Tunisian, Persian and Andalusian. The features are located on a single level and visitors can choose to explore it on foot or make use of a golf cart shuttle.
The mall contains more than 270 stores and offers a host of stores and restaurants.
Its main attractions include a ride in a hot air balloon. This is a very safe option for juniors as the ride is anchored to the ground, preventing it from drifting away.
Mirdif City Center
Mirdif City Center is one of the few malls globally that has a dedicated motorway slip-road. It is a spacious, open mall placed on multiple levels. The familiar store brands and restaurants can be found here.
Its main attractions include a Magic Planet entertainment area.
Dubai Mall
This is the largest mall globally and visitors will find every outlet or brand they require. The size of this mall takes time to explore and could become quite tiring. It is located in the center of Downtown Dubai, at the foot of the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa.
Dubai Mall contains in excess of 1200 retail stores, which would take some time to work through. The time to work your way through the mall will result in thirst and hunger and the mall offers a variety of restaurants and food stores to satisfy your wants.
Its main attractions include 22-screen Reel Cinemas and the magnificent Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
Wafi Mall
Wafi Mall is a high-end center, with designer products from top brands across the world. There are several Arabic tailor and textile stores, which gives it a more Arabic Feel. It has the usual food stores, including Noodle Factory and Burger Rebel.
Its main attractions include the fun fort complex and Souq Khan Murjan, along with mini-golf green.
Beach Mall
Dubai loves building ‘the biggest in the world’ and the Beach Mall is no different – it is the biggest outdoor mall in the world.
It can be found on JBR beach and offers a range of restaurants and stores.
Its main attractions include the JBR Beach and Arabian Gulf Sea. It also has an outdoor cinema screen. The one negative about this mall is its lack of parking space.
Dubai Marina Mall
This mall can be found between the Dubai Marina and Shaikh Zayed Road. It offers visitors a range of stores and restaurants, including Reebok, Waitrose and Assia in Wok.
Its main attractions include the marina and the promenade. For youngsters, a ride on the Marina Express could be quite exciting or a visit to Reel Cinemas.
