Mall of the Emirates in Dubai
It almost seems as if Dubai consists mainly of malls.
And what can be found in the malls exceeds every expectation or even imagination. The Mall of the Emirates is not as huge as the Dubai Mall but still has a lot to offer. I personally like the Mall of the Emirates even better than the Dubai Mall. Here everything is a bit more normal, not so exaggerated and you rather have the feeling to really be in a mall and not in a huge city with loud attractions.
Ski Dubai — Skiing in the Mall
At least that’s what I thought until suddenly a whole winter landscape appeared in front of me. Right. A real winter landscape with snow, penguins, sledges, ice and snow clothes. It is really hard to believe what is possible in Dubai. Through a meter-high glass wall, you can watch the colorful hustle and bustle in the Dubai Ski World from the outside.
Everywhere people in snowsuits (which, by the way, all look the same, because you get them provided there). There are ski lifts, small hills where children slide down on a sliding plate or just like that. Further around the corner there is also a small ice skating rink and the whole landscape is designed like in the Alps.
I read that you can also ski and snowboard there and for an extra charge it is also possible to play with real penguins there. For this you have a limited time (20 minutes), in which you can experience the animals up close and take pictures with them.
It is a bit absurd to find a place in the desert where you can play with penguins in the snow and even ski. The entrance fee is 60€ for the whole day. In Germany, you would pay a similar amount for a ski slope, so the price is totally fine. We have been thinking that we would like to go here once.
Although I’m a little unsure what to think of all of them. But it’s also a pretty rad experience to learn/go skiing in Dubai. A couple of friends who have lived here in Dubai for years told us that they learned to ski here as well. It definitely seems like an experience worth having.
A huge supermarket
Just as impressed as by the snow world, I was by the supermarket. It stretches almost the entire length of the lower floor. The entrance and exit consists of many cash registers and behind them you enter the vast world of a supermarket that simply has everything.
There is a corner that is full of Arabic sweets, delicacies and various breads, etc. Many small square stalls just invite you to try the delicacies. The variety is so great that you can hardly decide what to try first.
If you go further, you will find a large section with fresh fish and meat, various olives and pickled fruits, vegetables and what not. It’s just so much, you are at first totally overwhelmed with the abundance that is offered here.
In addition to the everyday things that you can find in any supermarket — here, however, they are almost all in Maxipack or as 2 for 1 — there is also the possibility to buy clothes, underwear, shoes, jewelry and so on. Washing machines, souvenirs, a small hardware store. There is really nothing here that is not available.
We didn’t manage to explore the whole supermarket because it’s just way too big. And you have to remember, after all, that it’s just a small part of an even larger mall.
Impressive architecture
Besides numerous stores for shopping, the Mall of the Emirates impresses me especially with its special architecture. In one part of the mall, I am particularly fascinated by the high ceilings with the glass panes and the ornate frames, railings and walls. I can hardly explain what exactly I mean.
Suddenly you are standing in a large, bright room that is full of architectural art. Several glass domes adorn the ceiling. The floor shines like marble and the railings of the many small bridges are ornately detailed. The entire area is flooded with light and thus radiates a certain warmth.
There is also — how could it be otherwise in Dubai — a photo spot here. Butterfly wings invite you to stand in front of them and take a picture. On this photo, it looks as if you had these wings yourself and could soar to the heights of the mall.
Cinema, VR experience, etc.
Of course, the mall on Emirates also has an impressive cinema. In addition to the regular movie theaters, there is also an IMAX, a theater with only about 10 seats, and a 4DX theater.
Marc and I went to the IMAX and watched Jungle Cruise there. There is a balcony lounge there that you can get to via an elevator. But the normal seats are also very impressive. The screen of the IMAX is curved and looks even bigger. Due to Corona, only half of the seats are currently occupied, but the cinema offers enough space even so. The sound and the movie experience are simply amazing.
There is also a cinema in the Dubai Ski World. There you sit thickly wrapped on cinema chairs in the snow and can watch a movie. Since I always find it very cold in the cinema anyway, I don’t even want to imagine how you have to freeze in the snow cinema.
I have already described the VR experience in more detail in another blog entry. There, you dive into a new virtual world and can experience different adventures up close in a short sequence. Definitely something you should do once in the Mall of the Emirates.
In addition to two food courts, this mall naturally offers a variety of restaurants as well as cafes. One has the free choice. It doesn’t matter if you just want a coffee, Greek, Mexican or Arabic. There is something of everything.
Again, we haven’t explored everything yet but I feel much more comfortable here than in the gigantic Dubai Mall. The stores are more “normal” and not so much designed for pure presentation and tourists. Somehow I think this mall exudes a certain charm.
