Pick The Dubai Mall if the Burj Khalifa, the aquarium or the Fountain is in your plan, and Mall of the Emirates if you want Ski Dubai or an easier mall. The Dubai Mall has around 1,200 shops and the entrance to the tower, whose Burj Khalifa ticket starts from $55. Mall of the Emirates is smaller, a short covered walk from its Metro station and home to Ski Dubai. This guide compares them by need, hotel area, weather and time.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Burj Khalifa Observation Deck — From $55 per person, 1.5-2 hours.
Is Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates better?
The Dubai Mall is better if you want the Burj Khalifa, the aquarium panel and the Fountain, and it has around 1,200 shops. Mall of the Emirates is better for Ski Dubai (from about AED 150) and an easier visit. For a first trip with one mall, choose The Dubai Mall.
This guide also answers:
- Which mall is bigger?
- Where is Ski Dubai?
- Where do I go for the Burj Khalifa and the Fountain?
Five reasons to choose one mall over the other
#1
The Dubai Mall for the tower and the Fountain
The Burj Khalifa entrance is inside the mall, and the Dubai Fountain plays on the lake in front of it. After its last reopening, Emaar published evening shows every 30 minutes from 6 PM to 11 PM; check Emaar's channels for current times. No other mall in the city lets you do a tower, a fountain show and dinner without leaving the building.
#2
The Dubai Mall for the aquarium and the family list
The huge acrylic panel of the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo can be seen free from the mall floor, and going inside is a paid ticket. The mall also holds an ice rink, KidZania and VR Park, so a family can fill a day indoors. It is the stronger rainy-day and summer plan of the two for most families.
#3
Mall of the Emirates for Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai has a snow park and a slope of about 400 m, with passes from about AED 150 to AED 260 depending on type and date and sessions of about two hours. Nothing like it exists at The Dubai Mall, and it is the one attraction that decides the choice for many families. Check Ski Dubai's own site before you buy.
#4
Mall of the Emirates for an easier day
It is smaller than the Downtown mall and has a Metro station a short covered walk away, so it is simpler to cross and to leave. It also draws fewer sightseers, which helps on busy evenings, though weekends and holidays are full everywhere. Choose it when shopping and a film are the plan, not the view.
#5
Both by Metro, on one line
The two malls are on the same Red Line, with no change between them, roughly 15-20 minutes apart. The Dubai Mall is a 10-15 minute walk from its station along an air-conditioned bridge, while Mall of the Emirates is a short covered walk. Fares are AED 3-7.5 a trip on a Silver Nol card, so doing both costs little.
Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates: the short answer
Choose The Dubai Mall if you want the Burj Khalifa, the aquarium panel or the Fountain, and Mall of the Emirates if you want Ski Dubai or a calmer mall. If you have time for only one, most first-time visitors should pick The Dubai Mall, because the tower is inside it and the Fountain is outside its doors. It has around 1,200 shops and more than 200 luxury brands on Fashion Avenue. Mall of the Emirates has several hundred shops, a luxury wing called the Fashion Dome and Ski Dubai, with passes from about AED 150.
Both open at 10 AM and close in the late evening, about 11 PM to midnight depending on the day, and both are on the Red Line. Allow 3-4 hours at The Dubai Mall for the tower, the aquarium panel and the Fountain, and a full day if you also shop. At Mall of the Emirates allow 2-3 hours for the shops and about three more if you book Ski Dubai. The single-mall guides are the Dubai Mall guide and the Mall of the Emirates guide.
Side by side: what each mall gives you
Neither is a bargain: both stock many of the same international chains, so compare prices on the brands you want. What differs is what you can do between the shops.
| The Dubai Mall | Mall of the Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | The tower, the aquarium panel, the Fountain, a long day out | Ski Dubai, shopping and a film, an easier visit |
| Shops | Around 1,200, with 200+ luxury brands on Fashion Avenue | Several hundred, with a luxury wing, the Fashion Dome |
| Headline attractions | Burj Khalifa entrance, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, ice rink, KidZania, VR Park | Ski Dubai, VOX Cinemas |
| Headline price | Burj Khalifa from $55 with us; the aquarium is a separate ticket | Ski Dubai from about AED 150 by pass and date |
| Metro | Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall; a 10-15 minute walk on the Metro Link bridge | Mall of the Emirates; a short covered walk |
| Evening | The Fountain plays outside on the lake; the busiest hours | Calmer; dinner and a film |
| With children | More choice, a long walk; good in summer | Ski Dubai and the cinema; shorter distances |
| Time to allow | 3-4 hours for the big three; a full day with shopping | 2-3 hours for the shops, about 3 more for Ski Dubai |
Hours, tenants and ticket prices change; both malls' websites have the current list.
