Mall of the Emirates opens at 10 AM, closes about 11 PM and is home to Ski Dubai. It sits in Al Barsha, a short covered walk from the Red Line station of the same name, halfway between Downtown and Dubai Marina. Allow 2-3 hours for the shops and a meal, and about three more for a Ski Dubai session. This guide covers what is inside, the Metro route, when it is quiet and how to follow snow with a shared yacht tour from $32.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour — From $32 per person, 1 hour.
What time does Mall of the Emirates open and close?
It opens at 10 AM. On the day we checked its website, it showed 10 AM to 11 PM; weekends and public holidays can run later, and hours change in Ramadan. Check the mall's hours page before a late visit.
This guide also answers:
- How long do you need at Mall of the Emirates?
- Which Metro station is for Mall of the Emirates?
- Is Mall of the Emirates bigger than The Dubai Mall?
Five things to plan around Mall of the Emirates
#1
Ski Dubai: snow inside the mall
The reason many visitors come. Ski Dubai has a snow park and a ski slope of about 400 m, kept below freezing all year. Passes are timed, usually about two hours, and run from about AED 150 to AED 260 depending on type and date, so check Ski Dubai's own site before you pay. Our Ski Dubai guide has the clothing and age rules.
#2
The Metro station and the covered walk
The Red Line stops at Mall of the Emirates, and a short covered walk takes you from the platform to the mall, which keeps the heat off in summer. It is a single ride from Downtown, from DMCC and Sobha Realty for the Marina, and from the airport terminals. A Silver Nol card pays for all of it.
#3
Kite Beach and the Burj Al Arab, a short taxi away
Kite Beach, the public beaches and the Burj Al Arab viewpoints have no Metro station of their own, and Mall of the Emirates is the practical stop to change to a taxi. Go after 4 PM, when the heat drops and the light turns gold, and keep the cold air-conditioned hours of the mall for the middle of the day.
#4
Souk Madinat Jumeirah for a cooler evening
A waterfront souk with a canal, a wooden footbridge, restaurant terraces and the Burj Al Arab rising behind. It is quieter and prettier than a food court, and it works as the evening half of a day that begins in the mall. Book a terrace table at weekends, and ask your taxi driver for the Madinat Jumeirah souk entrance.
#5
Then the sea: Dubai Marina by Red Line
Our shared yacht tour leaves hourly from the marina pier, from $32 per person, and takes one hour past JBR, Bluewaters and Ain Dubai. From the mall it is one Red Line ride to DMCC. Snow in the morning and sea in the afternoon is the easiest two-part day in Dubai, and it needs no car.
Mall of the Emirates in one minute
Mall of the Emirates opens at 10 AM and closes at about 11 PM, with later closing at weekends and on holidays. On the day we checked the mall's website it showed 10 AM to 11 PM, and hours change in Ramadan and on public holidays, so check the hours page before a late visit. The mall is in Al Barsha, next to the Mall of the Emirates station on the Red Line, a short covered walk away. It is halfway between Downtown and Dubai Marina, which is why it works as a base for both.
Entry is free. Ski Dubai, the cinema and every meal are paid. The mall's site lists a luxury wing called the Fashion Dome, with brands such as Cartier and Hermès, VOX Cinemas, a wide range of restaurants and cafés, and the Sheraton and Kempinski hotels attached to the building. It is a good place to be when the outdoors is 40°C and a poor use of a perfect January beach day. If you are choosing between this and the Downtown mall, The Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates compares them side by side.
What is inside, and what costs extra
You do not need to see all of it. This is the short list of what visitors actually use, with what is free and what is paid.
| Area | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Ski Dubai | An indoor snow park and a ski slope of about 400 m | Separate ticket, roughly AED 150-260 by pass and date; sessions are usually about 2 hours |
| Fashion Dome | The luxury wing, with brands such as Cartier and Hermès | Go on a weekday morning for the calmest walk |
| Main shops and atrium | Fashion, beauty, home and lifestyle stores around the glass-domed central atrium | The mall's site and app have a store directory and a map |
| VOX Cinemas | A multiplex inside the mall | The listings include films in English, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil and other languages |
| Restaurants and cafés | From fast food and cafés to sit-down restaurants | Prices are mall prices; the cheapest meals are at the food outlets |
| Hotels | The Sheraton and Kempinski are attached to the mall | Useful if you want snow and shops without leaving the building |
Tenants and prices change; the mall's own website has the current list.
The one thing the mall is missing is the view: there is no tower, aquarium panel or fountain here. If those are your reasons for a mall visit, The Dubai Mall is the better choice, and our Dubai Mall guide covers it.
How long to allow, and when to go
Allow 2-3 hours for the shops and a meal. A Ski Dubai session takes about three hours in all: two hours of snow, plus kit, queues and changing. A half day, say 10 AM to 3 PM, fits snow, lunch and some shopping without rushing.
Weekday late mornings are the calmest. Evenings and the UAE weekend, Saturday and Sunday, are the busiest, and so are school holidays. TradeArabia reported that the Dubai Shopping Festival runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, and malls are at their busiest then (as of 29 October 2026; confirm the dates on Visit Dubai).
Inside, the air conditioning is cold, so carry a light layer. Malls expect modest dress, with shoulders and knees covered; the Dubai dress code guide has the detail. If you are visiting in the heat, our guide to Dubai in summer lists the other cool-air options.
