Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world by total area. It sits in Downtown Dubai next to Burj Khalifa and covers about 12 million square feet. You will find more than 1,200 shops, over 200 places to eat and some of the best family attractions in the city under one roof.
A visit here is more than a shopping trip. You can walk through an underwater tunnel full of sharks, skate on an Olympic-sized ice rink and watch your kids run a small city. Then step outside to watch water dance to music on Burj Lake. Entry is free. This guide covers timings, tickets, parking, food and the best way to plan your day.
Dubai Mall at a Glance
Here are the key facts you need before you go.
- Location: Financial Centre Road, Downtown Dubai, next to Burj Khalifa
- Opened: 4 November 2008
- Size: about 12 million square feet of total area, with 5.9 million square feet of indoor floor space
- Shops: more than 1,200 stores
- Food and drink: more than 200 outlets
- Entry: free
- Nearest metro: Burj Khalifa station on the Red Line
- Parking: more than 14,000 spaces
The mall belongs to Emaar Properties, the same developer behind Burj Khalifa. It keeps adding new wings and attractions.
Where Is Dubai Mall and How to Get There
The mall stands on Financial Centre Road in Downtown Dubai, with Burj Khalifa beside it and the fountain on the lake at its front. You can reach it by metro, taxi, bus or car. The metro is the easiest option for most visitors.
By Metro
Take the Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station. From the station, the covered air-conditioned Metro Link bridge leads straight to the mall. The walk takes about 12 to 18 minutes and covers around 820 metres, with moving walkways to help you along the way.
Do not take a taxi from the metro station. The bridge is free, cool and direct. It drops you into the lower ground floor near the aquarium and the waterfront exit.
By Car and Taxi
Ask your driver for the Fountain, Cinema or Grand parking entrance if you want to be near the lake and the fountain shows. Taxis stop at the main entrances on Financial Centre Road. Several RTA bus routes stop near the mall. The metro is faster and simpler for first-time visitors.
If you plan to see more of the city after the mall, check our list of Things to Do in Dubai to build the rest of your day around this stop.
Dubai Mall Opening Hours
Shops open at 10:00 AM every day. Closing times change with the day of the week.
| Day | Shops | Restaurants and food courts |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Friday to Sunday | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM | 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
Restaurants and food courts stay open one hour later than the shops. A few venues keep their own hours. Check the mall website if a specific shop matters to you.
Hours can change during Ramadan and on public holidays. A few guides list a different split, with shops open until midnight Sunday to Wednesday and until 1:00 AM Thursday to Saturday. Treat the table above as the official pattern and confirm the day before you travel.
Is Entry to Dubai Mall Free?
Yes. Entry is completely free. You pay nothing to walk in, browse the shops, see the giant aquarium tank from outside, watch the waterfall or enjoy the air conditioning. You only pay for the attractions you choose, such as the aquarium tunnel, the ice rink or KidZania.
The free aquarium view is one of the best free sights in Dubai. The huge tank rises through the ground floor. You can watch sharks, rays and hundreds of fish swim past without buying a ticket. Go in the morning for a quieter view and better photos.
Top Things to Do Inside the Mall
The mall packs a full day of fun into one building. These are the attractions most visitors pick first.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
The aquarium sits on the ground floor and the Underwater Zoo sits on Level 2. The 48-metre tunnel runs through the tank, with sharks and rays gliding right over your head. Upstairs you will find three zones, a rainforest, a penguin cove and a nursery.
Ticket prices follow three tiers. Silver costs AED 199 and covers the tunnel, the Underwater Zoo and the penguin cove. Gold costs AED 269 and adds a glass-bottom boat ride and fish feeding. Platinum costs AED 399 and adds skip-the-line access and an animal encounter. Children under 2 enter free. Book online before you go, since online prices often beat the walk-up price and you skip the ticket queue.
Some third-party sites list a standard ticket from AED 140 or AED 153. The official site shows Silver at AED 199 as the entry tier in late 2026. Check the official site on the day you book.
Dubai Ice Rink
The ice rink is an Olympic-sized rink on the ground floor. It suits first-time skaters and confident skaters alike. Coaches run short lessons if you want help. A standard session costs around AED 100 for 90 minutes with skate and sock rental included. Prices vary by session and seller. Confirm before you book. Children under 120 cm need an adult with them on the ice.
KidZania
KidZania is a small indoor city on Level 2 where kids aged 4 to 16 try real jobs, from pilot and doctor to chef, firefighter and radio DJ, in 40-plus role-play activities. Each job earns KidZos, the mini-city currency, which kids can spend inside.
Tickets cost AED 195 for Economy (ages 4 to 16), AED 260 for Premium, AED 130 for toddlers aged 2 to 3 and AED 90 for adults aged 17 and over. Babies under 2 enter free. Plan three to four hours here.
Burj Khalifa At The Top
The entrance to At The Top, Burj Khalifa sits inside the mall on the lower ground floor. The lift takes you to Levels 124 and 125 for views across the city, the desert and the sea. Sunset slots sell out fast. Book early for the golden-hour view. Our Burj Khalifa Tickets guide explains the Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers, with prices from AED 189, and the best time to visit.
