February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

The Dubai Mall is a mega-scale shopping, entertainment, and leisure complex located in Downtown Dubai, directly adjacent to the Burj Khalifa. Opened in 2008, it is one of the largest malls in the world by total area, encompassing over 1,200 retail outlets, an Olympic-sized ice rink, a 22-screen cinema complex, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, a SEGA indoor theme park, and the Dubai Dino — a 155-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton displayed in the main atrium. The mall functions less as a traditional shopping centre and more as a mixed-use destination combining retail, hospitality, culture, and entertainment.

UAE Context

The Dubai Mall was developed by Emaar Properties as the commercial anchor of the Downtown Dubai master plan. It sits at the base of the Burj Khalifa and overlooks the Dubai Fountain — the world’s largest choreographed fountain system. The mall consistently ranks among the most visited buildings on Earth, attracting tens of millions of visitors annually, a figure that surpasses the attendance of many major tourist cities. Its tenant mix spans luxury fashion houses, electronics retailers, hypermarkets, and hundreds of food-and-beverage outlets catering to an international clientele.

Key Data

The Dubai Mall covers approximately 502,000 square metres of gross leasable area. It connects to the Dubai Metro via a climate-controlled walkway and has parking capacity for more than 14,000 vehicles. The complex has been expanded multiple times since its opening, with Emaar announcing further phases to increase retail and entertainment capacity. The Dubai Fountain show outside the mall draws thousands of spectators nightly.

Vision 2031 Significance

The Dubai Mall is a cornerstone of the UAE’s retail tourism economy. Its capacity to attract international visitors year-round supports the D33 agenda’s target of doubling Dubai’s economy by 2033. The mall demonstrates the UAE’s model of combining retail with immersive entertainment to create destination experiences that extend tourist stays and spending.

  • Burj Khalifa — The adjacent supertall skyscraper that anchors Downtown Dubai.
  • Emaar Properties — The master developer behind the mall and surrounding district.
  • D33 Agenda — Dubai’s economic plan that the mall’s tourism revenue supports.
  • Global Village — Another large-scale entertainment-retail destination in Dubai.