Getting to Mall of the Emirates by Metro
The Red Line is the easiest route, and the station is in Al Barsha, a short covered walk from the mall entrance. Stations carry sponsor names that change, so look for Mall of the Emirates on the screens. Fares are AED 3-7.5 a trip on a Silver Nol card; the Dubai Metro guide has the cards and zones.
| From | Best way | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown and The Dubai Mall | Red Line towards the Marina | A direct ride with no change; allow about 15-20 minutes |
| Dubai Marina and JLT | Red Line from DMCC or Sobha Realty | Direct; the tram connects JBR to both stations |
| JBR and the Palm | Tram to DMCC or Sobha Realty, then the Red Line | Or a taxi if you are in a hurry |
| DXB airport | Red Line from Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 | Direct; the airport stations are inside the terminals |
| Old Dubai | Green Line to BurJuman or Union, then the Red Line | One change |
| Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah | Taxi | A short ride, roughly 10-15 minutes depending on traffic |
Journey times are rounded and depend on the time of day; check the RTA S'hail app for live information.
If you are choosing a hotel nearby, the Al Barsha area guide explains what the neighbourhood is like away from the mall.
Ski Dubai: the short version
Most visitors want the Snow Park, which is snow play with slides and sledging runs; the ski slope is for people who can already ski or snowboard. Passes are timed, and prices run from about AED 150 to AED 260 depending on type and date. Check what the pass includes, because Ski Dubai normally lends snow clothing and boots, and ask about gloves and socks when you book.
The honest verdict: it is a well-run novelty rather than a ski holiday. It is worth it with children and as a break from the heat, and it is less convincing for experienced skiers because the slope is short. Babies do not belong in air below freezing. The Ski Dubai guide covers the passes, the penguins and the age rules.
Snow, then sea: a half-day plan
Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Marina are one Red Line ride apart, so the day splits easily into snow in the morning and water in the afternoon. This is a winter example, when the outdoors is at its best and sunset is about 5:30 PM.
| Time | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 AM | Mall opens: shops while it is quiet, or go straight to Ski Dubai | Mall of the Emirates |
| About 11:00 AM | Ski Dubai session, kit time included, about 3 hours | Ski Dubai |
| About 2:00 PM | Lunch in the mall | Mall of the Emirates |
| About 3:00 PM | Red Line to DMCC, then a tram stop, a short taxi or a 10-minute walk | Dubai Marina |
| Around 4:00 PM | Shared yacht tour, one hour, with check-in 20 minutes before | Marina pier, Level P, Al Majara Tower |
Agree the yacht slot on WhatsApp first; hourly departures sell out.
Our shared yacht tour is from $32 per person, a one-hour cruise past Dubai Marina, JBR and Bluewaters with a photo stop at Ain Dubai. Full prepayment secures your slot, the yacht leaves strictly on time with no refund for late arrivals, shoes come off before boarding, and children are welcome under adult supervision. How to get to the Marina yacht pier has the walk, and the sunset cruise guide shows which slot catches the light.
If you would rather see the city from above, the Red Line also runs the other way to Downtown, where a Burj Khalifa ticket starts from $55 per person for Levels 124 and 125. Prime-time slots near sunset cost more, and we confirm the price for your slot on WhatsApp. Our guide to the best time to visit Burj Khalifa has the slot for each month.
Who should go, and who should skip it
Go if you have children who have never seen snow, if the weather is too hot or wet for the outdoors, or if you want a large, easy mall with a Metro station at the door. It is also a sensible base for a cinema evening or for hotel guests who want everything under one roof.
Skip it if you have one afternoon and want a view, because the tower, the aquarium panel and the Fountain are all at The Dubai Mall. Skip Ski Dubai on a mild beach day, and if you want souks and bargaining, the old markets across the Creek do that better than any mall. For the full ranking, see the best malls in Dubai. Tourists can claim back VAT on eligible purchases at the airport, covered in our VAT refund guide.
FAQ
What time does Mall of the Emirates open and close?
It opens at 10 AM. On the day we checked its website, it showed 10 AM to 11 PM; weekends and public holidays can run later, and hours change in Ramadan. Check the mall's hours page before a late visit.
How long do you need at Mall of the Emirates?
Allow 2-3 hours for the shops and a meal. A Ski Dubai session adds about three hours in all, because the two-hour pass is preceded by kit, queues and changing. A half day, from 10 AM to about 3 PM, covers snow, lunch and some shopping.
Which Metro station is for Mall of the Emirates?
Mall of the Emirates on the Red Line, a short covered walk from the mall. It is halfway between Downtown and Dubai Marina, and the fare is AED 3-7.5 a trip on a Silver Nol card depending on zones.
Is Mall of the Emirates bigger than The Dubai Mall?
No. The Dubai Mall is larger, with around 1,200 shops, the aquarium and the Burj Khalifa entrance. Mall of the Emirates has several hundred shops and is easier to cross, and its draw is Ski Dubai.
Is Ski Dubai included in the entry to Mall of the Emirates?
No. Entry to the mall is free, but Ski Dubai is a separate ticket, roughly AED 150-260 depending on the pass and date. Check Ski Dubai's own site before you pay, because prices change.
Is Mall of the Emirates good for children?
Yes, mainly because of the Ski Dubai Snow Park, plus the cinema and the wide choice of food. Babies should not go into the snow area, and age rules depend on the pass, so confirm them when you book.
What should I wear to Mall of the Emirates?
Light, modest clothes with shoulders and knees covered, comfortable shoes and a thin layer for the cold air conditioning. Beachwear is not appropriate in the mall.
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Photos: The central glass-domed atrium of Mall of the Emirates, with the mall name on the balcony and shoppers below — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, Ski Dubai: snow inside the mall — Alberto-g-rovi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Kite Beach and the Burj Al Arab, a short taxi away — MaryJaneB, CC BY-SA 4.0, Then the sea: Dubai Marina by Red Line — Gokul Venugopal, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).