Unlike most women who stereotypically love to shop, I detest shopping, which is why I was surprised to find myself recently visiting not one, not two but three shopping malls within days of each other.
Unfortunately, as a current resident of Dubai, visiting malls is difficult to avoid. In Dubai, shopping malls are not only a place for a little retail therapy, they are a way of life. With a wide selection of restaurants, cafés and entertainment facilities including cinemas, Olympic sized ice rinks, ski slopes and indoor theme parks, shopping malls in Dubai offer something for everyone.
Spacious, modern and fully air-conditioned, Dubai malls truly are a shopper's paradise. Not only popular for shopping, dining and hanging out, Dubai shopping malls provide a welcome escape from the city's soaring temperatures, especially during the hot summer months. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that Dubai is considered one of the world's leading retail destinations.
With so many malls to choose from, as a visitor or someone new to Dubai, it can be difficult to know where to start. Having had an opportunity to visit a number of Dubai's popular shopping malls during my relatively short time living here I share with you my reviews for what I consider to be the best shopping malls in Dubai.
IBN Battuta
IBN Battuta Mall consists of 6 themed areas centred around the travels of the 14th century explorer, IBN Battuta. It houses over 275 retailers, 50 restaurants and food outlets, 21 cinema screens and the UAE’s only IMAX theatre. This shopping mall is popular as it not only caters to the budget conscious shopper it is also very manageable unlike some of Dubai's larger malls. For more information visit www.ibnbattutamall.com
The Dubai Mall
No visit to Dubai would be complete without a visit to The Dubai Mall, it is not only one of the world's largest shopping malls it is also one of Dubai's ultimate tourist attractions.
Located in Downtown Dubai, the Dubai Mall is home of the infamous Dubai Fountains. It features 1,200 retail outlets, over 200 food and beverage outlets, aquarium and underwater zoo, indoor theme park, 22-screen cinema, an Olympic-sized ice rink and adjoining 5-star hotel.
As impressive as it is the Dubai Mall is not for the faint hearted, it's huge and overwhelming. You can literally spend hours walking around it and still not see all it has to offer. To find out more visit www.thedubaimall.com.
Mall of the Emirates
The Mall of the Emirates is the world's first shopping resort made famous by it's indoor ski slope operated by Ski Dubai. It offers the same level of grandeur as The Dubai Mall but on a much more manageable scale. For more information visit www.malloftheemirates.com
Dubai Marina Mall
The Dubai Marina Mall is one of Dubai's smaller malls spanning over only three floors. When I first moved here it was one of my favourite malls, namely due to its location (close to JBR where I currently reside) but find it only really has a couple of stores I would actually shop in so nowadays, whilst I still regularly visit the mall its usually only to grab a bite to eat or to catch a movie. To find out more visit www.dubaimarinamall.com
Oasis Centre Mall
The Oasis Centre is one of my favourite shopping malls in Dubai. It has a good variety of stores including budget friendly fashion and is extremely family- friendly with fast food outlets and entertainment facilities that cater for kids of all ages. For more information visit www.oasiscentremall.com
Unfortunately, as a current resident of Dubai, visiting malls is difficult to avoid. In Dubai, shopping malls are not only a place for a little retail therapy, they are a way of life. With a wide selection of restaurants, cafés and entertainment facilities including cinemas, Olympic sized ice rinks, ski slopes and indoor theme parks, shopping malls in Dubai offer something for everyone.
Spacious, modern and fully air-conditioned, Dubai malls truly are a shopper's paradise. Not only popular for shopping, dining and hanging out, Dubai shopping malls provide a welcome escape from the city's soaring temperatures, especially during the hot summer months. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that Dubai is considered one of the world's leading retail destinations.
With so many malls to choose from, as a visitor or someone new to Dubai, it can be difficult to know where to start. Having had an opportunity to visit a number of Dubai's popular shopping malls during my relatively short time living here I share with you my reviews for what I consider to be the best shopping malls in Dubai.
IBN Battuta
IBN Battuta Mall consists of 6 themed areas centred around the travels of the 14th century explorer, IBN Battuta. It houses over 275 retailers, 50 restaurants and food outlets, 21 cinema screens and the UAE’s only IMAX theatre. This shopping mall is popular as it not only caters to the budget conscious shopper it is also very manageable unlike some of Dubai's larger malls. For more information visit www.ibnbattutamall.com
The Dubai Mall
No visit to Dubai would be complete without a visit to The Dubai Mall, it is not only one of the world's largest shopping malls it is also one of Dubai's ultimate tourist attractions.
Located in Downtown Dubai, the Dubai Mall is home of the infamous Dubai Fountains. It features 1,200 retail outlets, over 200 food and beverage outlets, aquarium and underwater zoo, indoor theme park, 22-screen cinema, an Olympic-sized ice rink and adjoining 5-star hotel.
As impressive as it is the Dubai Mall is not for the faint hearted, it's huge and overwhelming. You can literally spend hours walking around it and still not see all it has to offer. To find out more visit www.thedubaimall.com.
Mall of the Emirates
The Mall of the Emirates is the world's first shopping resort made famous by it's indoor ski slope operated by Ski Dubai. It offers the same level of grandeur as The Dubai Mall but on a much more manageable scale. For more information visit www.malloftheemirates.com
Dubai Marina Mall
The Dubai Marina Mall is one of Dubai's smaller malls spanning over only three floors. When I first moved here it was one of my favourite malls, namely due to its location (close to JBR where I currently reside) but find it only really has a couple of stores I would actually shop in so nowadays, whilst I still regularly visit the mall its usually only to grab a bite to eat or to catch a movie. To find out more visit www.dubaimarinamall.com
Oasis Centre Mall
The Oasis Centre is one of my favourite shopping malls in Dubai. It has a good variety of stores including budget friendly fashion and is extremely family- friendly with fast food outlets and entertainment facilities that cater for kids of all ages. For more information visit www.oasiscentremall.com
