The Dubai Mall

Dubai Mall - Three stories of Bloomingdales

Oh boy has it been a whirlwind of a few weeks!! Now while Dubai is most glamorous for its high rise buildings, I have to say the malls are pretty remarkable as well. I feel a little vain writing about them because some of my peers are doing incredible work in other under developed countries but I think it's important to note these developments strictly because it is a huge component of Dubai's thriving economy. The elegance in design and features in these malls is a display of particularity that the Emiratis are trying to show off. When I entered these malls, my first reaction was always 'wow' which is a win for the UAE. With duty free shopping they have created a haven for tourists to shop and purchase goods.

Every mall had a plethora of stores from small local chains to large international department stores. In each store were representatives from diverse origins in order to cater to the different types of clientelle that may shop through their stores. I went into a store called Debenhams, which seems to be a UK department store, and they had multiple reps that came up to me. I thought it was a smart hiring choice because a tourist is more likely to purchase if they find someone they are comfortable with who can help them find the product they want and the associate will have a better chance at making a sale (and probably getting commission).

Dubai Mall - Indoor aquarium

Below are a few pictures from Dubai Mall - one of the world's largest indoor malls. It features its own waterfall, arcade, cinema, water fountain (with Las Vegas Bellagio-competitor water show)..oh and huge aquarium with 360 degree tunnel and shark diving.

I spent a day exploring this mall because I just had to! I personally am not that big of a shopper because I'm more goal orientated when it comes to my purchases. I won't spend money until I feel there is a need for new clothes or accessories and even then I always give myself a budget. Shopping at the Dubai Mall was more window shopping in observing the infrastructure and attention to presentation in the experience. I honestly purchased items from 3 souvenir stores and window-watched the rest of the entire mall. 

Dubai Mall - Indoor aquarium

The aquarium was seriously jaw dropping. It was three stories tall and there were observation decks from each story of the mall. People lined up to take pictures from all sorts of angles and the tank featured thousands of marine life. There were schools of fish, large wandering fish, sharks, small fish, sting rays, plants and scuba divers all interacting throughout the tank. It was stimulation overload! I'm a huge aquarium lover ( I am an aquarius!) and observing the tank was a personal moment of tranquility and inner peace. The creatures were all very majestic.

  

 

Dubai Mall - Indoor aquarium

 Gosh I could keep writing about my experience wandering around Dubai Mall but I feel guilty about putting so much effort into talking about a MALL! I'll admit that it did make me feel a little bit at home. I didn't feel like I was in some foreign land which may be a compliment to the designers of the mall. The people in the mall were from all walks of life and its avenues of entertainment were enough to keep your mind from wandering throughout the day. I felt transported to a universal place where I wasn't worried about where I was in the world but that I was in a safe, welcoming environment.

Dubai Mall - Indoor aquarium

Dubai Mall - Waterfall

Dubai Mall - Fountain Show, Music 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'

Dubai Mall - 3 open levels of shopping splendor

The extravagance in design and store availability is a reflection of the type of consumers that the mall wants to attract. It says "these are the types of people who shop here" even if only a fraction of the daily visitors actually purchase regularly from these stores.

Dubai Mall - Burberry Children..never seen one before!