Most shopping centres or malls in the UAE are much more than shopping destinations, many are well-designed attractive venues with food courts and entertainment areas
A number of huge new malls have opened in recent years. Mall of the Emirates, on Sheikh Zayed Road, featuring Carrefour, Harvey Nicholls, Aspreys and Debenhams, has 223,000 square metres of shops and an indoor ski area. Dubai Festival City near the new Business Bay bridge, houses the largest Marks and Spencers outside the UK, along with a host of designer outlets. Ibn Battuta Mall on Sheikh Zayed Road, not far from Jebel Ali, is a huge themed mall centred on the travels of a renowned fourteenth century explorer. Dubai Mall in 'Downtown Dubai' near Burj Dubai covers 351,000 square metres and Mall of Arabia being built in Dubailand is destined to be the largest in Dubai.
For years, shopping in Abu Dhabi was overshadowed by the more sophisticated centres in Dubai. In recent years however, magnificent new shopping centres have been built in Abu Dhabi including the delightful Marina Mall on the extended breakwater and Abu Dhabi Mall. All the major High St brands eg. Oasis, Next, Laura Ashley as well as international haute couture are well represented.
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