Adam Johan
Dubai is definitely the land of malls where you can’t drive for 10 minutes and not come across a mall. However malls here are not just for shopping, but they are more like an experience.
Burjuman is the home of high end fashion in Dubai; host to all the best brands money can buy such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Bvlgari to name a few. BurJuman is the height of shopping luxury in Dubai. Beyond the exclusive luxury brands, there are also some great ready to wear items on offer from brands like Guess and DKNY.
Located on the waterfront, Deira City Centre is known for it’s friendly service. Many shoppers are surprised to be greeted with a smile and a complimentary bottle of water. What a great relief from the hot sun of Dubai! There are over 350 stores with a diverse range of merchandise. You’ll find all of the great fashion brands, as well as electronics, jewellery and local specialities such as silk, cashmere and oriental rugs. It’s a great place for jewellery with 33 dedicated stores. When you start to get hungry there are over 40 restaurants to choose from. There is also a cinema and a Magic Planet to keep the kids entertained. Convenient to reach, the mall runs shuttle buses to and from 11 of the major hotels. You can even buy a car in the Toyota showroom. The complex attracts about 20 million visitors a year. Diera City Centre was the first of the mega malls which offer shopping, entertainment and leisure within the one complex to open in Dubai.
The Ibn Battuta Mall is the proud owner of the title of being the world’s largest themed shopping mall. It is designed in honour of Ibn Battuta, a famed Arabic explorer. Locals and tourists alike are able to enjoy a shopping experience that is also historically informative. The mall is divided into six courts, each an architectural reflexion of a region that Battuta explored. Battuta who died over 600 years ago is known as an Arabian icon and is remembered for his strong Islamic values along with his exploratory expeditions. There are 275 shops, 50 restaurants and a 21 screen cinema to give you an idea of the Mall’s size. There is a large exhibition centre called China Court which plays host to a large range of activities throughout the year. In the summer it hosts a variety of markets which specialise in local specialities including art and photography and ethnic clothing.
Mercato, meaning ‘market’ in Italian, is the first ever themed mall in the Middle East and UAE. Based on a distinctive Renaissance architectural concept, Mercato captures traditional Italian, French and Spanish art. It essentially portrays how a Mediterranean town looked during the European Renaissance. Located in the prestigious Jumeirah residential area, it marks a clear departure from the Arabian architecture. Piazzas, cobbled streets, and top international brands all make for a fantastic shopping experience. Children can play at the Fun City while adults can take in a movie or relax by the street cafes.
Offering 350 unique stores, Wafi Mall describes itself as offering a unique shopping experience. What sets Wafi apart from other malls is perhaps its extensive collection of artwork. Inspired by both modern art and the legacies of pharaohs past, there are extensive collections of art throughout the mall as well as many galleries where you can purchase your own piece to take home with you. Both local as well as international artists are featured.
Adam is working in the Nakheel properties in UAE. He working as a marketing executive in the Nakheel. He has more than 15 years of experience in Marketing. He is from Netherland.
