Dubai Mall - one of the largest malls in the world

You can spend hours, even days or maybe even months in the Dubai Mall without discovering everything. The numbers presented by the Dubai Mall are impressive: over 1200 stores and more than 200 international restaurants cover an area of over 500,000 square meters. These are just some of the key data.

To save you from making the same mistakes as ours, in this post we share tips, tricks, reviews and ratings about the different attractions and offers in Dubai Mall.

Our blog is extensive because there is just so much to experience. For this reason, we have divided the blog into three sections. Of course, not all attractions, shopping and restaurants can be visited in a single day. As mentioned above, you could spend an entire Dubai vacation here.

Table of Contents

1. Attractions and experiences

View of Dubai from the Oberservation Deck of the Burj Khalifa

The queue in front of the ticket counter is huge. Luckily, we had already bought our tickets in advance from Viator:

With the fastest elevator in the world, whizzing upwards at a speed of 10 m/s, we reach the 124th floor. Floor. Interestingly, it doesn’t feel like a ride on a roller coaster 😊. Once we reached the top, our breath caught. The 360-degree view of Dubai from up here is unique. The highlight is the terrace on the 148th floor. Floor, which is a breathtaking 555 meters above sea level.

Watch countless fish in the aquarium?

Another highlight, especially for children, is the largest hanging aquarium in the world, which is located directly in the mall. Did you know that the water tank holds 10 million liters and is home to over 33,000 underwater creatures from nearly 150 different species? The children’s eyes light up when they jump through the 48 meter long underwater tunnel – simply MEGA.

Ice skating in Dubai – is it possible? Yes of course

We think it’s a little crazy, but the whole city of Dubai is known for its extravagance. The Dubai Mall actually offers the opportunity to ice skate, and it may surprise you to learn that this opportunity is actively used. For us Swiss, ice skating is a typical winter experience, best before Christmas with a mulled wine in hand – simply wonderful. For this reason, we personally could do without this attraction. But we mustn’t forget that there are many countries in the world where it never gets cold 😉 so why not spend an hour gliding over the ice at Dubai Ice Rink and feel the thrill?

Kids have energy – let them run wild in the trampo

When we visit the mall with our daughter, she always gets to pick an attraction. Until now, she always wanted to trampo. Personally, we like the trampo because she can exercise. There is no need to buy tickets in advance. Just go by and let your kids bounce – it’s really fun. Check out what the kids can experience here.

What kids think is really cool

There are several soft play areas. Softplay offers fun, games and entertainment especially for smaller children. In the following blog we have analyzed many softplay areas. So you’re sure to find the perfect place for your kids.

We tried DBX: an arcade for children. Personally, it didn’t appeal to us much. Often it is very hectic and noisy there, and the children can mainly consume, playing shooting games or riding motorcycles, for example. We tend to prefer active childcare centers where children are given more opportunities for physical activity and creative expression.

When I grow up, I will learn this profession

The most exciting place for children is undoubtedly Kidzania Our personal tip: Visit this place only with children 5 years and older. Admission prices (about 35 euros for children over 2 years old) are relatively high, and in our opinion Kidzania does not offer much for children under 5 years old. But what is Kidzania exactly? Children receive a credit card here and have the opportunity to learn various professions.

The entire facility is designed with children in mind; for example, the dentist’s chair is placed low so that children can observe everything closely. As soon as they have completed their dental training, they receive their wages charged to their credit card. The more professions they learn, the more credits they get, which they can trade in for toys at the store at the end. Kidzania also offers a variety of food options. The duration of the visit is usually between 2-3 hours.

If you like creeps, scares and frights, this is the place for you

Are you a fan of action and love to scare yourself? Personally, I almost wet my pants with fear! But what actually is Hysteria? In this experience, you’ll traverse gloomy corridors and doors in a haunted house that is dimly lit. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. Please note that children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. It is advisable to keep young children away, otherwise they are likely to have nightmares. Hysteria is perfect for adventure seekers, adrenaline junkies, horror movie fans, or just those who like to experience new and exciting things – provided they have the courage to do so!

