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The Dubai Mall

Inside the Dubai Mall: gallery levels with glass balustrades, shop fronts and palm trees in the atrium below
Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free
Hours
Shops: Mon–Thu 10:00–23:00, Fri–Sun 10:00–00:00; restaurants an hour later; open every day
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
2 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Shops
Mon–Thu 10:00–23:00, Fri–Sun 10:00–00:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Restaurants and food courts
Mon–Thu 10:00–00:00, Fri–Sun 10:00–01:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Fountain shows
Afternoon: Sat–Thu 13:00 and 13:30, Fri 14:00 and 14:30; evening: every 30 min, 18:00–23:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Aquarium (tunnel and Underwater Zoo)
Daily 10:00–22:00, ticketed; the main tank wall is free to view
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Ice rink
Sun–Thu 10:00–22:00, Fri–Sat 10:00–00:00, ticketed
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Metro
Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, then the covered link bridge, ≈ 10–15 min on foot
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Wi-Fi
Free throughout the mall
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Left luggage
Concierge Lounge (porters and lockers)
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Prayer rooms
For men and women
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Address
Financial Centre Road, Downtown Dubai
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
25.19750, 55.27917YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

Freeentry to the mall, the aquarium wall, the waterfall and the fountain promenade
2 sourcesThe Dubai Mall official websiteProperty Finder
820 mair-conditioned link bridge from Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station, opened 2012
3 sourcesEnglish WikipediaThe NationalDUTCO Construction
4 November 2008opening day
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaWikidata
1.2 million m²+total area, of which about 350,000 m² is retail
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
10 million litresof water in the aquarium tank
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaBlooloop
32.88 × 8.3 mthe aquarium’s acrylic panel — Guinness record for the world’s largest in 2008
3 sourcesEnglish WikipediaTradeArabiaBlooloop
Olympic-sizedDubai Ice Rink
2 sourcesThe Dubai Mall official websiteEnglish Wikipedia
24 mlong — the Diplodocus skeleton known as Dubai Dino
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaProperty Finder
4 levelsLower Ground, Ground, First and Second Floor
2 sourcesThe Dubai Mall official websiteEnglish Wikipedia
Emaardeveloper and owner; architects DP Architects
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaThe Dubai Mall official website

Dubai Mall opening hours

The mall is open every day of the year. Shops trade 10:00–23:00 Monday to Thursday and 10:00–midnight Friday to Sunday. Restaurants and food courts stay open an hour longer — until midnight on weekdays and 01:00 Friday to Sunday.

Attractions keep their own hours. The aquarium tunnel and Underwater Zoo run daily 10:00–22:00; the ice rink is open until 22:00 Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. For the observation deck, see Burj Khalifa.

During Ramadan and public holidays the mall usually stays open later. If your visit falls then, check the official website or the mall’s app before you go.

How to get to the Dubai Mall by metro

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

More tips

  1. From Dubai International Airport (DXB), take the Red Line from Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 — no change, about 25 minutes. A taxi takes 15–20 minutes.
  2. Get off at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station.
  3. Follow the covered, air-conditioned link bridge — 820 metres, 10–15 minutes on foot.
  4. The bridge leads straight into the mall; follow signs for the Aquarium, the Waterfall or Fountain Views.
  5. Heading back, follow the Metro signs to the same bridge. After the evening fountain shows the taxi queue can be long — the metro is often quicker.

Is the Dubai Mall free to visit?

Yes — there is no entry fee, and most of what makes the mall worth a detour costs nothing. You pay only for individual attractions: the aquarium tunnel and Underwater Zoo, the ice rink, KidZania, the cinema and the Burj Khalifa observation deck, whose entrance is on the mall’s Lower Ground floor.

Payment is easy for foreign visitors: shops and restaurants take international cards, there are ATMs and exchange offices inside, and the currency is the dirham (AED). The one exception is the metro — you need a Nol card, sold at station ticket machines and counters.