The table gives away the pattern: The Dubai Mall wins on things you can see and Mall of the Emirates wins on convenience and the one thing no other mall has, snow.
Shopping: which has the better shops?
On pure choice, The Dubai Mall: more stores, a whole wing of luxury brands and a bigger range of dining. Mall of the Emirates is still large, with high-street fashion, beauty and home brands, and a luxury wing that includes names such as Cartier and Hermès. For a normal shopping list, either will do, and the difference is the walk: the Downtown mall can mean 20-25 minutes of walking from the Metro to the far side, while the Al Barsha mall is easier on tired feet.
Sales are the same story. TradeArabia reported that the Dubai Shopping Festival runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, with promotions across the city, and both malls take part (as of 29 October 2026; confirm the dates on Visit Dubai). Tourists can claim back the VAT on eligible purchases at the airport, covered in our VAT refund guide. If you want bargaining and gold by weight, neither mall does that; the old souks do, and the Old Dubai walking tour from $35 takes you through the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk with a local guide. The full ranking is in our guide to the best malls in Dubai.
Attractions: the real difference
This is where the choice is made. The Dubai Mall is built around things to see: the viewing panel of the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is free to look at from the mall floor, going inside costs extra, and the lake outside has the Fountain. The Burj Khalifa entrance is on the lower ground floor, and a Burj Khalifa ticket for Levels 124 and 125 starts from $55 per person, with SKY Level 148 from $115. We book a timed slot and send e-tickets on WhatsApp; there is no hotel transfer, and payment is in full in advance because tickets cannot be refunded or changed once issued. Sunset slots cost more than off-peak ones, so we confirm the exact price on WhatsApp.
Mall of the Emirates is built around one thing to do: Ski Dubai. It has a snow park for play and a slope of about 400 m for skiers and snowboarders, and it is cold enough to make the point on the hottest day of the year. Penguin encounters and lessons are sold separately. It is also the better choice for a wet or very hot day when children need something that is not shopping; the Ski Dubai guide has the passes and age rules. One note for Downtown plans: the Museum of the Future is temporarily closed, with a reopening reported for the first quarter of 2027 and no confirmed date, so do not build a day around it; the Museum of the Future guide has the latest.
Which one for your hotel area
The easiest choice often follows the hotel. Both malls are on the Red Line, so nowhere is out of reach, but the first trip tends to be the nearest one.
| You are staying in | Nearest mall | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown, Business Bay | The Dubai Mall | Walk or one Metro stop; Mall of the Emirates is a direct Red Line ride |
| Dubai Marina, JLT, JBR | Mall of the Emirates | One direct Red Line ride from DMCC or Sobha Realty; The Dubai Mall is a longer ride the other way |
| Al Barsha | Mall of the Emirates | Walkable; the area guide has the hotel options |
| Palm Jumeirah | Either | Tram to the Marina stations, then the Red Line; allow extra time |
| Old Dubai, Deira, Bur Dubai | The Dubai Mall | Red Line from BurJuman or Union, or a short taxi |
Allow about 15-20 minutes on the Red Line between the two malls; the Dubai Mall station then needs a 10-15 minute walk.
If you are still choosing where to stay, Dubai Marina vs Downtown Dubai and the Downtown Dubai area guide compare the two bases. The Metro itself is covered in the Dubai Metro guide.
A plan that uses both malls
If you have two days in the same part of the city, give each mall its own day rather than rushing both. A good order is Mall of the Emirates on the day you are tired or the weather is poor, and The Dubai Mall on the day you want the evening view.
A Downtown day should put the tower first and the lake second. Book a Burj Khalifa slot about an hour before sunset, spend the first part in daylight, stay for the lights and come down to the Fountain shows; our best time to visit Burj Khalifa guide has the slot for every month. A Mall of the Emirates day works well with the sea: ride the Red Line to DMCC and add our one-hour shared yacht tour from $32 per person, which leaves hourly from the marina pier with check-in 20 minutes before and is paid in full in advance.
