Things You Need to Know Before Visiting the Dubai Mall

When the conversation is about shopping in Dubai, it is hard to miss the mention of Dubai Mall. It is the largest shopping mall in the United Arab Emirates and the world! One of the most popular shopping destinations in Dubai, the Dubai Mall attracts thousands of visitors every year from all around the world.

Considering the number of things you can do at the mall, it is possible to spend your entire solo trip to Dubai without leaving the Dubai Mall! As it is the largest mall and houses almost everything one might need, it will be difficult for you to get bored at the Dubai Mall. 

To help you make the most of your time spent at the mall, I have come up with a list of interesting things to do in Dubai Mall on a solo trip. 

But before that, here are some facts about this stunning piece of architecture:

• Opened for the first on – November 4, 2008
• Number of levels – four
• Total area – over 13 million square feet (this equates to approximately 50 football fields combined!)
• Internal floor space – approximately 6 million square feet
• Must-visit landmarks near the mall – Burj Khalifa, Dubai Opera, Souk Al Bahar

It consists of 1,200 stores and shops, 22 cine screens, and 120 cafes and restaurants. The mall has a humongous parking area that allows 14,000 vehicles to park at once.

How to reach the Dubai Mall?

Reaching the Dubai Mall is quite easy. It is located at the Financial Center Street along Sheikh Zayed Road. Since the mall is in one of the most famous areas of Dubai, you can use any mode of transport for an easy commute. I would suggest you take a metro from wherever your hotel is and get down at The Dubai Mall Station. 

The opening hours of the Dubai Mall

The mall is open on all days, including weekends. So you can make weekend plans of visiting the Dubai Mall without having to worry about whether it will be closed or not. The opening hours for weekdays and weekends are the same – 10 am to 1 am. However, some stores or shops may be closed on certain days or hours. You can check online before making your plans.

Is there a best time to visit the Dubai Mall?

No, you can visit the mall at any time of the year. It is vibrant and exciting throughout the year!

Regardless of which month of the year you visit the mall, I would recommend the best day to visit the mall would be the weekends. Now, remember this – the weekends in Dubai start from Friday. So, that makes Friday and Saturday the weekend in the country and the next week resumes from Sunday onwards!

I have visited Dubai a couple of times, once in the summer season and the rest during winters. Although it does not feel like winter in the country, the temperature does drop down a bit in the later months of the year! In my opinion, visiting Dubai during the winter months would be better. You can also witness the Dubai Shopping Festival that takes place every year in the months of December and January.

Things to do in Dubai Mall during a solo trip to Dubai

1. How many clothes is too many?

Shopping is one of the obvious things to do in Dubai Mall during a solo trip to the country. Whether you want to revamp your wardrobe or add some unique pieces of clothing to your wardrobe, Dubai Mall is the place for all this! With over 1,200 outlets, you will be spoiled for choices when it comes to selecting from a wide range of international brands. 

2, Experience snow at Dubai Ice Rink

Like I mentioned earlier, you can barely experience winter or cold months in the country. But, Dubai knows how to keep its visitors happy. The Dubai Mall houses a huge Ice Rink to make up for its hot and humid weather all around the year. 

You do not need to be a pro to skate in Dubai Ice Rink. It has skating aids available for people of all age groups and skill levels. And if you want to learn more about ice skating, you can sign up for the skating sessions before stepping into the rink!

When I visited the Dubai Mall, the Ice Rink had me curious since the beginning. Honestly, I was a beginner too at skating, but the instructors at Dubai Ice Rink are very experienced and ensure all their visitors step into the rink without any fears. 

3. Visit Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

One of the top tourist attractions in the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, is a must-visit for every kind of traveller. It is the largest aquarium in the world and houses over a 10-million litre tank that contains thousands of different marine creatures! Pretty amazing, right?

An interesting thing to note here is there are certain sections of the aquarium that you can explore without paying a single penny. However, the other fun activities like snorkelling, diving with a shark will require you to buy a ticket. There is an Underwater Zoo as well that houses a wide variety of species.

If you are an animal lover, you should check out the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo for a memorable experience from your trip to the country!

4. Watch movies in luxury!

Dubai’s biggest cinema – Reel Cinema – will definitely take your movie experience to another level. It has 26 cinema screens that are one of the best and luxurious kinds in the world. The audio and visual technology at the Dubai Mall’s Reel Cinema makes your movie-watching experience the best you have ever had!

5. Face your fears at the Hysteria Haunted Attraction 

I would recommend you visit Hysteria Haunted Attraction only if you do not get scared easily. Trust me, it is not going to be a smooth ride! Although you get only 15 minutes to spend inside, it is worth every penny you spend!

