Dragon Mart is the largest Chinese market and mall in Dubai, with over 3,500 outlets, open 10 AM to 10 PM Sunday to Thursday and until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. It sells furniture, electronics, household goods, toys and building materials at trade-market prices, and it is a long way from the tourist areas. This guide covers what is worth buying, bargaining, the Metro, bus and taxi links, how long to allow and who should skip it.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Old Dubai Walking Tour — From $35 per person, 3-4 hours.
How many shops are in Dragon Mart?
The mall's home page says over 3,500 outlets, while its about page says more than 6,000 shops and kiosks. The two figures differ, probably because of what is counted. Either way there are hundreds of shops, many selling similar goods, so compare a few before you buy.
This guide also answers:
- What are the opening hours of Dragon Mart?
- How do I get to Dragon Mart by Metro?
- How long do I need at Dragon Mart?
Four ways to reach Dragon Mart
#1
Metro to Rashidiya, then a taxi
Dragon Mart's own directions name Rashidiya on the Red Line as the nearest Metro station. From there an RTA taxi takes about 9 minutes over 10.4 km. The Metro is cheap and avoids road traffic, and the short taxi leg is easier than a bus change with bags.
#2
RTA bus 50
According to the mall, bus 50 runs every 30 minutes from 6 AM to midnight. It stops at the rear entrance (BA) and in front of the GB section of Dragon Mart 2, opposite The Mahal restaurant. Check the live route and your starting stop in the RTA app before you leave.
#3
Taxi from your hotel
The mall says taxis are available during working hours at the main entrance and in front of the GB entrance at Dragon Mart 2. A taxi or ride-hailing car is the best choice if you buy anything large, since a bus or Metro with a lamp or a box is hard work.
#4
Car, or from the airport
The mall's directions describe the location as Al Awir Road towards Hatta, next to International City, about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport and 40 minutes from Jebel Ali Port. It offers valet parking at its entrances and a service that sends your shopping cart to your car.
Dragon Mart in short: what it is and who it suits
Dragon Mart is Dubai's trade market for Chinese goods, with over 3,500 outlets according to its own website. It is open from 10 AM to 10 PM Sunday to Thursday and from 10 AM to 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. The website describes it as the largest Chinese market and mall in Dubai. It is built for people who furnish a flat, equip an office or run a shop, so it sells things in volume and at low prices rather than souvenirs.
For a tourist it is a good half-day only in a few cases: you need something cheap and practical, such as a suitcase, a lamp or a toy; you like browsing trade markets; or you are comparing prices for a purchase that you will ship home. It is not a sightseeing stop. It sits next to International City, a long way from Downtown and the Marina. If you want brands and air-conditioned comfort, our guide to the best malls in Dubai is the better start.
What Dragon Mart sells, and what to check
The mall lists furniture, home essentials and accessories, office equipment, sports gear, electronics, building materials, machinery and fashion, and its about page adds home appliances, garden items and toys. The mall's about page says its website lists over 45,000 products. Most goods are Chinese-made and often unbranded or from lesser-known brands, and quality varies from shop to shop. The table shows where it is worth looking and what to check.
| Category | Worth a look for | Check before you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture and home | Beds, shelves, lamps, rugs, kitchenware | Size and weight, and how you will take it home; ask the shop about delivery |
| Electronics and appliances | Chargers, fans, kettles, speakers | Plug and voltage, a written warranty and an invoice; for phones, see our guide to buying phones in Dubai |
| Toys, sports and garden | Children's toys, balls, camping bits, artificial plants | Safety marks on toys and the build quality of anything with moving parts |
| Fashion and accessories | Bags, luggage, basic clothes | Stitching, zips and the size label; try it on if you can |
| Building materials, machinery, office | Mostly for residents and traders | Of little use to tourists |
Categories come from Dragon Mart's own website. The tourist notes are our advice.
For phones and other gadgets, read buying an iPhone and electronics in Dubai first. The UAE uses a different plug and voltage from many countries, so check our power plugs and voltage guide before you buy any appliance. Under UAE consumer rules, as described on u.ae, the invoice must be dated and in Arabic, and a supplier must repair or replace a defective product at no charge. Keep the invoice, and note that a warranty from a small trader is hard to use after you leave Dubai. Our guide to common tourist scams explains how to avoid fake branded goods.
Prices and bargaining
Dragon Mart is a mall, but many of its shops are small traders, and several travel guides we read say that the smaller shops expect a discount to be negotiated, especially when you buy more than one item. The mall itself does not publish a bargaining policy, so treat that as a local habit rather than a rule. The larger or brand-name shops may have fixed prices.