More Fun Inside the Mall
Reel Cinemas runs a large multiplex. Play DXB offers virtual reality rides and games. The Waterfall is a free art feature where divers appear to fall through water. It makes a good meeting point.
Dubai Fountain: The Free Show Outside
Step out of the waterfront exit and you reach Burj Lake, home to the Dubai Fountain. The show is free to watch from the promenade. Water jets shoot up to 150 metres high in time with music and lights. Each show lasts about five minutes.
Evening shows run every 30 minutes from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Afternoon shows run at 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM from Saturday to Thursday and at 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM on Friday. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early for a good spot on busy nights.
You can pay for a closer view. The Boardwalk is a floating walkway that takes you within 9 metres of the jets, listed at AED 25. The Lake Ride is a traditional wooden abra boat across the lake, listed at AED 75. Some sites quote lower prices for both. Check the official listing before you pay. Both run from 5:45 PM to 10:45 PM.
The bridge at Souk Al Bahar across the lake gives you another great view. For a quieter evening, watch from a waterfront restaurant table instead of the crowded promenade.
Shopping at the Mall
With more than 1,200 stores, the mall covers every budget. Fashion Avenue holds luxury names like Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada. The Gold Souq holds around 220 jewellery stores under one roof.
Two big department stores anchor the mall: Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s. The Souk wing sells traditional clothes, perfume, souvenirs and gifts. Candylicious claims the title of the world’s largest candy store. Kids love it.
Visit during Dubai Shopping Festival (usually December to January) or Dubai Summer Surprises for the biggest sales and prize draws. For a calmer trip, go on a weekday morning and save the evening for the fountain.
If the crowds feel too much, a smaller mall can be a nice change of pace. Al Khail Mall in Al Quoz is far quieter and still has the shops and food you need for a relaxed afternoon.
Where to Eat in the Mall
You will not go hungry here. The mall has more than 200 dining options, from cheap fast food to fine dining with a fountain view.
The main food court sits on Level 2 with more than 40 outlets, from burgers and fried chicken to Asian and Middle Eastern food. It is the cheapest way to feed a family. The Waterfront Promenade lines the lake with restaurants that face the fountain. Book a table for sunset if you want dinner with a show. The Souk wing has a traditional food court with local dishes. Chinatown adds Asian restaurants and cafes.
Try Din Tai Fung for dumplings, Social House for international dishes or Five Guys for burgers. Cafes near the promenade work well for a break. Book ahead on weekends.
Parking at the Mall
Parking is free for the first 4 hours from Monday to Thursday and for the first 6 hours from Friday to Sunday in the Grand, Cinema and Fashion car parks. Paid rates apply after the free period. Valet parking is available at the main entrances for a fee.
With more than 14,000 spaces, you will usually find a spot. Friday evenings and holidays fill up fast. Use the Cinema parking entrance for the closest walk to the waterfront. Save your bay number on your phone, since the car parks are huge and look alike.
Best Time to Visit
The best time depends on what you want from the day.
- Quietest: weekday mornings from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Shops are calm, the aquarium tank is easy to see and photos turn out better.
- Best atmosphere: evenings from 6:00 PM, when the fountain shows start and the promenade lights up.
- Best for families: arrive at opening, do KidZania or the aquarium first and finish with the fountain at sunset.
- Avoid: Friday evenings and weekend nights from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, when queues grow and food courts fill up.
November to March brings the best weather in Dubai. Outdoor spots like the promenade feel pleasant. In summer the mall is a cool escape from the heat. Weekday mornings stay quiet even in July and August.
Tips for Your Visit
- Download the mall map or app. The mall has several wings and levels. A map saves you a lot of walking.
- Pick one area per visit. You cannot cover the whole mall in one day. Choose shopping, attractions or food as your focus.
- Book attraction tickets online. You save money and skip queues at the aquarium, KidZania and Burj Khalifa.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk for kilometres.
- Keep kids close near the fountain. The promenade gets very crowded after 6:00 PM.
- Pair it with nearby sights. Dubai Frame sits a short drive away in Zabeel Park and gives you a different view of old and new Dubai in one frame.
FAQs
Is Dubai Mall the largest mall in the world?
Yes, by total area. It covers about 12 million square feet. Other malls may beat it on shop count or floor space by other measures.
How much time do you need here?
Plan at least three to four hours for a first visit. A full day works well if you add the aquarium, KidZania or Burj Khalifa.
Is Dubai Mall free to enter?
Yes. Entry is free for everyone. You only pay for attractions, food and shopping inside.
Which metro station is closest to the mall?
Burj Khalifa station on the Red Line. A covered walkway links the station to the mall in about 12 to 18 minutes.
What time does the mall close?
Shops close at 11:00 PM from Monday to Thursday and at midnight from Friday to Sunday. Restaurants and food courts close one hour later. Hours can change during Ramadan and on public holidays.
Is the mall good for kids?
Yes. KidZania, the aquarium, the ice rink and Play DXB give kids a full day of fun. The food court and the free fountain show suit families too.
