Malls are not just shopping venues in the UAE. They are where residents eat, socialise, watch films and escape the summer heat, and they are a core part of why tourists visit the country in the first place. While malls in many countries are losing ground to e-commerce, malls in the UAE are recording their highest ever footfall and revenue.
This post brings together the latest statistics on UAE shopping malls, covering how many there are, which are the biggest, how much money they make, what shop rents look like, and how residents actually use them.
Top Highlights From This Post
- The UAE has 766 shopping malls as of 2026.
- Dubai Mall recorded 111 million visitors in 2024, making it the most visited place on earth for the second year in a row.
- Emaar’s malls, retail and commercial leasing portfolio generated AED 6.3 billion in revenue in 2025, up 13% from 2024.
- Prime super regional mall rents in Dubai reached AED 826 per sq ft in Q2 2025, up 15.1% year on year.
- 6 in 10 UAE residents visit a mall at least once a week, with most spending between AED 100 and AED 500 per trip.
There are 766 shopping malls in the UAE
The UAE has 766 shopping malls as of 2026. Abu Dhabi leads with 268 malls, followed by Dubai with 214 and Sharjah with 141, while the remaining emirates account for the rest. The count covers everything from super regional destinations like Dubai Mall and Yas Mall to small community centres.
Here is the number of shopping malls in the UAE by emirate:
| Emirate | Number of shopping malls |
| Abu Dhabi | 268 |
| Dubai | 214 |
| Sharjah | 141 |
| Ajman | 69 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 64 |
| Fujairah | 10 |
Source: Smartscrapers
How many malls are there in Dubai?
Dubai has 214 shopping malls as of 2026, the second highest count of any emirate after Abu Dhabi. The list ranges from super regional destinations like Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Hills Mall to neighbourhood centres such as Nad Al Sheba Mall and City Centre Shindagha, and the number is going to keep growing as new community malls open across the city every year.
Source: Smartscrapers
Which is the biggest mall in the UAE?
Dubai Mall is the biggest mall in the UAE and one of the largest in the world by total area, spanning 1,124,000 sq m. It has more than 1,200 retail outlets, over 200 food and beverage venues, an Olympic-sized ice rink, a 22-screen cinema and the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
The mall is getting even bigger. Emaar is investing AED 1.5 billion in an expansion that will add 240 new luxury retail and dining outlets, with the first phase, The District, already open.
Source: Emaar
Biggest malls in the UAE
After Dubai Mall, these are the largest and most prominent malls across the country.
Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
Mall of the Emirates has a retail floor space of 2.4 million sq ft and around 630 international brands. It is home to Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East, a 14 screen cinema and more than 90 dining outlets.
Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi
Yas Mall is the largest mall in Abu Dhabi at 2.5 million sq ft, with around 370 retail stores, a 20 screen VOX cinema and covered parking for 10,000 cars. It sits on Yas Island next to Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld.
Reem Mall, Abu Dhabi
Reem Mall on Al Reem Island has 2.8 million sq ft of retail floor area with more than 400 stores, around 85 restaurants and Snow Abu Dhabi, the first indoor snow park in the capital.
Dubai Mall is the most visited place on earth
Dubai Mall welcomed 111 million visitors in 2024, the latest full-year figure released, and held the title of the most-visited place on earth for the second consecutive year. Footfall grew 6% over the 105 million recorded in 2023 and was up sharply from 88 million visitors in 2022.
For comparison, Mall of the Emirates, the second most prominent mall in Dubai, drew more than 40 million visitors in 2024.
Official numbers for 2025 had not been released at the time of writing, but Dubai Mall was widely expected to surpass its 2024 record.
Here is how Dubai Mall footfall has grown over the years:
| Year | Dubai Mall visitors |
| 2022 | 88 million |
| 2023 | 105 million |
| 2024 | 111 million |
Source: Dubai Chronicle, Cushman & Wakefield Core
Revenue generated by malls in Dubai
Dubai’s two biggest mall operators, Emaar and Majid Al Futtaim, both posted record results for 2025, driven by high occupancy and rising tenant sales.
Emaar’s mall portfolio earned AED 6.3 billion in 2025
Emaar’s malls, retail and commercial leasing portfolio, anchored by Dubai Mall, generated AED 6.3 billion in revenue in 2025, up 13% from the previous year. EBITDA rose 17% to AED 5.5 billion, and average occupancy across its malls stood at 98%.
Source: Construction Week
Majid Al Futtaim’s malls and hotels earned AED 4.8 billion in 2025
Majid Al Futtaim, which operates Mall of the Emirates and the City Centre malls, reported AED 4.8 billion in revenue from its malls and hotels business in 2025, up 6% year on year. Mall occupancy exceeded 98% and footfall across the portfolio grew 6%.
Source: The National
How big is the UAE retail market?
The UAE retail market stands at $160 billion in 2026 projected to reach USD 227 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% between 2025 and 2033. The market was valued at USD 145.3 billion in 2024, supported by tourism, high disposable incomes and the constant flow of international brands entering the country through its malls.
Source: IMARC Group
Occupancy at Dubai’s top malls sits between 95% and 99%
Super regional malls in Dubai are operating at 95% to 99% occupancy, supported by long tenant waitlists and consistent leasing demand. Community centres in areas like Al Barsha, Motor City and Nad Al Sheba are reaching full occupancy within a year of opening, driven by resident spending and supermarket anchored retail mixes.
