Best Things to do in Dubai Mall

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. What activities or experiences would you like to add to your Dubai Mall checklist? If you don’t have an idea about this, refer to our guide on the top things to do in the Dubai Mall for a prompt and quick dose of inspiration.

1. Shop to your heart’s desire in Dubai Mall

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 de 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 all out. So, a 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 beyond which let you return home with the most treasured moments.

2. Dine on food from all over the world in Dubai Mall

200-plus dining options, ranging from a sprawling food court to the classiest sit-down options and relatively affordable food vendors, ensure you will never run out of energy or go hungry here. For the finest assortment of desserts, lattes, 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 cuisine. For dining with stunning views, consider Tribes Carnivore, overlooking the Burj Khalifa, and Gia, with direct views of the Dubai Fountain show, which is unmissable.

3. Let your kids take charge of the miniature metropolis

KidZania Dubai Mall is a dedicated destination for children ages 2 to 16. Modeled after a real adult world with a well-developed economy, this is more than just a place to drop off kids who don’t want to join their parents on a dining or shopping spree. A learning experience that is perfectly combined with fun and entertainment. There are 60 real-life activities for kids to enjoy in this 7,000 m² edutainment center. 

The streets are dotted with banks, fire stations, shops, and restaurants, replicating a mini-city. KidZania allows kids to choose a career and navigate the situations and hurdles they encounter during role-play. The kids can participate in their favorite adult jobs, from piloting a plane and baking a pizza to fashion walking 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.

Location: Second Floor
Timings: 10 am to 10 pm, Thursday & Friday: 10 am to 11 pm 
Price: Starts at 80 AED for Adults and 110 AED for Kids. Online tickets are cheaper

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. Dubai Aquarium holds the Guinness World Records for the world’s most extensive acrylic panel. 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 diving with sharks, shark walkers, cage snorkeling, and a glass-bottom ride. 

Location: Ground Floor
Timings: 10 am to 10 pm
Price: Starts at 90 AED

5. Ride advanced go-karts in Dubai Mall

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 can ride state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly electric go-karts with zero emissions. This is ideal for everyone, including your older children aged 14 and above. Bring your group, compete against your friends or like-minded racers, and have your racing time tracked.

Location: 9th Floor
Timings: 10 am to 11 pm, Thursday & Friday: 10 am to 12 am 
Price: Starts at 95 AED

6. Visit the Middle East’s biggest candy shop in Dubai Mall

Facing the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, this mega candy store in the Dubai Mall spans more than 10,000 square feet and is one of the world’s premier destinations for satisfying your sweet cravings. With over 5,000 candy varieties, you’ll find 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 the kids inside you with a wide variety of sweets arranged in shapes and themes. See the Candylicious airplane as well as lollipops, candies, etc, dangling over your head!

7. Enjoy ice skating at the Dubai Mall

Dubai has strong sunshine with scorching temperatures year-round. But this doesn’t mean you’ve to abandon 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 ages can enjoy a whirl on its glazing ice floor. Moreover, it’s ideal for all levels alike, from super pros to first-timers and even your little ones above two years of age with the appropriate skating aids to choose from. For those looking to enhance or refine their skating skills, the facility offers a range of lesson packages. You can also rent this space for birthday parties and events.

Location: Ground Floor
Timings: 10 am to 12 pm, Thursday & Friday: 10 am to 1 am 
Price: Starts at 75 AED

8. Discover the thrill of Virtual Reality in Dubai Mall

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. VR Park blurs the lines between perception and reality and promises you adventure and entertainment on an epic scale. The theme park offers rides and experiences across genres such as horror, adventure, and action. So are you ready to challenge reality? Entry is free, and you can pay as you go while visiting its many high-quality rides, including Burj Drop, Cozmojet, Dubai Drone, Dune Bash, and Flying Chairs. Additionally, the Super10 pass lets you enjoy your favorite VR park rides and attractions for a single price.

Location: Second Floor
Timings: 10 am to 12 pm, Thursday & Friday: 10 am to 1 am 
Price: Starts at 35 AED for individual attractions, and an adult day pass costs 150 AED

9. Snap a pose with Dubai Dino & Human Waterfall in Dubai Mall

With an area of 200 football pitches (12 million square feet), the Dubai Mall attracts over 75 million visitors per year, including people from all walks of life. So what makes it a favorite of every desire and pocket? While it is top-of-the-range shopping, dining, and leisure attractions that 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, these are all unique and intriguing, and make excellent photo opportunities.

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. Located on Burj Lake, it is outside the Dubai Mall and adjacent to the Burj Khalifa. Till the launch of the Palm Fountain at 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.

11. Enjoy Dubai’s only A380 Flight Simulator

This advanced flight simulator replicates a real aircraft cockpit and lets you fly the Largest Airbus A380. Select one of 12 busy airports, take the help of an instructor, and navigate the cutting-edge simulator. The 30-minute activity is your chance to become a pilot for a while. This one-of-a-kind flight simulator will help you experience the exhilaration of flying a famous commercial airplane.

Location: Second Floor
Timings: 10 am to 10 pm, Thursday & Friday: 10 am to 12 am 
Price: 325-375 AED

12. Experience Fear at the Hysteria

If you are an adrenaline junkie, thrill-seeker,  or horror-movie lover, you should definitely add Hysteria to your to-do list in Dubai Mall. As you pass through the dimly lit, dark corridors of the 15-room mansion, you will encounter ghostly figures, zombies, and dreadful surprises that will bring you face to face with your darkest nightmares and deepest fears. The 15-minute experience is definitely not recommended for the faint-hearted. Children under 16 are not permitted to enter the one-of-a-kind haunted attraction, Hysteria.

Location: Second Floor
Timings: 10 am to 12 pm, Thursday & Friday: 10 am to 1 am 
Price: Starts at 35 AED

Conclusion

The above list is by no means the ultimate. Dependent on your preferences, you can play football at Goal, enjoy fascinating activities at Caboodle, and watch world-class movies in utmost comfort at the Reel Cinema, among many others. In fact, the Dubai Mall is more than just a gigantic shopping destination; it offers everything to satisfy adults and children 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 the Dubai Mall – it’s sure to appeal to all age groups.