6. Hangout with the Dubai Dino

Not all activities and adventures in Dubai require you to empty your pockets. Some are free of cost as well. Just like this one – the Dubai Dino, which is an authentic remnant from over 155 million years ago!

The best part about witnessing this seven-meter high and 25-meter long dinosaur skeleton is that it is an original bonafide fossil. If you have an interest in history and palaeontology, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you. 

7. Visit the largest candy store in the Middle East

Candylicious is a candy store that is famous for its wide varieties of chocolates, sweets, and other things to help with your sweet tooth. As you enter the store, you will find a humongous chocolate tree and the best part is its branches – they are decorated with different types of chocolates!

During my solo trip to Dubai, I visited the store to get some chocolates for my family. Seeing the interiors of the store and a lot of other local and international brands, I had to try out a few chocolates in the store itself. I ended up buying some for myself to have at my hotel room! And one of the best parts is that they serve their visitors with their photos imprinted on candies.

8. Spend some time around the Human Waterfalls

No country can match Dubai when it comes to giving the best of the best to its visitors. The Human Waterfalls is a beautiful depiction of the country’s rich culture, heritage, and modernity, all combined. On the waterfalls, you will notice pearl divers taking a flight which depicts Dubai’s dangerous pearl farming occupation. 

The Human Waterfalls is the perfect place for you to relax after a tiring day shopping and walking around the mall. 

9. One of my favourite things to do in Dubai Mall – eating different cuisines!

There is no greater happiness than eating a full-course meal to beat the hunger pangs after a tiring day. The Dubai Mall offers plenty of famous restaurants and cafes for you to choose from to fill your stomach. Not only this, there is a dedicated food court as well where you can try out different cuisines. 

One of my favourite cafes in the mall is Cafe Bateel. The food here is extremely delicious and does not burn a hole in your pocket either. 

10. Visit the advanced flight simulator

This can be an exciting air travel experience if you are into aviation! The flight simulator resembles the cockpit of a real aircraft, and the place will allow you to choose an airport of your choice and experience flying the aircraft around. Don’t worry because there will be an experienced instructor with you to teach you how to navigate the aircraft. 

Having experienced the aircraft flying experience from the cockpit, I can assure you that this will be an amazing memory for you to take back home from Dubai!

11. Enjoy at the VR Park

The virtual and augmented reality at the VR Park will take you into another world. In the park, you will be presented with various games and rides to choose from. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not because it is a virtual and augmented reality, but because the one you will experience in Dubai will be the best of your life!

12. Crazy about speed? Try go-karting!

Considered one of the popular tourist attractions, the Ekart Zabeel at Zabeel Extension is one of the first go-karting facilities in the country. And the go-karts are all-electric, making the whole experience of go-karting even more thrilling. 

However, there is one drawback to experiencing go-karting at Zabeel Extension. You have to fulfill the height and weight requirements, and you should not be more than 140 centimetres and 120 kilograms, respectively. 

13. Go on a thrilling ride at the Middle East’s Tallest Slide

Before you skip this point thinking it’s for children, let me tell you it’s not! In the middle of Sega Republic, you will find two of the tallest slides in the United Arab Emirates that are specifically meant for adults!

If you are not into such things, there are plenty of other options for you to explore in the Sega Republic. There are old-school arcade games that you can try out as well.

14. Witness the magical Dubai Fountain Show

Your visit to The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, would be incomplete without witnessing the magical Dubai Fountain Show. It is located outside of the mall and adjacent to the iconic Burj Khalifa. This spectacular show takes place on Burj Lake and is so mesmerising!

Before the launch of the Palm Fountain at the Palm Jumeirah’s Pointe, the Dubai Fountain Show was the largest in the show. That said, Dubai Fountain Show still gathers a major chunk of the locals and tourists and remains one of the beautiful attractions in Dubai. Also, it is free of cost, which is the icing on the cake!

Here are some tips for you to keep in mind before you head out to the Dubai Mall.

• Spending a whole day at the Dubai Mall can be quite tiresome. Wear comfortable clothes and footwear so that you do not wear yourself out.
• If you plan on visiting the Underwater Zoo, the ticket for the zoo will allow you to avail of great discounts on a few other stores as well. So don’t forget to use the ticket wherever allowed!
• Carrying a camera is allowed inside the Dubai Mall. However, remember not to click pictures of places or people randomly. Before you decide to click something, always look around for signs and posters for restrictions on photography. There are a few places where photography may not be allowed. And also, it is only polite to take permission before taking a picture.

Well, this is it for this blog. I have tried to incorporate as much information as possible in the blog to help make your experience at the Dubai Mall smoother. Also, these are some of the things that I tried out at the Dubai Mall, and I would highly recommend you do them too.