Travelling with small children and a lot of walking? Our Dubai with kids itinerary shows how to space the malls with outdoor time.
Who should skip which
Skip The Dubai Mall on a Friday or Saturday evening if you dislike crowds, or if you have only one hour: the walk from the Metro to the Fountain side alone takes 20-25 minutes. Skip it also if you are not interested in the tower, the aquarium or the lake, because then it is only a very large mall.
Skip Mall of the Emirates if you are in Dubai for the views, or if the weather is perfect and you would rather be on a beach or a boat. Do not travel across the city only for the shops: both malls stock many brands that the malls near your hotel also sell.
FAQ
Is Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates better?
The Dubai Mall is better if you want the Burj Khalifa, the aquarium panel and the Fountain, and it has around 1,200 shops. Mall of the Emirates is better for Ski Dubai (from about AED 150) and an easier visit. For a first trip with one mall, choose The Dubai Mall.
Which mall is bigger?
The Dubai Mall, with around 1,200 shops and more than 200 luxury brands on Fashion Avenue. Mall of the Emirates has several hundred shops and is easier to cross.
Where is Ski Dubai?
Inside Mall of the Emirates in Al Barsha, with a separate ticket from about AED 150 to AED 260 depending on the pass and date. The Dubai Mall has no snow attraction.
Where do I go for the Burj Khalifa and the Fountain?
The Dubai Mall. The At the Top entrance is on the lower ground floor, and the Dubai Fountain plays on the lake outside. Our tickets start from $55 per person for Levels 124 and 125.
Can I visit both malls in one day?
Yes, but it is a lot. They are on the same Red Line, roughly 15-20 minutes apart. A realistic day is the tower and the Fountain at The Dubai Mall, then another day for Ski Dubai or shopping at Mall of the Emirates.
Which mall is better for children?
The Dubai Mall has the aquarium panel, an ice rink, KidZania and VR Park. Mall of the Emirates has Ski Dubai and the cinema, with shorter distances. Both are indoors, so both work in summer.
Are the two malls open at the same hours?
Both open at 10 AM and close in the late evening, about 11 PM to midnight depending on the day. Hours change in Ramadan and on public holidays, so check each mall's website before a late visit.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Burj Khalifa Observation Deck
It is a ticket, not a guided tour: you pick the date and time slot, we book it and send the e-tickets on WhatsApp, and you make your own way to The Dubai Mall. Levels 124 and 125 suit most visitors; SKY adds Level 148 at 555 m with priority access, a multilingual host and refreshments. On request we also book Sky Views Observatory, The View at The Palm and Dubai Frame.
- Duration
- 1.5-2 hours
- Area
- Downtown Dubai
- Format
- Timed-entry ticket
- Best for
- first-time visitors, couples and families who want Dubai from the observation decks of the 828-metre Burj Khalifa
From $55 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour
It is the most stylish way to see the skyline without paying for a private charter: a premium yacht with spacious decks and 5-star hospitality, a red carpet at the pier and the crew helping with photos against JBR and Ain Dubai. Full pre-payment secures your slot — the hourly departures sell out — and the yacht leaves strictly on time.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 1-hour sightseeing cruise
- Best for
- families, couples and anyone who wants the Marina skyline from the water without a private charter
From $32 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Old Dubai Walking Tour
It is the Dubai that is walked rather than driven: the Creek where the city began as a trading port, the restored wind-tower quarter and the souks that still trade spices and gold. A local guide tells the story along the way. The $35 walk includes the abra, Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water; the $55 option adds street-food tastings.
- Duration
- 3-4 hours
- Area
- Old Dubai: Bur Dubai and Deira
- Format
- Shared group walk
- Best for
- first-time visitors, food lovers and anyone who wants the old trading side of Dubai on foot
From $35 per person Full prepayment
View tour📚 Keep reading
Photos: The indoor Waterfall at The Dubai Mall with its silver diver sculptures, seen from an upper floor with shopfronts around it — Dakstor, CC BY-SA 4.0, The Dubai Mall for the aquarium and the family list — Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Mall of the Emirates for Ski Dubai — Alberto-g-rovi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Mall of the Emirates for an easier day — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).