It started with a vision. A vision for a retail destination of unrivalled quality at the center of Downtown Dubai, the de facto area for all things groundbreaking. Thus, in 2008, spanning 550,000 square meters across four levels and accommodating more than 1,200 retail outlets, Dubai Mall opened its doors. The mall, under the shadow of Burj Khalifa, is the beating heart of an already industrious Downtown Dubai complete with Dubai Opera, Waterfront Promenade, Dubai Fountain and Burj Park. Perhaps this is the reason the founder of Emaar Properties, Mohamed Ali Alabbar, describes Dubai Mall as “a city within a city.”

In fact, Dubai Mall is a horizontal city, bringing the shopping, entertainment, culture and hospitality worlds under one roof. The retail offerings at the mall are unmatched, with its shining jewel, Fashion Avenue, housing more than two hundred boutiques from the most desirable brands. Not to mention the mall’s expansive entertainment options: Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo; Dubai Ice Rink; At the Top, Burj Khalifa; Zabeel Sports District; and Dubai Dino. Then there are the unlimited dining possibilities. And for a particularly memorable experience Souk Al Bahar, an Arab-style dining-and-entertainment development, is an ideal choice to become immersed in the region’s rich cultural heritage.

But this shopping-and-leisure gem is not just wide boulevards, incredible attractions and breathtaking atrium spaces—it is the epitome of five-star service and hospitality, going above and beyond to attend to every comfort. Constantly growing, evolving and expanding, Dubai Mall never fails to amaze. Explore the many wonders of Downtown Dubai in the pages of Dubai Mall: A Mall Like No Other, with original photography by Oliver Pilcher.