Do you need extra luxurious corridors covered with vitrines telling emblem tales? Are your summer time months taking a look flat? The Dubai department shops enlargement 2026 tale solutions each questions on the similar time. The Dubai Mall enlargement and the Mall of the Emirates enlargement are working in parallel, with a blended AED 6.5 billion rebuild redrawing the place the town retail outlets via 2027. Consideration is in the main points.
Dubai Mall vs Mall of the Emirates: the setup
Dubai Mall opened in 2008 and operates greater than 1,200 stores and over 200 eating venues throughout 13 million sq. ft. It pulled in 111 million guests in 2024, a file, up from 105 million the yr ahead of and 88 million in 2022. Dubai Mall held the placement of essentially the most visited position on earth for 2 consecutive years.
Mall of the Emirates opened in 2005 and now runs greater than 630 retail outlets along Ski Dubai and a VOX cinema. Mall of the Emirates footfall in 2024 reached greater than 40 million guests, with occupancy at 98 % within the first part of 2025.
Dubai Mall AED 1.5 billion enlargement: The District and Style Street
Emaar dedicated AED 1.5 billion to the Dubai Mall enlargement in June 2024. The primary main section, The District Dubai Mall, opened close to the Ice Rink at the floor flooring. As soon as whole, The District will deliver 279 shops on-line, with 198 retail gadgets and 81 meals and beverage ideas. The primary wave at The District Dubai Mall contains Klay by way of Karak Space for contemporary Emirati delicacies, House Bakery Kitchen, area of expertise espresso from Peet’s Espresso and Toby’s Property, and a remodeled Cheesecake Manufacturing facility. The previous Souk space turns right into a curated quarter with terracotta palettes and huge boulevards. Style Street at Dubai Mall carries the posh weight, and rents rose 9 % yr on yr, rating Style Street because the eleventh most costly retail location globally.
Mall of the Emirates AED 5 billion enlargement: 100 new retail outlets and Covent Lawn
Majid Al Futtaim introduced the AED 5 billion Mall of the Emirates enlargement in April 2025 to mark the mall’s twentieth anniversary. The plan provides 20,000 sq. metres of retail house, round 100 new retail outlets, wellness centres, and a 600-seat theatre. AED 1.1 billion has already long gone into wellness, cultural amenities, and infrastructure upgrades. A AED 165 million flyover linking Umm Suqeim Side road and Sheikh Zayed Highway is open. The New Covent Lawn Mall of the Emirates cultural hub, constructed with the Dubai Appearing Arts Academy, opens this yr. A brand new IMAX at VOX follows in past due 2026, with an open-air meals and beverage courtyard arriving early 2027.
What’s new at Mall of the Emirates: Skims, Ulta Good looks and extra
Mall of the Emirates loaded up on first-to-market launches prior to now 5 months. Ulta Good looks Dubai made its Heart East debut at Mall of the Emirates by way of finish of January 2026. Sephora opened its biggest Dubai retailer. H&M reopened following a multi-million-dirham transformation. Jo Malone London arrived by way of finish December 2025. Skims Mall of the Emirates opened its first and best regional flagship by way of finish December 2025, with COS following in mid-January 2026. Omega opened mid-January, Italian jewelry space Vhernier by way of finish January. Gymshark added a 2nd standalone retailer. Victoria’s Secret reopened in a refreshed house. Rolex relaunched a reimagined idea. Louis Vuitton expanded its boutique. BRED Bakery debuts its first Heart East idea by way of finish January 2026. Dubai Mall new retail outlets lean towards homegrown and food-led ideas within The District, paired with endured luxurious additions on Style Street. For those who sought after storytelling vitrines and reinvented flagships, you were given them.
Retail outlets final at Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates
The Dubai department shops enlargement 2026 cycle got here with exits. Debenhams close its Dubai Mall outlet and is shifting to virtual best, whilst its Mall of the Emirates department stays open for now. West Elm closed its Dubai Mall retailer in July after which closed around the area. Pottery Barn, additionally below the Alshaya Crew, is winding down. River Island has introduced its UAE closure, together with a stand within Debenhams at Mall of the Emirates. The retail outlets final at Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates cleared shelf house, and the rebrand walked instantly in.
Dubai Mall vs Mall of the Emirates: the adaptation
Proprietor. Emaar runs Dubai Mall. Majid Al Futtaim runs Mall of the Emirates.
Location. Dubai Mall sits in Downtown Dubai on the base of Burj Khalifa. Mall of the Emirates sits in Al Barsha on Sheikh Zayed Highway.
Scale. 13 million sq. ft and over 1,200 retail outlets at Dubai Mall. Greater than 630 retail outlets at Mall of the Emirates.
Footfall. Dubai Mall footfall 2024 hit 111 million guests. Mall of the Emirates footfall reached 40 million.
Funding. AED 1.5 billion for Dubai Mall as opposed to AED 5 billion for Mall of the Emirates. The Mall of the Emirates enlargement is placing extra money on a smaller base.
Anchor attracts. Dubai Mall pairs retail with the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Fountain, the Dubai Aquarium, an Olympic-sized ice rink, and greater than 150 luxurious buying groceries and eating reviews on Style Street. Mall of the Emirates pairs retail with Ski Dubai, the brand new Covent Lawn cultural hub with its 600-seat theatre, and the brand new IMAX at VOX.
Emblem technique. Dubai Mall stacks extra luxurious at Style Street and folds in food-led and homegrown ideas within The District. Mall of the Emirates quite a bit up on first-to-market international launches and reinvented flagships.
Catchment. Dubai Mall serves vacationers arriving in Downtown Dubai. Mall of the Emirates balances guests with the Al Barsha residential catchment the place median family earning exceed AED 25,000, plus the Sheikh Zayed Highway commuter waft.
Serve as. Dubai Mall sells the vacationer itinerary. Mall of the Emirates sells the weekend regimen.
Why now: Dubai retail 2026 in numbers
With summer time forward and outside temperatures mountaineering previous 45 levels, indoor air-conditioned locations flip from approach to default. The brand new IMAX, the New Covent Lawn cultural hub, the wellness centres, the remodeled Style Street, and the cooled outside courtyard arriving early 2027 goal the months your seashore plans cave in. Dubai retail contributes 25.3 % of the town’s GDP, the very best percentage of any sector, and one new millionaire strikes to Dubai each and every hour. Town took in 9.88 million guests within the first part of 2025, a 6 % build up. Inhabitants approaches 4 million. Majid Al Futtaim’s mall occupancy ran at 97 in line with cent, and top retail rents are up 16 % yr on yr. Rebuilding whilst staying open is the less expensive wager.
What the Dubai department shops enlargement 2026 manner for 2027
Through 2027, Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates break up the town’s retail visitors on cleaner strains. Dubai Mall holds tourism and top luxurious. Mall of the Emirates holds the Al Barsha and Sheikh Zayed Highway hall as an approach to life and cultural anchor. The 2 are spending to shield their leads. Watch the vitrines. Watch the closures. Watch the place the cooled courtyard chairs finally end up.
