Daniel
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October 4, 2026
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11 min read
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2 comments
Things to do in Dubai Mall range from big paid attractions to sights that cost nothing. The mall opens at 10am daily and packs in over 1200 stores, the Dubai Aquarium, an Olympic size ice rink, KidZania, Play DXB and a 26 screen cinema. Entry to the mall is free. Outside, the Dubai Fountain shows run free every evening from 6pm.
Dubai Mall sits in Downtown Dubai beside the Burj Khalifa and works as a full day out, not just a shopping trip. This area guide lists 13 things to do in Dubai Mall with verified prices, exact mall locations, free options and a 4 hour walking route. If shopping is the main reason you are coming, read our shopping in Dubai guide first.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Nearest metro | Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station on the Red Line, linked by the air conditioned Metro Link Bridge |
| Mall hours | Monday to Thursday 10am to 11pm, Friday to Sunday 10am to midnight |
| Entry | Free |
| Budget | Free to about AED 200 per attraction; the top passes reach about AED 400 |
| Best for | Families, first time visitors and anyone escaping the midday heat |
| Time needed | 3 to 5 hours for the highlights; a full day for everything |
The best things to do in Dubai Mall sit mostly on two floors. Start on the Ground Floor for the aquarium and ice rink, then head up to Level 2 for KidZania, Play DXB and the cinema. Prices below come from official sites checked on Sunday 4 October 2026; check the live figure before you book.
The aquarium tunnel is the single most famous of the fun things to do in Dubai Mall. You walk through a 48 metre glass tunnel with sharks and rays circling overhead, then explore the Underwater Zoo above it with crocodiles and a penguin cove.
Cost: from AED 199 for the Silver Pass covering the tunnel, the Underwater Zoo and Penguin Cove, with about 15 percent off for UAE residents. Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours. Location: Ground Floor, at the giant tank wall you can see from inside the mall. Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 11pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to midnight.
An Olympic size rink sits right inside the mall. Public skating sessions run through the day and skate hire is included in the ticket price. Children can hold penguin shaped skating aids while they learn.
Cost: about AED 120 to AED 155 depending on the session, day sessions cheaper than evening ones. Time needed: 1 to 2 hours. Location: Ground Floor, next to The Souk. Hours: daily 10am to 11.45pm. Book on the rink website because weekend sessions sell out.
KidZania is a mini city where children aged 4 to 16 role play adult jobs, from pilot to surgeon to firefighter. It is one of the strongest things to do in Dubai Mall for kids.
Cost: about AED 195 for children and AED 90 for adults. Time needed: 3 to 4 hours. Location: Level 2, opposite Reel Cinemas, closest to the Cinema Parking entrance.
Play DXB is the current name of the old VR Park, a two level virtual reality zone with rides like Burj Drop and multiplayer VR games. Entry is free; you pay for the rides you choose with a Pay and Play pass.
Cost: about AED 199.50 for a pass loaded with AED 275 of ride credit, plus a one off AED 5 gate card. Time needed: 1 to 3 hours. Location: entrance on Level 2.
The mall cinema runs 26 screens, including Dolby Cinema, an MX4D motion cinema and Platinum suites with reclining seats and in seat dining. It is a solid pick for a hot afternoon or a late show after dinner.
Cost: check live prices on the Reel Cinemas site, as they change with the film and the format. Time needed: one film plus 30 minutes. Location: Level 2.
| Attraction | Cost | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo | From AED 199 | 1.5 to 2 hours | Ground Floor |
| Dubai Ice Rink | About AED 120 to AED 155 | 1 to 2 hours | Ground Floor, by The Souk |
| KidZania | About AED 195 child, AED 90 adult | 3 to 4 hours | Level 2, by Reel Cinemas |
| Play DXB | About AED 199.50 | 1 to 3 hours | Level 2 |
| Reel Cinemas | Varies by film | 2 to 3 hours | Level 2 |
Some of the best free things to do in Dubai Mall sit in plain sight. Start with the Human Waterfall, a four storey waterfall with pearl diver sculptures in the Waterfall Atrium. Then stand at the giant aquarium viewing wall on the Ground Floor and watch the sharks for free; you only need a ticket for the tunnel.
Walk to the Souk Dome for Dubai Dino, a 155 million year old Diplodocus skeleton that is 24.4 metres long. Then watch the skaters at the ice rink from the upper viewing areas for free.
Fashion Avenue is free to wander between attractions. End outside on the Waterfront Promenade for Burj Khalifa photos. For more zero cost ideas across the city, see our list of free things to do in Dubai.
The Dubai Fountain sits just outside the mall on Burj Lake. Shows run at 1pm and 1.30pm daily, at 2pm and 2.30pm on Fridays, and every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm each evening.
The fountain reopened on 1 October 2025 after five months of renovation with sharper choreography. Shows still pause for maintenance, so check the schedule on visitdubai.com before you plan around one.
The best free viewing spots are the Waterfront Promenade outside the mall and the bridge toward Souk Al Bahar. Arrive 20 minutes early for a front spot.
Families get the most from one paid attraction plus free sights around it. KidZania tops the list for ages 4 to 16, and the Dubai Aquarium tunnel works for every age.