A few simple rules help. Look at three or four shops before you buy, because many sell the same items. Ask for the price for two or three items together. Be polite and ready to walk away. Pay by card where the shop allows it and keep the receipt. Our guide to haggling in Dubai souks covers etiquette that applies here too, although Dragon Mart prices are lower than in the tourist souks to begin with.
Getting there by Metro, bus, taxi or car
Dragon Mart has no Metro station of its own. The mall's directions name Rashidiya on the Red Line as the nearest station, and a taxi from there takes about 9 minutes over 10.4 km. Bus 50 stops at the rear entrance and at Dragon Mart 2 every 30 minutes from 6 AM to midnight, according to the mall. Read our Metro guide for Nol cards and fares, and the taxi and Careem guide for the apps.
By car, the mall gives its location as Al Awir Road, off Interchange 5 of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Taxis wait at the main entrance (AA) and at the GB entrance of Dragon Mart 2. If you are carrying something big, take a taxi both ways and ask the driver to wait while you load it, or arrange the return ride before you leave the car park.
How long to allow, and a simple plan
The mall gives no visit times, so this is our own estimate. Allow two to three hours for a focused trip with a shopping list, and a half day if you are choosing furniture or comparing prices in several shops. The complex is long, with two main parts, Dragon Mart 1 and Dragon Mart 2, and some guides put the length at about 1.2 km, a figure the mall does not state. Wear comfortable shoes, because most of the time you are on your feet.
A sensible plan: arrive at opening on a weekday, which guides describe as calmer, walk the whole length once without buying, then return to the two or three shops that had what you want. The mall has restaurants and cafes, a food court and outdoor dining at Dragon Drive, so lunch is easy. Use the mall's cart-to-car service for heavy items, and finish by mid-afternoon to avoid the evening traffic back to the city.
VAT refund, payment and the evening after
Prices in the UAE include 5% VAT, and visitors can claim back most of it on goods from participating shops when the tax invoice is at least AED 250. Ask at each shop whether it takes part, because many small traders do not. The steps are in our VAT refund guide. For cards, cash and fees, see money in Dubai.
If you prefer to shop with a guide rather than alone, our Old Dubai walking tour, from $35, passes the Spice and Gold Souks with a local guide, and the $55 option adds street-food tastings. On another day, our full-day desert safari picks you up from your hotel.
FAQ
How many shops are in Dragon Mart?
The mall's home page says over 3,500 outlets, while its about page says more than 6,000 shops and kiosks. The two figures differ, probably because of what is counted. Either way there are hundreds of shops, many selling similar goods, so compare a few before you buy.
What are the opening hours of Dragon Mart?
According to the Dragon Mart website, it is open 10 AM to 10 PM Sunday to Thursday and 10 AM to 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Hours can change in Ramadan and on public holidays, so confirm on the website or by phone before a long trip.
How do I get to Dragon Mart by Metro?
Take the Red Line to Rashidiya station, the nearest to Dragon Mart, then an RTA taxi: the mall says it is about 9 minutes and 10.4 km. Bus 50 also stops at the mall every 30 minutes from 6 AM to midnight. Check the live route in the RTA app.
Can I bargain at Dragon Mart?
Often in smaller shops, especially if you buy several items, according to travel guides we read. The mall does not publish a policy, and larger shops may have fixed prices. Compare shops first, ask for a price for several items together, stay polite and keep the receipt.
Is Dragon Mart worth visiting as a tourist?
Only if you want cheap practical goods, enjoy trade markets or need to furnish a flat. It is not a sightseeing stop, it is far from the main areas and most goods are unbranded. For souvenirs and brands, the Old Dubai souks and the main malls are easier.
How long do I need at Dragon Mart?
The mall gives no figure, so by our estimate allow two to three hours for a focused trip and about half a day if you are choosing furniture. Add travel time, because it is about 20 minutes by car from Dubai International Airport and further from the Marina or Downtown.
Can I get a VAT refund at Dragon Mart?
Only from shops that take part in the Tourist Refund Scheme, for a tax invoice of at least AED 250. Many small traders do not take part, so ask before you pay and keep the invoice and goods for the airport check.
Is there parking and a food court at Dragon Mart?
Yes to both. The mall lists restaurants, cafes, a food court and outdoor dining at Dragon Drive. Its amenities page mentions valet parking at the entrances and a cart-to-car service that sends your shopping cart to your car. The customer line is +971 4 390 9999.
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