Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world by total area – 1,200 shops, 200 restaurants, an aquarium, an ice rink, a theme park and the entrance to Burj Khalifa under one roof, with more than 100 million visitors a year. In winter it is also the most pleasant place in Dubai to be outdoors: the promenade around the Dubai Fountain is where the city eats dinner at 22°C, watching the water dance under the tallest building on earth every half hour. This page is about how to use Dubai Mall in winter – the Christmas programme, the attractions worth a ticket, the fountain timings and how to get in and out without the taxi queue.
Christmas at Dubai Mall
Downtown does Christmas big. A giant tree goes up on the fountain promenade in late November, the mall’s atriums get their decorations, and from 6 December to 5 January (expected dates for 2026/27, based on last season) The Grotto: Dear Santa opens next to Dubai Ice Rink – a themed walk-through ending with Santa, AED 99–149 per ticket. The ice rink itself runs festive sessions with snowfall on the ice. Shops stay open until 1:00 on Thursday to Saturday in December, and the New Year’s Eve fireworks at Burj Khalifa are watched from this very promenade. Full details on our Christmas at Dubai Mall event page; for the wider festive calendar see Christmas and winter events in Dubai.
Attractions worth a ticket
| Attraction | What it is | From |
|---|---|---|
| Burj Khalifa At the Top + Dubai Aquarium | Combined ticket for levels 124/125 and the aquarium tunnel and underwater zoo – the best-value pairing in the building | about €80 |
| Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo | 10-million-litre tank with 400 sharks and rays, walk-through tunnel, King Croc and penguins upstairs | about €40 |
| Dubai Ice Rink | Olympic-size rink on the ground floor, skate hire included; festive sessions in December | about €30 |
| KidZania | A child-size city where kids work as pilots, surgeons and firefighters; three to four hours | about €25 |
| Play DXB | Virtual-reality park on level 2 – Burj Khalifa base jump and Dubai Drone simulators | about €55 |
Book the Burj Khalifa slot first – sunset in December is around 17:40, and those slots sell out days ahead – then build the rest of the day around it. Read our Burj Khalifa guide for which level and time to choose. All tickets below can be cancelled free until the day before.
The Dubai Fountain: showtimes
The fountain performs on Burj Lake every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 23:00 daily, plus two afternoon shows at 13:00 and 13:30 (13:30 and 14:00 on Fridays). Each show lasts about five minutes; the evening shows are the ones to plan around. The best free viewpoints are the promenade in front of the Apple Store and the bridge towards Souk Al Bahar. For a table with a view, book the terraces at Souk Al Bahar rather than inside the mall. In winter the promenade is comfortable all evening; in December bring a light layer for after 21:00. The fountain also anchors the New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Opening hours and how to get there
Shops are open Sunday to Wednesday 10:00–24:00 and Thursday to Saturday 10:00–01:00; restaurants and the fountain promenade later (check the mall’s website around public holidays). The red metro line stops at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station, from where an air-conditioned Metro Link walkway of about 820 metres brings you into the mall in ten minutes – longer than it sounds, but it beats the taxi queue at closing time. Taxis drop at the Grand Entrance or the Fashion Avenue entrance; on fountain-show evenings expect a 20-minute wait to leave. Parking is free, with 14,000 spaces, and the Fashion Parking is nearest to the fountain side.
Dubai Mall live camera
A common question we get: yes, Emaar streams the fountain and Burj Khalifa live from Dubai Mall, and several travel channels rebroadcast it. Search for “Dubai Fountain live” on YouTube for the current stream. It is a good way to check crowds on the promenade before you set out – on New Year’s Eve the area is ticketed and closed to walk-ins from the afternoon.
Hotels connected to Dubai Mall
Address Dubai Mall is joined to the mall by a bridge; Palace Downtown and Address Downtown face the fountain; Rove Downtown is the budget pick ten minutes away. See our Downtown hotel guide or compare Downtown hotels on Booking.com – in December and around New Year, book early.
Good to know
Evening shows run every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 23:00, plus afternoon shows at 13:00 and 13:30 (Fridays 13:30 and 14:00). Each show lasts around five minutes.
Yes. Christmas Day is a normal shopping day in Dubai; malls keep their regular hours and are busy with families.
Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station is connected by an 820-metre air-conditioned walkway – about ten minutes on foot, with travelators.
No, the mall, the fountain shows and the aquarium tank viewing window are free. Tickets are needed for Burj Khalifa, the aquarium tunnel and zoo, the ice rink, KidZania and Play DXB.
Not a traditional market. Dubai Mall does a giant tree, decorations, The Grotto and festive ice sessions; the Christmas markets are at Souk Madinat Jumeirah and Dubai Festival City.
