There are many malls in Dubai, as it can get pretty hot, and whether you like it or not, AC is very much needed. You can find all sorts of malls: inside, outside, themed, galleries under buildings, etc. You have it all!
I haven't been to all of them as there are a LOT, so this is the list of the ones I've been to and my thoughts on them.
Note that this map doesn't represent the true distances, Dubai is very spread apart.
1. Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall located in downtown close to Burj is the main mall in Dubai, It is also the biggest Mall in the world, with about 1,124,000 square meters and 1200 stores. You will probably get lost a lot, I know I did. You can find all kinds of things, like an aquarium, ice skating, waterfalls, a movie theater, all kinds of brands and restaurants.
2. City Walk
City Walk is an outdoor shopping center. They offer a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shops. They also have an area called The Square, with pubs and bars allowed to serve alcohol, which is where you will find most tourists.
3. Mercato
One of my favorite malls has to be Mercato. It's an Italian-styled Shopping Mall. It made me feel like I was at the Venetian shopping gallery in Las Vegas, themed after Venice. It's not very packed, which is quite refreshing, and it has a lot of affordable, trendy shops. If you go, you have to get breakfast or lunch at Arabian Tea House, they have great food and amazing service.
4. Wafi City Mall & Souk
Wafi City is an Egyptian-style mall with many shops and cafes. It's a quiet mall, but it's very nice to stroll around. They have an immersive art experience called AYA that is quite popular. Unrelated to the Egyptian style, they have an Irish pub decorated as if you were actually in Ireland.
Outside the mall there is a covered Souk. It doesn't have a specific name or google maps pin, it's located just in front of the Cleopatra's Spa. It's worth the detour, I'm not a fan of crowded markets and being pressured into buying things, so this was the perfect Souk. It's quiet, there are a lot of shops, everyone is nice, and. It looks gorgeous (picture on the right below).
6. Ibn Battuta Mall
The lbn Battuta Mall located in Jebel Ali Village is a department store. They have all kinds of shops and travel-themed zones. The store called Brands for Less is pretty cool! I found a lot of cool branded clothes for great prices. If you like a bargain you have to stop by there, although I'm sure their selection varies (so you might get lucky or you might not).
7. Mall of the Emirates
You might have heard of this mall, it's where you can Ski. The Mall of the Emirates has a ski slide available, they even have Penguins. This is their main attraction, but they also have a lot of shops and restaurant options. It's not my favorite mall as it can get very crowded, but if you care to see the Ski slide I suppose it's worth one stop. It has its own metro station, so it's rather easy to get to.
8. Global Village
If you are fervent of social media, you have probably heard of Global Village. It's an entertainment park, with country-themed markets and attractions. They are only open from October through April. You get a discount if you purchase your ticket online so be sure to check their website before you go. It opens late afternoon and I would suggest you go early as it can get very crowded at night.
9. La Mer
La Mer is a public beach that also has an outside mall with restaurants and cafes. You can enjoy a day at the beach and go around the mall for a snack or meal. If you are only going for the mall, note that a big part of the units are still unused and a lot of them are closed. If you go you would have to go to the west side of the mall, which is more lively .
10. Gate Avenue
Gate Avenue is a shopping gallery that links a few residential buildings. They have a lot of independent brands and more artsy shops/galleries. They also have some co-working spaces available, one called Youth Hub and it's free to access. If you go on top you also have a pedestrian avenue where you can walk between the buildings. It gives you a great view of downtown, and it's a nice spot for a photoshoot.
11. Expo City
Expo City is located at the end of the metro line (station Expo 2020). It's a convention center built for the expo of 2020. There are a few entertainment activities. You can check their website for more info. They have a huge dome structure called Al Wasl Plaza, which they light up at night and display cool light projections.
12. Gold Souk & Extension
If you like Souk and jewelry you have to head down the Gold Souk and the new Extension. Located in the old part of Dubai, where you can find more authentic and typical buildings. The old Souk and the new one are not linked but they are separated by just a few streets. You can walk around both, have breakfast at Maranello Café, and take a boat ride around Dubai Creek.
