Just when you thought you’ve explored the length and breadth of Dubai Mall and can finally navigate the labyrinthine parking lots without getting lost, the mega mall has announced news of an expansion.
Real estate giants, and the owners of Dubai Mall, Emaar Properties revealed yesterday that AED 1.5 billion would be pumped into the redevelopment of the most visited place on Earth.
Dubai Mall expansion – new luxury outlets
This shot in the arm will add 240 new luxury outlets – a mix of retail and food and beverage brands. At present, Dubai Mall boasts an impressive 1,200 retail outlets and 200 dining experiences.
And this isn’t a distant reality, reader. Emaar has confirmed that contractors are already on-site getting this humongous construction project underway. This will expand the 1.2 million square metre mall’s total area by leaps and bounds. Additionally, once the Dubai Mall expansion finishes it can accommodate more than its 2023’s record 105 million visitors. That number is a 19% increase from 2022 and is expected to keep growing!
Emaar’s CEO Mohamed Alabbar explained that “this expansion reflects Dubai’s ambitious vision to remain at the forefront of global innovation and culture, further solidifying our city’s position as a top global destination.”
There’s no news yet about which brands will occupy the new retail spaces. However, knowing Dubai Mall’s repertoire, we’re anticipating more high-end stores along the lines of Bloomingdale’s and Galeries Lafayette. It will be interesting to see how Dubai Mall’s new expansion will top existing entertainment and leisure attractions such as the iconic Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, the 24-screen-cineplex Reel Cinema, Dubai Ice Rink and Ekart Dubai.