The Mall of the Emirates in Dubai will go through a whopping Dh5 billion expansion, one which will add 20,000 square meters and 100 new stores in what is one of the Middle East’s leading shopping and leisure destination.

As part of this, Dh1.1 billion has already been deployed into ‘major enhancements’, including on a new wellness club, a ‘cultural hub’, dining precinct, and infrastructure upgrades.

It was in late September of 2005 that the mall opened, with the famed ski slope being one of the anchor attractions. In the years since, it has become one of the most visited places in Dubai. Clearly, the owner of the mall, Majid Al Futtaim Group, sees more growth possibilities from the expansion, one with a Dh5 billion cost element to it.

“The Dh5 billion investment will focus on reshaping the physical environment, enhancing customer experiences, and introducing ground-breaking new concepts,” said Khalifa Bin Braik, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management.

“Certain projects - like new road access from the Umm Suqeim bridge and Sheikh Zayed Road - are already complete. The full project concluded in September 2024.”

The new investment also includes a full revamp of the West End district. Infrastructure ‘enhancements’ are underway, which includes the ‘rollout of the Parkin barrierless parking system, improved access roads, and bridge upgrades in collaboration with Dubai’s RTA, expected by September’.

The MoE expansion will introduce an ‘indoor-outdoor precinct’, which will offer a mix of fast-casual dining and interactive entertainment. At its center will be the mall’s ‘first-ever outdoor F&B courtyard’, set to open in early 2027.

“This adaptable space will transform into a lush green oasis during the cooler months, offering visitors a refreshing new way to enjoy the mall’s evolving culinary scene,” said a statement.

There will be other new additions and top-ups too:

• The ‘highly anticipated’ New Covent Garden theatre is set to soft-launch in mid-2025, with the grand opening later in the year.
• The multi-offering precinct’s lifestyle and entertainment spaces will be ready by 2026.
• The dining outlets in the precinct and the ‘North End’ spaces will up early 2027.

“We have many more projects underway, and we will be announcing them soon from high-end restaurants, to elevated experiences for our VIC,” said Bin Braik. “There are some incredible uplifts that will be unveiled in due course.

“Two decades ago, Mall of the Emirates set a new benchmark for retail and entertainment in the region.

“Today, we’re building on that legacy with a bold investment that redefines what a mall can be. This transformation goes beyond physical expansion — it’s about creating new ways for people to connect, unwind, and be inspired, all in one destination.”

Four new entertainment concepts are to launch late 2026, while Vox Cinemas has already debuted the ‘world’s most advanced IMAX experience’.