Free things to see inside

  • The aquarium wall — sharks and rays glide past a vast acrylic panel you can see straight from the mall; a ticket is only needed for the tunnel and zoo.
  • The diver waterfall — a cascade running the full height of the mall, hung with silver figures of pearl divers, a nod to Dubai’s life before oil.
  • Dubai Dino — a real Diplodocus skeleton, 24 metres long.
  • The ice rink — watch the skaters from the galleries above; skating is ticketed.
  • The Gold Souk — a covered arcade of jewellers styled as a traditional market.
  • The Burj Lake promenade — out through the Lower Ground floor for the fountains with the tower lit up behind them.
  • Fashion Avenue — the luxury wing, quieter and roomier than the main galleries.

Dubai Mall aquarium: what you can see without a ticket

The mall’s best free sight is the aquarium wall. Its acrylic panel, 32.88 by 8.3 metres, set a Guinness record in 2008 as the world’s largest, and the tank holds 10 million litres of water. Rays and sharks swim right up to the glass in the main walkway.

A ticket gets you into the walk-through tunnel and the Underwater Zoo upstairs, with crocodiles, otters and penguins. Prices and whether it is worth paying are covered on the Dubai Aquarium page. Short on time or budget? The view from the mall is plenty.

Dubai Fountain show times and where to watch

The fountain plays on Burj Lake between the mall and the tower. According to the mall’s official schedule, afternoon shows are at 13:00 and 13:30 Saturday to Thursday and 14:00 and 14:30 on Fridays. In the evening there is a show every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 23:00, every day. Watching is free.

Walk out through the Lower Ground floor to the lakeside promenade. The railings fill up after dark, so arrive 10–15 minutes before a show. Do the aquarium and waterfall by day, eat, then catch the fountains once the tower is lit. More on the show itself on the Dubai Fountain page.

Is the Dubai Mall worth visiting?

Yes, even if you don’t shop. In one building you get one of the world’s largest aquarium windows, a striking waterfall, a dinosaur skeleton, the way into the world’s tallest building and the best seat for the fountains. Plan two hours for the free sights, or a whole evening with dinner and the shows.

It is less worth it as a pure shopping trip if you are on a budget: these are the same international brands you know from home. For atmosphere and bargaining, the Gold Souk in Deira is the better choice.

Free or ticketed: what to do at the Dubai Mall

Whenyou are hereShop hoursMall hoursDaily 10:00–22:00Afternoon, and 18:00–23:00Until 22:00, Fri–Sat until midnightTimed entry
EntryFreeFreeTicketFreeTicketTicket
Time needed30–40 min10–15 min1–1.5 hA few minutes per show≈ 1 h1–1.5 h

Time needed is YesGo’s estimate for an unhurried visit. Hours are from the mall’s official website.

How big is the Dubai Mall? Map and finding your way

The complex covers more than 1.2 million m², about 350,000 m² of it retail, across four levels: Lower Ground, Ground, First and Second Floor. The fountain exit and the Burj Khalifa entrance are on Lower Ground; the ice rink is on Ground.

The official website and app have an interactive map searchable by shop or restaurant. Eight guest service desks around the mall help with directions, and Wi-Fi is free. To get back to the metro, simply follow the Metro signs to the link bridge.

Before you go: checklist

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Shopping in Dubai compared

Dubai’s markets and shopping spots rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

The Dubai Mallyou are here562 hFree—
Spice Souk3630 minFree8.0 km
Dubai Gold Souk3445 minFree8.3 km
Madinat Jumeirah and Souk Madinat291 h 30 minFree11.9 km
Global Village203 hAED 25–30, under-3s and 65+ free14.7 km

