Joanna James
A mind-boggling desert mirage featuring cutting-edge allurements and Bedouin-style hospitality, Dubai satiates the cravings of every wanderlust tribe, and its phenomenal shopping havens are among its most coveted diversions.
From futuristic architecture mosaiced with stunning heritage motifs, adrenaline-high adventure parks, and breathtaking desert escapades to jewel-toned souqs, dreamy dhow rides, and masterpiece libraries, Dubai is full of eye-opening sensory stimulations. For a bucket-list-worthy shoppable experience the world’s largest mall should top your list; a groundbreakingly beautiful structure adjacent to the Burj Khalifa and housing over 1,300 high-end stores and 200 eateries, not to mention an underwater zoo and ice-skating rink!
Whether its European-inspired avenues gemmed with haute boutiques, spice-perfumed bazaars dripping with kaleidoscopic artisan luxuries, or fairytale heritage labyrinths the ochre hue of dunes, Dubai has no shortage of Insta-worthy enclaves that will inspire you to purchase enough to start your own outlet! However, if you’re looking for a beguiling nod to an authentic, adventurous spirit while being surrounded by state-of-the-art retail labels, recreation amenities, and gastronomic oases, head straight to Ibn Battuta Mall and embrace your inner explorer.
Dubbed the world’s first retail resort, this mesmerizing mammoth of a shopping centre hosts 630 world-renowned brands while also boasting the first indoor snow park and ski resort in the Middle East. Therefore, if you fancy a change from browsing through bougie boutiques and sampling an assortment of delicious food from the multitude of restaurants and cafés, you can hit the icy slopes at Ski Dubai and get up close with nonchalant penguins!
If you thrive on festive vibes and can’t get enough of cinematic vibrancy, the Dubai Festival City Mall is an Insta-perfect refuge. From classy flagship stores belonging to global brands like Zara and IKEA to local designers showcasing their talents and dramatically immersive hi-tech elemental displays that have merited more than one Guinness World Record, you can spend a day at Festive City roaming and never get bored! If you’re looking for sophisticated Dubai hotel apartments close to this mall that have all amenities primed for an indulgently holistic stay, venture no further than Citadines Culture Village Dubai.
An arabesque enclave with a sparkling sense of fun, this subtly glamorous mall is jewelled with cosily opulent foreign and regional boutiques and innovative entertainment options for the whole family, from indoor skydiving and dashing arcades to exhilarating obstacle courses and an engaging edutainment centre.
If you’d prefer your fresh-off-the-runway shopping spree to be enhanced by the ultimate adrenaline rush, the Dubai Hill mall won’t just satisfy your yearning for eclectic new brand releases and epicurean fantasies, but its record-breaking indoor Storm Coaster will propel you to an all-new experiential high.
Portal straight into the European Renaissance era and roam this Italian-inspired village of atmospheric cobbled stones, dreamy piazzas, quaint awnings, columned arches, and floating balconies showcasing the latest trendsetters from luxury brands and inventive gastronomic delights, from Emirati delicacies served with karak chai to decadent crepes, cookie sandwiches, and cinnabons.
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.
