Visit Dubai

Visiting the most gorgeous city in the Middle East was a dream come true. My first memory of a trip to Dubai was going to Dubai Mall, which was undoubtedly one of the best experiences. In the brief time I had, I was able to cover a lot of ground. However, I had planned out everything I wanted to see and do each day of my trip to Dubai before I even left for the city.

It is a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors every year. The mall is easily accessible via public transportation and is located near other major tourist attractions in Dubai, such as the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain. Dubai Mall is a short distance from the trains. However, the original plan included going to the Sky Views observatory first thing in the morning. However as it opened a little later, we explored Downtown Palace and snapped pictures at the Mexican Wings before returning.

Did you know that The Dubai Mall just underwent a name change to Dubai Mall?

Downtown Dubai

Downtown Palace was the first thing photographed, with the iconic Burj Khalifa in the background. It's about a 5-minute walk from Dubai Mall. One of my favourite places to snapshots as you go through the middle with a stunning background and exotic palm plants on the side. It's free to visit and roam about here, so you can take as many shots as you want.

You can check out a snippet from a recent visit to Dubai in 2022 and the last visit in 2019 Dubai Vlog here

The Wings of Mexico

The Wings of Mexico sculpture by Jorge Marin stands in front of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. This location is so famous on Instagram that people regularly line up to take pictures. With an incredible backdrop of the Burj Khalifa, there is no finer setting than this.

Burj Khalifa

I was able to walk past the stunning Burj Khalifa with clear blue skies to reach Dubai's largest retail complex. There was so much to do here that I spent hours and hours exploring all of the beautiful stuff. It's so big that it's easy to get lost trying to find your way back. I would recommend downloading the Dubai Mall App or taking a picture of their map so you know where to go. There's a VR Park, a Cinema, Go-Karting, an Aquarium, an Ice Rink, a Haunted House, and much more.

Many picturesque props, such as the Dubai logo and heart shape, can be found outside Dubai Mall.

Dancing Fountains

You can get a great view from the Apple Store balcony, which only allows a limited amount of people to watch. When it was almost time for the show to begin. I went down to the Apple Store and saw the amazing dancing fountain performance. These fountains are only lit at specified times and run for 5 minutes. From 6 p.m. onwards and every half hour until 11 p.m. I highly recommend queuing or viewing from outside the Apple Store because you have a great view of the Emaar Souk, the dancing fountain, and the Burj Khalifa all at once.

I went to Dubai Mall the last time I visited. They used to feature daytime dancing fountain displays, but they currently only have nocturnal entertainment.

Evening Shows 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM every 30 minutes

The performance is free to see from any perspective, but the shows and views are truly spectacular each time you watch it.

Dancing Fountain shows daytime

Dubai Mall is a shopping centre located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is one of the largest malls in the world, with over 1,200 shops and a total retail space of 5.9 million square feet. The mall features a diverse range of stores, including luxury boutiques, high-street fashion brands, electronics, and more.

In addition to its shopping offerings, Dubai Mall also boasts a wide range of dining options, including fine dining restaurants, fast food outlets, and cafes. There is also an indoor ice rink, a cinema complex, and a large indoor aquarium and underwater zoo, the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.

Dubai Mall

As you walk through the mall, you'll notice the falling man waterfall sculptures, which sound very soothing. Another 'Red heart-shaped' prop can be found near the waterfall men. One of the reasons I stayed so long at the Mall was that there was so much to see, eat, and explore. You can shop until you drop.

If you haven't bought a ticket to the aquarium, you can still see people scuba diving or fish passing by from the second and lower ground floors.

Food at Dubai Mall

I prepared a list of places to eat in case I became hungry while roaming about. 'Cheesecake Factory' was one of them. As a result, I set out to find the Cheesecake Factory in the mall for lunch. I found the branch after about ten minutes of roaming. It was directly across from the dino sculpture. Here, I got a burger meal and a cheesecake for dessert, which you can read about in my Cheesecake Factory review here.

After I finished my breakfast, I headed to my favourite spot of the day, the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, where I saw so many sea creatures. Walking through the tunnel provided a wonderful view of sharks and small/large fish swimming around. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo blog post, on the other hand, can be found here.

Papparoti

After that, I proceeded to the location of Papparoti. As I walked around, I noticed an ice rink where people could skate. Papparoti was yet another gastronomic destination on my list. I was relieved to have another location for it because it was ideal for an afternoon tea/early dinner meal. I chose the 'Almond with Nutella' bun, which was delicious, soft, and perfect for an afternoon/evening meal.

One bun costs 12.75 Dirhams, and the additional cost is determined by what you order. 7.50 Dirhams for almonds with Nutella. The entire cost for me was 20.25 Dirhams. I thought that was a reasonable price for one. I knew I'd never be able to complete the other option, which was 5 buns for 55.75 Dirham, so I settled for one with Karak Chai.

Sky Views Observatory

Dubai Mall's Sky Views Observatory is one of several attractions. If you have the time, I recommend going since the views are spectacular and the glass slide is a lot of fun. As you ascend the lift, you will be 219.5 metres above the city. You may see beautiful views of both the old and new Dubai. At the Observatory, you can do three things: sky glass, edge walk, and the glass slide. On the other hand, the Edge Walk is an expensive attraction to visit.

When you purchase a ticket to the Sky Views Observatory, however, you can include a glass slide. That's what I purchased when I bought my ticket, which included one glass slide each.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my visit to Dubai Mall. I hope you enjoyed my experience and the tips on things to do in Dubai Mall. There are three more days from my time here to post about, including the Aquarium, Miracle Garden, Expo, and Green Planet.

You can catch all of the highlights on my Instagram page or view other videos on my YouTube channel.

You may enjoy my other Dubai posts:

https://adilmusa.com/dubai-garden-glow

https://adilmusa.com/first-flight-parasailing-in-dubai/