The ice rink suits confident beginners from about age 5, with penguin aids for support. Candylicious, the huge candy store on the Ground Floor, is free to browse and a hit with children. Between attractions, Dubai Dino and the free aquarium wall keep younger kids happy at no cost.
Finish with the 6pm fountain show. It is free and tired children can watch it sitting on the promenade steps.
A cheap day at Dubai Mall is easy: entry and the best sights are free. See the Human Waterfall, the aquarium viewing wall, Dubai Dino and the skaters at the ice rink without spending a dirham. Watch the fountain from the promenade instead of paying for a lake ride.
For one paid pick, an ice rink day session or a standard cinema matinee costs less than the aquarium. Eat at the second floor food court rather than the fountain view restaurants, and take a coffee break at one of the coffee shops in Dubai Mall.
Book paid attractions online; counter prices are higher and weekend rink and KidZania slots sell out.
This route groups sights by floor so you never backtrack.
2.00pm: Arrive by metro and start at the Human Waterfall in the Waterfall Atrium on the Ground Floor. Ten minutes is enough for photos.
2.20pm: Walk to the giant aquarium viewing wall, then continue to Dubai Dino in the Souk Dome. The two sit close together on the same level.
3.00pm: Head to the Dubai Ice Rink. Skate a session or watch from the upper viewing deck for free.
4.30pm: Take the escalators to Level 2 once and stay there. Choose one: KidZania for kids, Play DXB for teens, or Reel Cinemas for a film.
6.00pm: Walk out to the Waterfront Promenade for the 6.30pm fountain show, then dinner with a fountain view.
| What you will read | What is accurate |
|---|---|
| The aquarium costs AED 100 to 150 | The Silver Pass starts at AED 199 on the official site; UAE residents pay about 15 percent less. The tank wall viewing from inside the mall is free |
| Reel Cinemas has 22 screens | The cineplex now runs 26 screens, including Dolby Cinema and Platinum suites. Older guides still quote the original 22 |
| SEGA Republic is a top mall attraction | SEGA Republic closed in 2017. The VR space in the mall is now Play DXB |
| The fountain runs every day without fail | The fountain closed for five months and reopened on 1 October 2025. It pauses briefly for maintenance, so check visitdubai.com before you go |
| The mall opens at 9am | Shops open at 10am daily. Some cafes open earlier on weekends |
| Infinity des Lumieres is a must see | We could not verify its current open status in October 2026, so we left it out. Check the mall directory before planning around it |
The metro is the easiest way to reach the mall, dropping you at the door with no parking hunt.
By car:
Yes. Walking into Dubai Mall costs nothing and most of its famous sights are free too, including the Human Waterfall, the aquarium viewing wall, Dubai Dino and the fountain shows. You only pay for ticketed attractions like the aquarium tunnel, the ice rink, KidZania, Play DXB and the cinema. Plan your free sights first, then pick one paid attraction if the budget allows.
Plan 3 to 5 hours for the highlights: the free sights, one paid attraction and a fountain show. A full day works if you add KidZania or the aquarium plus shopping and a meal. Arrive with a short list instead of trying to see everything. Wear comfortable shoes; you will cover several kilometres on foot.
Take the Dubai Metro Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station, then follow signs to the Metro Link Bridge. The air conditioned walkway takes about 10 minutes and leads straight into the mall. It beats driving on weekend evenings when parking fills up.
Yes. The giant viewing wall of the main tank faces into the mall on the Ground Floor and is completely free to watch, with sharks, rays and hundreds of fish. Early mornings give the clearest views of the tank. The ticket only matters if you want the 48 metre walk through tunnel, the Underwater Zoo and Penguin Cove.
Afternoon shows run at 1pm and 1.30pm daily, and at 2pm and 2.30pm on Fridays. Evening shows run every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm daily. All shows are free from public viewing areas. The fountain reopened on 1 October 2025 and pauses briefly for maintenance, so check visitdubai.com on the day.
Weekday mornings are the quietest for photos and short queues at paid attractions. Evenings and weekends bring the biggest crowds, especially around the fountain shows. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest, and the 6.30pm fountain show draws the largest crowds each day, so plan extra time for walking. On weekends, arrive at 10am when the doors open.
KidZania sits on Level 2, opposite Reel Cinemas and close to the Cinema Parking entrance. Tickets cost about AED 195 for children aged 4 to 16 and about AED 90 for adults. Babies under 1 year enter free, and every child ticket needs an adult ticket too. Book online in advance on weekends because sessions sell out.
A full day at Dubai Mall is simple: morning aquarium, midday ice rink or KidZania, afternoon on Fashion Avenue, and the evening fountain show to finish. Add Play DXB between lunch and dinner if you still have energy. The mall stays open until 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends, so there is no rush.
Written by
Daniel
Daniel is the travel writer behind Go Dubai Now, covering Dubai's attractions, parks, restaurants and practical travel topics. Every guide is researched against official sources — government portals, operator websites and current local listings — and updated regularly so timings, prices and rules stay accurate. His goal is simple: answer the exact questions travelers ask before they go, with no fluff and no outdated information.
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