The Shopping Capital of the Middle East

UAE shopping malls offer an incredible array of international brands – American, European and Asian. The shopping capital of the country is undoubtedly Dubai, hailed as ‘the shopping capital of the Middle East’, but Abu Dhabi is catching up fast and Sharjah, Ajman and Ra’s al-Khaimah have recently opened new malls. Many malls include multi-screen cinema complexes, all have numerous coffee shops and many have childcare facilities. In twenty-first century Gulf living, the shopping mall is becoming a social centre in the same way that the souq has always been.

Dubai Malls

• Abraj Shopping Center - Abraj shopping center on Al-Sabkha Road, in Deira, Dubai. UAE. The center has shops, offices and a foodcourt.  Includes directory of shops, photo gallery, events and business details about leasing, shops and offices.
• Al Abbar Art Gallery: Dubai - Presents a wide collection of UAE and foreign paintings, sculpture, decorative arts. Contains information about services for the customers as well as special chapter for artists willing to present their artworks in Al Abbar Art Gallery.
• Deira City Centre - (Deira City Center, DCC, sometimes called 'City Center Mall') - A division of Majid Al Futtaim group, composed of 240 shops, restaurants, fast food outlets, entertainment center, cinemas and hotel & residence apartments. Over 20 million shoppers visit this mall each year. Open 1000-2200 every day, opposite Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. Very busy in the evenings, parking is difficult. Good selection of shops, has a noisy food court and a Carrefour. Website contains shopping information, stores directory, new shops, contests, leasing information, and individual information about each shop, such as location, description, and telephone number.
• Al Ain Mall - Details the shopping center's facilities, shops, working hours, ice rink and news & events.
• Al Ghurair Centre or Al Ghurair City, Al Rigga Road in Deira.
  Open 1000-2200 except Fridays 1400-2200. The first large shopping mall in Dubai, a cheaper place then the newer ones with over 200 shops. Not completely self contained - some of the cafes open directly on to the main road for free carbon dioxide with your coffee.
• Al Khaleej Centre - Composed of a shopping mall, office complex, residential apartments, restaurants and kids corner in Dubai.
• BurJuman - Among the most popular and most expensive malls in Dubai. Expanded in 2006 from 200 to 300 shops, now has movie theatres and more restaurants. Website includes mall directory, customer services, photo gallery and news. A more exclusive destination than Mall of the Emirates (MOTE), Deira City Centre (DCC) and Ibn Battuta Mall (IBM).
• Dubai Marina Mall - in Dubai Marina (not the same as 'Marina Mall' in Abu Dhabi). With hotel and apartments, total development cost is over AED 1.4 billion. Shopping center retail area of 120,000 m2 and total area of complex is 360,000 m2. Scheduled completion date is May 2008. Mall location on the Dubai Marina water's edge will be appealing.
• Hamarain Centre (Hamrian / Hamriyan / Hamarayan / Hamariyan Center - in Deira, excellent range of stores including antiques and handicrafts.
• Jumeirah Plaza- small shopping center near the Magrudy's Centre on Jumeirah Beach Road.
• Lamcy Plaza - large pink building on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Karama exit and opposite the American Hospital / Al Nasr Leisureland. Clothing shops always seem to have sales, and the top floor location of the supermarket seems odd. High atrium has a London Tower Bridge halfway up where you can sit and have coffee. Reasonably good food court, two cinemas.
• Mall of Arabia - expected to be almost the biggest shopping mall in the world when it opens with area of about 10 million sq ft (1 million square meters) - four times the size of MOTE. Expected opening date early 2009. The Dubai Mall will be 100,000 sq m bigger - the size of most other large shopping malls already open in Dubai. With about 1000 retail outlets to distract visitors, MOA will be the entry point for the Restless Planet dinosaur park.
• Mall of the Emirates (MOTE) - biggest in the UAE when it opened in November 2005 with area about 2.4 million square feet (220,000 sq m) and 400 shops, has an indoor ski field at one end along with a hotel. Parking can be difficult at busy times (evenings and holidays). Will look small once Dubai Mall and Mall of Arabia open.
• Mercato Mall - Jumeirah Beach Road near Dubai Zoo. Open 1000-2200 except Fridays 1400-2200. Quaint Italian themed centre with a good Virgin store (the music shop), a few clothing shops, Spinneys, Home Centre, small food court, a couple of nice restaurants with one Italian one upstairs overlooking the Beach Road, several movie theatres, and lots of cobblestoned paths. First opened in October 2002.
• Manar Mall - Contains the retail outlet listings, entertainment facilities and mall plan of the Ras Al Khaimah shopping mall.
• Mazaya Center - The center comprises of 117 retail outlets, 132 residential apartments and 48 commercial offices on the Sheikh Zayed Road.
• Town Centre Jumeirah - Mall located on the Jumeirah beach road. Includes profile, location map and shop & restaurant listings.
• Wafi Shopping Mall - Contains over 200 shops for fashion, electronics, watches, jewellery and kids stuff. Website includes details on its services, dining, events and entertainment. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road near Garhood Bridge on the Bur Dubai side of the creek. Oud Metha area. Open 1000-2200 except Fridays 1600-2200. Small when it first opened with expensive luxury goods shops. Has expanded to around 200 shops now. Marks & Spencer (M&S, Marks & Spencers, or Marks & Sparks) have a presence, a decent looking musical instruments shop upstairs, and a limited food court round out the offerings. It's a quieter shopping centre than, say, MOTE. Except for Thursday nights and Friday afternoons/evenings. The complex also includes a spa, health, beauty, and sports club, accommodation, a couple of fine restaurants and bars (Wafi Rooftop is a good place to hang out), and Dubai's Planet Hollywood restaurant.

