7 epic mega malls opening in Dubai that'll shake up your shopping experience
From the nature-inspired Cityland Mall to Meydan One, which comes complete with a 1km ski slope and water park…
While Dubai may have an abundance of malls where residents and tourists can shop till they drop – there’s still plenty more to come. But these aren’t just about retail. From open air gardens to ski slopes, water parks and even a Chinatown, this next generation of Dubai shopping experiences is about so much more than just shopping.
Here are 7 new malls set to shake up your shopping experience in Dubai.
Cityland Mall
Shopping and spending time in nature? Tick them both off in one go at Cityland Mall – which is being developed near Global Village by the same people behind Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Butterfly Garden. Described as the world’s first “nature-inspired” shopping mall, it’s packed with botanical wonders and will even feature an open-air garden in the centre. With a 12-screen cinema, more than 75 restaurants and space for 350 shops, the mall expands over 2.2 million square feet. The Carrefour hypermarket has just opened its doors, and the rest of the mall is expected to be in full bloom this year.
Meydan One
panning almost 1.5 million square metres, Meydan One mall will be home to an array of shops, restaurants and some epic entertainment facilities when it opens in the second half of 2020. And as well as the already announced plans for a 1km indoor ski slope, Crystal Lagoon with 500 metres of beaches and a water park and a 380-metre-long dancing fountain, Meydan Malls has just announced that the new mall will also be home to a 4000-square-metre electric go-karting track. An impressive 46,000 square metres of the mall will be dedicated solely to entertainment, traditional and extreme sports, and e-gaming. The entertainment focus continues with a huge multipurpose plaza that will have capacity for up to 30,000 people. The new events space will host a diverse range of cultural and entertainment activities for visitors of all ages.
Dubai Square
Dubbed the ‘future of retail’ Dubai Square will be a super sized, tech-driven mall at the upcoming Dubai Creek Harbour development. Almost twice the size of The Dubai Mall at roughly 100 football pitches, the three-storey mall will feature an events arena, luxury retail, dining and leisure outlets as well as the Middle East’s first Chinatown. A cineplex, waterpark and a an art district are also planned parts of the project. The ground floor will act as a defacto events arena with 3D projection mapping and will be fitted out to be able to host concerts, theatre shows and celebrity performances. The first floor will consist of a four-lane boulevard with retail outlets equipped with smart fitting rooms and interactive mirrors, restaurants serving fusion, vegan, Peruvian and French-Vietnamese cuisine, and a grand luxury avenue with live cooking stations, street vendors and even an organic market. Finally, the second floor is where all the experiential attractions will reside, including an ‘Ice Adventure’, a cineplex, a waterpark, sports area and a supermarket with a metro link.
Nakheel Mall
Described on the official website as ‘Dubai’s most premium lifestyle shopping, dining and entertainment destination’, Nakheel Mall is set to open sometime later this year on the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah. Split over five levels, the mall promises over 350 shops as well as a fine dining rooftop plaza offering panoramic views of the Dubai skyline. Plus, the mall will be accessible via The Palm monorail, located next to The Palm Tower.
Deira Mall
Also being developed by master developer Nakheel, Deira Mall is part of the Deira Islands project, and will cover 4.5 million square feet of leasable space. As well as department stores and shops, there will be a family entertainment centre, a cinema, 15,000 square foot entertainment zone and a dramatic 1km-long retractable glass atrium. Deira Mall will also boast sports and recreational facilities including a running track.
Dubai Hills Mall
Dubai property giant Emaar unveiled its plans for Dubai Hills Mall, a brand new retail and leisure district back in 2017. As if you would expect anything less at this point, it’s going to be a biggie. Consisting of two million square feet of space spread over ground and first floor levels, it will be home to 650 shops and restaurants. Dubai Hills Mall will also feature four major family entertainment and leisure centres. There will be a 20-screen cineplex, an outdoor concert area, a 65,000 square-food hypermarket and parking spaces for more than 7,000 vehicles.
Nad Al Sheba Mall
Found south of the Dubai Creek near Silicon Oasis, the Nad Al Sheba district will be home to a brand new mall in the coming years. At the heart of the new community, the 1.2 million square foot mall will feature around 200 shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets including a supermarket, department stores, multi-screen cinema, medical centre and fitness centre.
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