Grand opening of Dubai Mall – world’s biggest shopping centre

People lucky enough to be on holidays in Dubai today (November 4th) are likely to witness the grand opening of the Dubai Mall, the biggest shopping centre in the world’s history.

The mall will open at 14:00 local time and visitors will be able to enjoy shopping at over 600 stores.

When it is full, the Dubai Mall will house 1,200 shops, 160 food and drinks outlets, 220 gold stores and an organic food market.

However, it is also home to a Gold Souk, an Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink and a Fashion Catwalk atrium.

Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties which owns the mall, said: “The Dubai Mall will address the world-class shopping needs of a population of over two billion people in the catchment markets of the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.”

Last month, Alan Leibman, president of Dubai’s new Atlantis resort, said that Dubai can offer families good value for money, despite it being publicised as a luxury and expensive destination.

He told the Sydney morning Herald that “Dubai is still good value when you’re paying in pounds [or] you’re paying in euros.”

Holidaymakers may wish to travel to the city in the first two weeks of December to get the best value.