I spent 8 hours in the world's biggest mall in Dubai. It's like an indoor city and has everything — an aquarium, an ice rink, and a Texas Roadhouse.

Chloë JamesMay 19, 2023, 16:06 IST

Chloë James visited the Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world by land area.Chloë James

Dubai Mall, built in 2008, has 1,200 shops, an ice rink, an aquarium, and a 26-screen movie theater.
Chloë James spent eight hours exploring everything from its designer storefronts to its Chinatown.

Dubai does nothing by halves. The tallest building, the deepest pool, the most diamonds on a perfume bottle — you name it, Dubai's either set the record or plans to within the next few years.

Its biggest mall is equally ambitious. Dubai Mall opened in 2008 and cost an estimated $20 million to build. The world's biggest mall by land area neighbors the world's tallest building — the Burj Khalifa — and covers more than 1 million square meters.

Dubai Mall is like an indoor city with 1,200 stores, an ice rink, an aquarium, a virtual-reality park, a dinosaur skeleton, and a 26-screen cinema.

Chloë James/Insider

Despite living in the United Arab Emirates for two years, I've only ever visited the mall for a few hours — mainly to shop at the massive Zara.

James said she usually only visits the Dubai Mall for the Zara, not the wide array of amenities.Chloe James/Insider

My day started with the mall's main attraction: shopping.

Chloë James/Insider

My first stop was Level Shoes.

Chloë James/Insider

I entered the mall via the ice rink where people can skate under fake snowfall.

Chloë James/Insider

The app provided me with a detailed route from the Dubai Ice Rink to Level Shoes.

Chloë James/Insider

Visiting Levels was an exercise in window shopping for me.

Chloë James/ Insider

In Dubai Mall, everybody seems to shop like every day is pay day.

The bag in question.Chloe James/Insider

The most expensive outlets, like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, were filled with more shoppers than I've ever seen on Fifth Avenue in New York.

Chloë James/Insider

I felt slightly unworthy wearing Crocs.

Chloë James/Insider

Needing a crowd break, I trekked 10 minutes to the mall's Chinatown, home to a huge food hall, spa, and Instagrammable backdrops.

Chloë James/Insider

Newly opened in March, Chinatown was the emptiest area of the mall.

Chloë James/Insider

I sat down to eat noodles and strategize my next few hours.

Chloë James/Insider

I plotted a route to take me through the many shops.

Chloë James/Insider

Unlike your standard mall in 2023, these stores are all packed.

Chloë James/Insider

There are a few over-the-top features that are very Dubai, such as a massive indoor waterfall and a replica of a traditional souk ...

Chloë James/Insider

... as well as a large dinosaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling.

Chloë James/Insider

Aside from these features, it all feels very American. From Bloomingdale's to Dave's Hot Chicken, Dubai Mall is home to many chains I've only seen in the US.

Sinéad Baker

Judging by the size of the Reese's section at Candylicious World, the mall's audience is either people who are fascinated by or familiar with American culture.

Chloë James/Insider

By 5 p.m., locals started to mix with the tourists and the shops became unbearably busy.

Chloë James/Insider

You can see some Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo enclosures from the Cheesecake Factory or outside the Missguided store without paying to enter the aquarium.

Chloë James/Insider

I bought a 199 dirhams ticket, about $50, to get full access to the 33,000 animals on display. Exhibits include penguins and an underwater tunnel.

Chloë James/Insider

I emerged at 7 p.m. having walked 14,567 steps. I felt like I'd spent the day at a theme park rather than a mall; I was completely exhausted.

Chloë James/Insider

Dubai Mall is more of an entertainment complex than a mall.

Chloë James/Insider

I went to Tractor Supply and saw why Wall Street loves the rural retailer, but I wasn't convinced of its appeal to millennial and Gen Z shoppers

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I spent 8 hours in the world's biggest mall in Dubai. It's like an indoor city and has everything &mdash; an aquarium, an ice rink, and a Texas Roadhouse.

Dubai Mall is like an indoor city with 1,200 stores, an ice rink, an aquarium, a virtual-reality park, a dinosaur skeleton, and a 26-screen cinema.

Despite living in the United Arab Emirates for two years, I've only ever visited the mall for a few hours — mainly to shop at the massive Zara.

My day started with the mall's main attraction: shopping.

My first stop was Level Shoes.

I entered the mall via the ice rink where people can skate under fake snowfall.

The app provided me with a detailed route from the Dubai Ice Rink to Level Shoes.

Visiting Levels was an exercise in window shopping for me.

In Dubai Mall, everybody seems to shop like every day is pay day.

The most expensive outlets, like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, were filled with more shoppers than I've ever seen on Fifth Avenue in New York.

I felt slightly unworthy wearing Crocs.

Needing a crowd break, I trekked 10 minutes to the mall's Chinatown, home to a huge food hall, spa, and Instagrammable backdrops.

Newly opened in March, Chinatown was the emptiest area of the mall.

I sat down to eat noodles and strategize my next few hours.

I plotted a route to take me through the many shops.

Unlike your standard mall in 2023, these stores are all packed.

There are a few over-the-top features that are very Dubai, such as a massive indoor waterfall and a replica of a traditional souk ...

... as well as a large dinosaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling.

Aside from these features, it all feels very American. From Bloomingdale's to Dave's Hot Chicken, Dubai Mall is home to many chains I've only seen in the US.

Judging by the size of the Reese's section at Candylicious World, the mall's audience is either people who are fascinated by or familiar with American culture.

By 5 p.m., locals started to mix with the tourists and the shops became unbearably busy.

You can see some Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo enclosures from the Cheesecake Factory or outside the Missguided store without paying to enter the aquarium.

I bought a 199 dirhams ticket, about $50, to get full access to the 33,000 animals on display. Exhibits include penguins and an underwater tunnel.

I emerged at 7 p.m. having walked 14,567 steps. I felt like I'd spent the day at a theme park rather than a mall; I was completely exhausted.

Dubai Mall is more of an entertainment complex than a mall.

I spent 8 hours in the world's biggest mall in Dubai. It's like an indoor city and has everything — an aquarium, an ice rink, and a Texas Roadhouse.