The Dubai Mall is one of the largest shopping centres in the world and the busiest single stop on most first trips to Dubai. It sits at the foot of the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai, and even if shopping is not your thing, the Dubai Mall is where you will find the entrance to the Burj Khalifa observation decks, a large aquarium, an ice rink and the lakeside promenade where the Dubai Fountain performs in the evening. Entry to the mall itself is free.
Why visit The Dubai Mall
The mall opened in 2008 as the centrepiece of the Downtown Dubai development, and it works best as a base for half a day rather than a quick stop. You can walk between global fashion brands, a gold souk section, a large food court and dozens of sit-down restaurants without stepping outside, which matters a great deal in the summer months when the afternoon heat makes walking around the city unpleasant.
For many visitors the real draws are the attractions inside and beside the building rather than the shops. A single visit can combine an observation deck, an aquarium tunnel and the fountain show, all within a few minutes' walk of each other.
Getting to The Dubai Mall by metro
The nearest station is Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall on the Dubai Metro Red Line, which runs along Sheikh Zayed Road between the airport side of the city and Dubai Marina. From the station, follow the signs for the mall into a long enclosed, air-conditioned footbridge with moving walkways. It is a fair distance, so allow around 10 to 15 minutes at a normal pace to reach the mall entrance. Because it is covered and cooled, it is a comfortable walk at any time of year.
A few practical points for the metro:
- You need a Nol card or ticket to ride. These can be bought and topped up at station machines and ticket offices.
- Trains have a Gold Class carriage and a section reserved for women and children. Check the floor markings before you board.
- Eating and drinking are not allowed on the metro or in the paid areas of stations, and fines are enforced.
- On weekend evenings and during big events the return journey can be crowded, so expect queues at the station after the fountain shows.
Tickets and opening hours at The Dubai Mall
There is no ticket to enter The Dubai Mall. The paid attractions inside each have their own booking systems. The Burj Khalifa's At the Top decks, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, the ice rink and the various family entertainment centres all sell tickets separately, usually with timed entry and prices that vary by time of day. Sunset slots for the Burj Khalifa tend to sell out first.
Mall opening hours are long, are extended on weekends and holidays, and change during Ramadan. Check the official website, thedubaimall.com, for current hours and for the attraction pages, and buy observation deck tickets on the official Burj Khalifa site rather than from resellers where possible.
What to see inside
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
The huge acrylic tank on the ground floor is visible for free from the mall concourse, and many people simply stand and watch the sharks and rays swim past. A paid ticket gets you into the walk-through tunnel and the Underwater Zoo upstairs.
The Burj Khalifa entrance
The At the Top entrance is on the lower ground floor of the mall. Arrive a little before your timed slot because there is a security check and a walk through the exhibition before the lifts.
The waterfall and the ice rink
The multi-storey waterfall with its sculptures of divers is a popular photo spot, and the Olympic-size ice rink offers public skating sessions.
The Dubai Fountain
The fountain sits on Burj Lake, just outside the mall's waterfront exits. Shows run at intervals through the evening and a few times at lunchtime, set to music. Watching from the promenade is free. The best views are along the lake edge near Souk Al Bahar or from the terraces of the waterfront restaurants. Show times can change, so check before you plan your evening around one.
Best time to visit The Dubai Mall
Weekday mornings are the quietest time to walk around. Evenings and weekends are busiest, especially from late autumn through spring when the weather is pleasant and tourist numbers peak. A good plan is to arrive in the late afternoon, take a sunset or early evening Burj Khalifa slot, then come down for the fountain shows after dark.
Allow at least three hours if you want to see the aquarium, go up the Burj Khalifa and catch a fountain show. Serious shoppers can easily spend a full day. The mall is large enough that it helps to use the store directory screens or the official app to avoid walking in circles.
Nearby on the same metro stop
Once you are at Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall station, several other places are within walking distance:
- Burj Khalifa: the tallest building in the world, entered through the mall.
- Souk Al Bahar: a smaller Arabic-style mall across the lake bridge with restaurants facing the fountain.
- Burj Park and the Downtown boulevard: open space and cafés that are pleasant in the cooler months.
- Dubai Opera: the dhow-shaped performance venue a short walk along the boulevard.
To see what else is good around this station, open The Dubai Mall on Around the Metro, or browse every station on the Dubai metro map.