Renowned as the world's largest mall, the Dubai Mall in the heart of Downtown Dubai, is an epicenter of endless shopping, dining, leisure, and entertainment in Dubai. Placed adjacent to the world's tallest building - Burj Khalifa, there is so much to see and experience here that you can keep yourself busy for days. So what are the activities or experiences that you would prefer to add to your Dubai Mall checklist? If you don't have an idea about this, just refer to our guide of top things to do in Dubai Mall for a prompt and quick dose of inspiration.
1. Shop to your heart's desire
You'll realize that this is not your average mall the moment you drop in here. With a whopping 1200 plus shops, you can expect to find here large-sized outlets of almost all your most adored brands including Adidas Originals, American Vintage, Burberry, Parfums Da Marly, Cartier, Dior, and Women's Secret to name a few. Even if you look forward to spending 10 to 15 minutes in these shops, you'd require an average of 250 hours to check them out all. So pre-plan is a must, particularly if you're here for some serious shopping. Not a shopaholic? Just forego these high-end stores; there are still nine other options and beyond which let you return home with the most treasured moments.
2. Dine food from all over the world
200 plus dining choices, ranging from a sprawling food court to the classiest sit down options and relatively affordable food vendors, make sure that you would never run out of energy or precisely go hungry here. For the finest assortment of desserts, latte, and cheesecakes, one of our top suggestions is Cheesecake Factory. With a classic Indian touch in both its flavors and décor, Peppermill is one of the mall's popular dining venues for authentic Asian cuisines. For dining with stunning views, consider Tribes Carnivore overlooking Burj Khalifa and Gia with direct views of the Dubai Fountain show are unmissable.
3. Let your kids take charge of the miniature metropolis
KidZania Dubai Mall is one spot that is exclusively created to please your younger ones from 2 to 16 years of age. Modeled to take after a real adult world powered by a well-developed economy, this is more than just a place to drop those kids who don't want to join their parents on a dining or shopping spree. It's where they can participate in their favorite adult jobs, from piloting a plane and baking a pizza to fashion walk on the ramp to working as an RJ. And they never return empty-handed from here as they get paid for all their creativity and efforts with KidZania's own currency, KidZos.
4. See unique and rare sea creatures at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
Dubai Aquarium, with its largest of its kind 10-million-liter tank inhabited by over 33,000 marine creatures, is one of the main attractions that would instantly grab your attention once you enter the mall. Yes, you'll get to admire a part of it for free, but we would definitely urge you to pay a nominal fee to explore its other sections plus an underwater zoo that hosts the massive King Croc that weighs over 700 kilograms. You get to walk through its 48-meter-long underwater tunnel and further take part in a variety of adventurous yet fun-filled activities including dive with sharks, shark walkers, cage snorkeling, and glass-bottom ride.
5. Ride advanced go-karts
If you can't get away from pulse-racing action or exhilarating speed, head on to Ekaart Zabeel at the Dubai Mall's Zabeel Extension. You get to ride here the state of the art electric go-karts that are environment-friendly and hence come with zero emissions. This is ideal for all including your older kids above 14 years. So bring your group, contest against your friends or like-minded racers, and even get your racing time tracked.
6. Visit the Middle East's biggest candy shop
Facing Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, this mega candy store in the Dubai Mall spans over 10,000 square feet and is one of the ultimate places in the world to satiate your cravings for sweets. With over 5000 different varieties of candies, you'll find here everything from the most unique and tantalizing chocolates to the classics and even those that bring back sweet old memories. Beyond its vast collection, this store will delight both your kids and kids inside you with these tonnes of sweets arranged in a variety of shapes and themes. See Candylicious airplane as well as lollipops, candies, etc dangling over your head!
7. Enjoy ice skating
Dubai has strong sunshine with scorching temperatures year-round. But this doesn't mean that you've to abandon your love or penchant for your favorite snow or winter pursuits. And the Dubai Mall has sorted this too for you, with its massive, Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink where people of all age groups can enjoy a whirl on its glazing icy floor. Moreover, it's ideal for all levels alike, from super pros to the first-timers and even your little ones above two years of age with the appropriate skating aids to choose from. For those who wish to enhance or tweak their skating skills, the facility offers diverse skating lesson packages.
8. Discover the thrill of Virtual Reality
But, it's not just the most immersive and innovative Virtual Reality experiences that await you at the Dubai Mall's VR Park; you'll also get to enjoy the finest in Augmented Reality here. So are you ready to challenge reality? The entry here is free, and you can pay as you go as you hit its many killers rides like Burj Drop, Cozmojet, Dubai Drone, Dune Bash, Flying Chairs, etc. Apart from this, there is a Super10 pass that allows you to take in your favorite VR park rides and attractions for a single price.
9. Snap a pose with Dubai Dino and Human Waterfall
With its size equating to 200 football pitches (exactly 12 million square feet overall), the Dubai Mall receives a jaw-dropping footfall of over 75 million visitors per year and this includes people from all walks of life. So what makes it a favorite of every desire and pocket? While it's top-of-the-range shopping, dining, and leisure attractions cater to the well-heeled, there are many free attractions that you can relish as you wander across this mall. From the display of the 155-year-old Dino skeleton (Dubai Dino) to Fashion Avenue and the iconic Human Waterfalls, they all are unique, intrigue, and also make a wonderful photo op.
10. Spectacle Dubai Fountain Show
No list of things to do or see in the Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, or Dubai itself is complete without mentioning this spectacular extravaganza of water, light, and music. Placed on Burj Lake, it lies outside of the Dubai Mall and adjacent to Burj Khalifa. Till the launch of Palm Fountain at the Palm Jumeirah's Pointe recently, it was the world's largest fountain. That said, this (yet another free attraction) is still a crowd pleaser and would forever remain a timeless favorite in Dubai.
Conclusion
The above list is by no means the ultimate; dependent on your preferences, you can take to A380 Flight Simulator, take in the one-of-its-kind haunted attraction of Hysteria, and watch world-class movies in utmost comfort and style at the Reel Cinema, among many others. In fact, the Dubai Mall is more than just a gigantic shopping destination; it boasts of everything to satiate grown-ups and little ones alike in a cool, fun-filled ambiance. So whether you're planning for a whole week or just a few hours trip in Dubai, visit Dubai Mall - it's certain to appeal to all age-groups.