Abu Dhabi Malls

• Abu Dhabi Mall, in tourist club area next to the Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers. Has 200+ shops, 40+ food outlets, cinemas and Abu Dhabi Co-op Hypermarket. Open 1000-2200 (to 2300 on Thursdays) except Fridays 1530-2200. Hypermarket 0800-midnight, some restaurants open till 2300 or 0200. Tel +971-2-6454858 (customer service) or try +971-2-6457733. First opened 15 April 2001, total area 200,000 sq meters. Largest shopping mall in Abu Dhabi as of December 2006.
• Al Raha Mall (Raha Mall) - Abu Dhabi - on Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway next to Al Raha Beach Villa Complex, tel +971-2-5561181. Open end 2006/beginning 2007? Area 350,000 sq ft (35,000 sq meters) includes hypermarket, food court, about 100 retail shops and a family amusement center. Run by EMKE group. The shopping hub of the most affluent residential district being developed. Fine dining with a choice of restaurants.
• Al Wahda Mall (Al Wahdah / Al Wehda Mall) - Abu Dhabi - Total area apparently 1.5 million sq ft (about 150,000 sq m). Run by EMKE group. A unique concept of segmented shopping zones. Ideally located adjacent to the prestigious Al Wahda Club, one of the most popular landmarks in Abu Dhabi, easily accessible from all over the city and suburbs.
• Spread over 1.5 million sq. ft.
• Anchored around a 215,000 sq. ft. hypermarket.
• 9 Levels of car parking with access to each floor.
• Food court and amusement centre.
• Marina Mall, near Emirates Palace hotel, tel +971-2-6818300.
• Al Ahlia Prisunic tel +971-2-6811400
• Al Falah Plaza tel +971-2-6425800
• Al Hosn Plaza tel +971-2-6675555
• Al Khalidiya Shopping Mall
• Al Muhairy Centre (Al Muhairi Center) - Small mall with 20 shops in Khalidiya on Zayed 1st street opposite the Cultural Foundation, tel +971-2-6322228.