When women are shopping, men enjoy themselves there

For those who love adrenaline and are looking for a place where they can go karting while enjoying a breathtaking view, is eKart Zabeel is exactly what you need. It’s really fun, even for me as a woman, to jet through the curves. By the way: I was even 3 seconds faster than my husband Sascha 😉. Note, however, that riders must be at least 14 years old, 140 cm tall and weigh less than 120 kg. Since it can get very hot during the day, it is advisable to go to the track in the evening. But don’t be distracted by the beautifully lit skyline

Immerse yourself in the luminous Art exhibition

Are you as passionate about art as I am? Although my understanding of art is limited, it still holds an immense attraction for me when I look at different art forms. Galleries used to be dominated by paintings, but nowadays digitalization has also made its way into the art world, as seen in the Infinity des Lumières . This brand new digital art museum houses some of the world’s greatest masterpieces.

The hustle and bustle of shopping malls can be overwhelming at times, can’t it? I can very well understand how you feel. After a few hours in a mall, I often get a little nervous too, as the noise level can be too high. But after a few minutes in the fascinating world of light of the Infinity des Lumières, I felt deeply relaxed and could recover from this stress. Even Sascha got a taste for shopping again after the visit, which was a surprise for me. It seems that this place has a magical effect on us!

Cinema and burgers is that possible? In Dubai Mall YES

Cinema – who doesn’t love it? Whether young or old, a visit to the cinema is always a magical experience. Just the tantalizing smell of fresh popcorn and the cozy armchairs draw us into the fascinating world of cinema again and again. For this reason, we decided to go to the movies with our daughter. To be honest, we might have chosen a different movie if we were on our own, but in the end, “Cats in a Museum” turned out to be extremely entertaining for us as well.

Now for the best of what Dubai cinemas have to offer: did you know that you can eat really well in Dubai cinemas? Here I don’t just mean popcorn and M&M’s. No, here you can order delicious burgers, steaks and much more. Try it out – it’s really a great experience. So why have lunch at a restaurant when you can enjoy a movie at the same time?

In the Dubai Mall there is also history – look at the dinosaur

Before we move on to shopping, I’d definitely like to point out one last attraction you can’t miss: the dinosaur at the Dubai Mall. This imposing dinosaur is a full 24.4 meters long and 7.6 meters high, and it is the first upright skeleton that is 90% real bone. It took over two years to excavate this fascinating find in Wyoming and then transport it to Dubai.

Moreover, the visit to the dinosaur is free of charge. At first you might think, “A dinosaur, what’s so special about that?” But the experience is actually extremely fascinating, and the visit does not take much time. So you should definitely plan a stop at the dinosaur, which, by the way, is located in the Dubai Mall souk on the first floor.

2. shopping experiences

Many tourists travel to Dubai mainly for shopping, and we can well understand that. Especially in the Dubai Mall you can really find everything your heart desires. You can search for specific stores on the Dubai Mall website.

We think the Legostore is really great. Here, customized minifigures can be designed in the store on a computer. Customers have the option to choose from a variety of accessory options, including smiling faces, different hairstyles, legs in different colors, musical instruments to hold, magic hats, art palettes and even four-legged friends. The minifigure is then printed in the 3D printer and is ready within a few minutes.

A special shopping guide of the Dubai Mall will be published soon

3. restaurant tips:

You can glide like an airplane through the numerous restaurants in the Dubai Mall. This culinary flight begins in India and eventually lands somewhere in America – the choices are endless with restaurants, food courts, booths and more. Our absolute favorite restaurant is without a doubt DIN TAI FUNG.

DIN TAI FUNG is a restaurant chain from Taiwan that specializes in soups and dumplings. Have you ever had the opportunity to dine at DIN TAI FUNG? No? Then it’s high time! Our personal favorites are:

House Salad Special (which by the way our daughter loves).
Chicken Xao Long Bao
Dan Dan Noodles in Spicy Sesame Sauce
Szechuang Shrimp Wontons
Chili Crispy Chicken

We’ll be covering the various restaurants in detail in a separate blog post coming soon.

Bye from Dubai

Your Ines

Dubai Mall – one of the largest malls in the world