My trip to Dubai: The Dubai Mall

The hallway at the main entrance

When a shopoholic like me is told that the world's biggest shopping centre/mall is in Dubai, i had to give it a visit. The Dubai Mall is huge, i honestly have never seen anything like it and i have been to a fair amount of shopping destinations in my lifetime. However, i was amazed just by stepping foot in the place for the very first time. 

The huge aquarium and underwater zoo in the Dubai Mall

Let's just see the numbers. The Dubai Mall is home to 1,200 shops across four floors, SEGA republic which is an indoor theme park dedicated to Sonic the Hedgehog, a permanent ice rink, a gold souk and also its very own dinosaur. It is eclectic to say the least and it is home to every shop and brand known to man. It does provide respite for those in Dubai to shop in peace under an air conditioned roof with some wonderful restaurants and cafes to sample whilst shopping at your leisure.

The Cheesecake Factory

Being a hardcore Big Bang Theory fan, i was very excited to find The Cheesecake Factory in the Dubai Mall and it really was a piece of heaven. With every cheesecake known to man, i sampled the Red Velvet Cheesecake and the Oreo Cheesecake and they were delicious. The service was impeccable and we were greeted with a smiling waiter who was very patient with our enthusiasm and excitement being there.

The underwater zoo is breathtaking and though you can pay to walk through it, all visitors can see the aquarium from the outside. You can see sharks and fishes swimming along at their leisure and it is beautifully lit. In fact, there are restaurants based around it so you can watch the underwater kingdom whilst you eat at your leisure. 

One thing you must see whilst visiting the mall is the fountain show which holds the world record for the world's tallest fountain. Modelled on the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas, it is a spectacle to see with the Burj Khalifa as a backdrop. It takes place twice a day and we managed to catch it at 6.30pm in the evening, just as the sun was setting in the background.

Though the Dubai Mall is a magical place, for us Londoners, it is incredibly expensive. Prices are marked up by almost 30 - 40% on clothing, shoes and technology - you don't get much for your money. In  the evenings, it turns into the land for the rich with supercars lining the entrance and tourists are keen to get photographs with the works of art. We found it to be a good refuge from the heat and a great place to get a quick bite to eat whist touring Dubai.