Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is far more than a shopping centre — it is one of the largest malls on earth and one of the most visited places in the world, a vast indoor city of retail, food and entertainment beside the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai. With well over a thousand shops across several floors, from high-street names to a dedicated luxury Fashion Avenue, it would take days to see everything. But the mall's real appeal for visitors is how much more it contains: a giant aquarium, an Olympic-sized ice rink, a virtual-reality park, cinemas, an indoor waterfall, a full-size dinosaur skeleton and over two hundred places to eat. In Dubai's fierce summer heat, it becomes a comfortable, air-conditioned day out in itself. Linked directly to the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain, the Dubai Mall is the beating heart of Downtown and a destination that draws families, shoppers and sightseers alike, whatever the weather outside.

What sets the Dubai Mall apart is its sheer range of attractions in one place. Beyond the shops, you can skate at the Dubai Ice Rink, an Olympic-sized rink in the heart of the mall; experience thrill rides and games at the VR Park; and watch films at a large multiplex. Children and families gravitate to indoor edutainment zones and play areas. Photogenic features dot the building, from the cascading indoor waterfall with its diving-figure sculptures to the towering dinosaur skeleton in the souk area. The high-end Fashion Avenue wing gathers the world's luxury brands beneath a soaring atrium. And of course there is the food: more than two hundred cafes and restaurants, from quick food courts to fine dining with views of the fountain. The result is that a visit to the Dubai Mall is less a shopping errand than a full day's outing, especially welcome when it is too hot to be outside.

One of the mall's standout features is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, whose enormous viewing panel — one of the largest in the world — rises through the centre of the mall, so you can watch sharks, rays and thousands of fish glide past for free from the walkway. For a closer look, a ticket lets you walk through the underwater tunnel beneath the main tank and explore the Underwater Zoo above, with its penguins, crocodiles and other creatures; add-on experiences include cage snorkelling and glass-bottom boat rides over the tank. The giant tank holds millions of litres of water and a large collection of sharks and rays, and it is a genuine highlight for families. Even without paying, the view of the vast aquarium from the mall floor is impressive. It is one of several ways the Dubai Mall turns a shopping trip into something closer to a theme park.

Just outside the mall, on the great lake at the base of the Burj Khalifa, is the Dubai Fountain — the world's largest choreographed fountain, which shoots jets of water as high as a skyscraper in time to music and lights. The shows run free every half-hour through the evening, and the mall's waterfront promenade, terraces and restaurants give grandstand views; you can watch from the bridge, from the lakeside, or over dinner. The mall also connects directly to the Burj Khalifa, so the ticket desks and entrance for the world's tallest building are reached through the Dubai Mall. This clustering is deliberate: in a single evening you can shop, dine, watch the fountain and ride to the top of the Burj Khalifa, all within a few minutes' walk. The combination of the mall, the tower and the fountain is what makes Downtown Dubai such a concentrated, spectacular evening out.

The Dubai Mall is in Downtown Dubai and connects to the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro station on the Red Line via a long, air-conditioned walkway (around ten to fifteen minutes — allow for it), as well as by taxi, Careem and Uber; a free shuttle also runs from the Metro. The mall is generally open from around 10am to midnight, later at weekends, while individual attractions and the fountain keep their own hours, with the fountain shows in the evening. Entry to the mall is free; you pay only for shopping, dining and the ticketed attractions like the aquarium tunnel. A few tips: it is genuinely enormous, so pick up a map or use the mall app and target what you want; visit on a weekday to avoid the busiest weekend crowds; and time your visit to end in the evening for the fountain. Allow at least half a day, more if you include the aquarium and the Burj Khalifa.