Joanna James
Abu Dhabi has no shortage of malls. However, with so many spacious and world-class malls at hand, it can be difficult to decide the best one. Here is a rundown of the top five.
Located in the middle of Yas Island, the Yas Mall is widely thought of as the go-to spot for anyone's shopping and dining needs. The massive mall is home to around three hundred and seventy stores, most of which are famed international brands, and up to sixty other restaurants and cafés. In addition to all of that, you can find a couple of theatres as well as a family entertainment zone.
Attracting over forty-two thousand visitors to its stores, the Abu Dhabi Mall is a favourite among the residents, to say the least. The mall houses approximately two hundred stores that include prominent brands like Paris Gallery, H&M, and Grand Store. Ralph Lauren was a recent addition to the mall's glamorous lineup while fan favourite stores like Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins can be found inside the expansive compound. It is not difficult to find a good hotel near the Abu Dhabi Mall as options such as Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara is a short distance from the Abu Dhabi Mall.
One of the most prominent landmarks in the city, the Marina Mall has plenty of features that make it stand out from the other malls found in the Emirates. To start with, the Marina Mall has an observation platform set about one hundred meters into the air while you can also find a fully fledged ice rink, a state of the art cinema and not to mention hundreds of headline brands and stores. Considered to be one of the biggest shopping malls in Abu Dhabi, the Marina Mall is also home to a Manchester City FC store, the first English Premier League team store in the Emirates.
Set in what was the location of the historic Central Mall – which was the business and cultural hub of the metropolis – the World Trade Center Abu Dhabi is a collection of three high rise buildings that consist of a mall, a modern-day souk, residential buildings and business offices. The souk imitates the time-worn design of ancient souks to perfection and you can find all kinds of items inside the compound; whether it is henna, spice or Arabian perfume, you should be able to find it all in here.
The first ever shopping mall in Al Ain, the compound was initially meant to be a vegetable and meat market. This was all the way back in the eighties. Fast forward the decades, the mall has risen way past its humble beginnings. You can now find rows of international stores that total in their hundreds while cafes and restaurants can be easily found too. Although not that famous, the Al Jimi Mall has enough to show to every curious visitor.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
