Hotels near Dubai Mall

Dubai Mall covers over 500,000 square metres of retail space with more than 1,200 stores, but calling it a shopping centre undersells the place considerably. Inside you will find the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo (from 149 AED / EUR 37), an Olympic-sized ice rink (from 80 AED / EUR 20), a 22-screen cinema, and a full-size dinosaur skeleton in the main atrium. The mall connects directly to the Burj Khalifa base and opens onto the Dubai Fountain lake, where the free water shows run nightly.

The food hall and restaurant collection spans everything from Emirati cuisine at local outlets to international chains. The Souk Al Bahar extension across a footbridge offers a quieter dining alternative with terrace views of the Burj Khalifa. Entry to the mall itself is free, and the air-conditioned interior provides welcome relief from the heat during summer months.

Pro Tip: Visit on a weekday morning to avoid weekend crowds. The Aquarium tunnel view from the mall walkway is free - you only need a ticket to enter the zoo and touch-tank sections behind the glass.