Downtown Dubai in one evening

The aquarium by day, the observation deck at sunset and the fountains after dark — all within one block. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. The Dubai Mallyou are here2 h · Free entry
  2. 3 min walk from the previous stopDubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo1 h · Free view; tunnel ≈ AED 199
  3. 7 min walk from the previous stopBurj Khalifa1 h 30 min · from AED 189
  4. 4 min walk from the previous stopThe Dubai Fountain30 min · Free; Boardwalk and abra ride paid

4 places · about 5 h 14 min with walks · 14 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

1 h · Free view; tunnel ≈ AED 199 · 3 min walk

The Dubai Fountain

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

30 min · Free; Boardwalk and abra ride paid · 8 min walk

Burj Khalifa

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

1 h 30 min · from AED 189 · 9 min walk

Museum of the Future

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2 h · Closed until Q1 2027 · 42 min walk

How to do it right

  • Come in the afternoon: aquarium and waterfall first, Burj Khalifa at sunset, fountains after dark.
  • The quickest way to the fountains is via the Lower Ground floor — follow signs for Fountain Views or Waterfront.
  • Stand at the edge of the aquarium glass for the best photo when a ray swims past — no ticket, no queue.
  • Friday to Sunday evenings are the busiest; weekday mornings right at 10:00 are the calmest.
  • Need a break from the crowds? The Museum of the Future and the Dubai Frame are a few stops away on the metro.
  • Food court for a quick, cheap meal; book a terrace table with a fountain view if you want dinner with the show.

Questions

What time does the Dubai Mall open and close?

It opens at 10:00 every day. Shops close at 23:00 Monday to Thursday and at midnight Friday to Sunday; restaurants and food courts stay open an hour later.

What is the nearest metro station to the Dubai Mall?

Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall on the Red Line. From the station, an 820-metre covered, air-conditioned bridge leads into the mall — 10–15 minutes on foot.

Is the Dubai Mall free to enter?

Yes. Entry is free; you pay only for attractions such as the aquarium tunnel, the ice rink, KidZania and the Burj Khalifa observation deck.

Can you see the Dubai Mall aquarium for free?

Yes. The huge tank wall is visible from the mall itself. A ticket is needed only for the tunnel and the Underwater Zoo.

What time are the Dubai Fountain shows?

Afternoon shows at 13:00 and 13:30 (14:00 and 14:30 on Fridays), then every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 23:00. They are free to watch from the promenade.

How long do you need at the Dubai Mall?

About two hours for the free sights. Add the aquarium, dinner and the fountains and it fills an evening; with shopping, a whole day.

Is there a dress code at the Dubai Mall?

Visitors are asked to dress respectfully — shoulders and knees covered. It is not strictly enforced, but it is best to follow it.

How do I get from Dubai airport to the Dubai Mall?

Take the Red Line from DXB Terminal 1 or 3 to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall — about 25 minutes with no change — or a taxi, 15–20 minutes.

How big is the Dubai Mall?

More than 1.2 million m² in total, about 350,000 m² of it retail, over four levels.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • The Dubai Mall official website: opening hours, fountain schedule, aquarium, ice rink, KidZania, levels and services, 03.11.2026
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Dubai Mall; Wikidata Q1133309
  • The National — the metro link bridge
  • DUTCO Construction — pedestrian link bridge project
  • TradeArabia and Blooloop — the aquarium’s Guinness record acrylic panel, 2008
  • Property Finder — free things to see in the mall
  • The National and Gulf News — mall dress code in Dubai
  • HiDubai and Wise — currency exchange in the mall
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 03.11.2026 ·
How we checkedShop, restaurant, aquarium and ice-rink hours, the fountain schedule, levels and services come from the official Dubai Mall website. Dates, area, the metro bridge, the aquarium record and the dinosaur are checked against at least two sources. Fountain times differ between sources — the mall’s site lists evening shows until 23:00, some other publications until 23:30 — so we show the official one. Sources give different heights for the waterfall, so we don’t quote a figure. Airport travel times are marked as verifying. Attraction ticket prices are on their own pages.

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