Source: Cushman & Wakefield Core
Rent of shops in UAE shopping malls
Prime super regional mall rents in Dubai sits AED 826 per sq ft per year as of 2026, after growing 15.1% year on year, one of the sharpest rent increases in the region. In Abu Dhabi, prime super regional rents climbed 3.4% over the same period to AED 5,524 per sq m per year.
At the very top of the market, Fashion Avenue at Dubai Mall ranks as the 11th most expensive retail location in the world by rent, with rates rising 9% year on year.
Source: JLL, Dubai Chronicle
New malls opening in the UAE in 2026 and beyond
At least seven new malls and retail destinations are lined up across the UAE for 2026, most of them community focused projects in Dubai. Here are the key openings:
| Mall | Location | Details |
| Sobha Mall | Sobha Hartland, Dubai | Around 339,000 sq ft community mall, opening in the second half of 2026 |
| Le Meryeme Liwan Mall | Wadi Al Safa 2, Dubai | Around 113,674 sq ft boutique style mall with Spanish inspired architecture |
| Le Meryeme The Villa Mall | Wadi Al Safa 5, Dubai | Around 124,000 sq ft built up area blending retail, wellness and dining |
| South Bay Mall | Dubai South | Community mall serving the residential district near Al Maktoum Airport |
Source: Gulf News
Beyond 2026, the biggest project in the pipeline is Dubai Square at Dubai Creek Harbour, an Emaar mega mall designed as an indoor city, now expected around 2028. Majid Al Futtaim is also planning a forest integrated mall in its Ghaf Woods community, while Madar Mall in Sharjah, opening in December 2028, will house over 400 retail outlets and 80 restaurants.
The existing giants are expanding too. Emaar is spending AED 1.5 billion on the Dubai Mall expansion, adding 279 outlets through The District, while Majid Al Futtaim has committed AED 5 billion to transform Mall of the Emirates by 2027 with 100 new stores, 20,000 sq m of extra retail space and a 600 seat theatre.
Source: Khaleej Times
6 in 10 UAE residents visit a mall at least once a week
60% of UAE residents visit a mall at least once a week, and most spend between AED 100 and AED 500 per trip. With limited street shopping and extreme summer heat, malls function as climate controlled community spaces where residents shop, dine and socialise in a single visit.
Source: Khaleej Times
Top reasons people in Dubai visit malls
In the Mall Mindset 2025 survey of more than 750 Dubai residents, 97% cited food and beverage as a key reason for visiting malls, putting dining on par with shopping and grocery trips.
The survey also found that mall trips are long, layered outings rather than quick errands:
- The average mall visit lasts up to four hours, covers two to seven outlets and includes up to five purchases.
- 76% of mall trips happen between 5pm and midnight, making evenings the clear peak period.
- 32% of respondents visit a mall at least once a week.
- The 25 to 34 age group is the largest visitor segment, making up 46% of mall goers, and 23% of all visits are solo.
When it comes to discovering what malls have to offer, word of mouth and social media lead the way:
| Discovery channel | Share of respondents |
| Word of mouth | 56% |
| 45% | |
| 32% |
Source: Nielsen – Campaign Middle East
Impact of e-commerce on UAE malls
E-commerce has not hollowed out physical retail in the UAE. Most residents still prefer buying in store, and malls have absorbed online shopping into the experience rather than losing to it.
Most UAE residents still prefer buying in store
The majority of UAE residents prefer shopping for groceries, clothing and furniture at physical stores rather than online, according to a survey of 1,000 consumers and 500 retailers by Adyen. The same study found that 69% of shoppers would keep buying from a brand that offered an in store experience they enjoyed.
Source: Khaleej Times
78% of shoppers check items in store before buying online
78% of shoppers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia have bought items online after first seeing them in store and comparing prices between brands, according to a Tabby survey of 7,500 shoppers. Another 72% find retail inspiration online and usually know exactly what they want before they even walk into a store. For malls, this showrooming behaviour means footfall stays high even when the final transaction happens on a phone.
Source: Khaleej Times
Impact of tourism on UAE malls
99% of visitors to Dubai in 2024 made a stop at Dubai Mall, according to Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism data, which shows just how central malls are to the tourist experience. The UAE welcomed more than 28 million international visitors that year, with Dubai alone accounting for 18.72 million overnight stays.
Source: Khaleej Times
Shopping festivals push mall spending sharply higher
Average consumer spending rose 110% during the 2025 edition of Dubai Summer Surprises, which ran from June 27 to August 31. More than 1,050 brands across 3,800 retailers took part, and over 1,200 winners shared prizes worth more than AED 20 million, showing how big a footfall and spending engine retail festivals remain for UAE malls.
Source: Khaleej Times
Final Word
The numbers make one thing clear. Malls in the UAE are not fading, they are scaling. Record footfall at Dubai Mall, near full occupancy across prime malls, double digit rent growth and billions of dirhams committed to new projects and expansions all point in the same direction.
With seven new malls arriving in 2026 and mega projects like Dubai Square on the horizon, the UAE mall story still has plenty of room to run. We will keep updating this page as new figures come in.
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