The complete guide
Dubai Square Mall, a premium retail destination, is set to become the largest retail destination in the world. The 2.6 million sq. m. retail monument is expected to double the size of Dubai Mall.The mega retail project is scheduled to open in about three years at Dubai Creek Harbour, within a 11 million sq. m master plan valued at AED 180 billion, according to the developer.
The CEO and founder of Sunrise Capital Dubai, Yogesh Bulchandani, states that the arrival of Dubai Square Mall will rebalance the gravity between the many existing popular retail destinations, such as Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates. This means that the areas surrounding the new mall will experience a massive surge in population as well.
Read the full sectionShow less
To expand on his statements, Bulchandani pressed on how investments, retail, and tourism flows have historically clustered around Sheikh Zayed Road and Downtown Dubai, and now with Dubai Square Mall, Dubai Creek Harbour and its surroundings neighborhoods will also experience a similar growth in these aspects, boosting Dubai’s overall real estate status.
Presently, Dubai Mall stands as the world’s most visited shopping district. With over 100 million visitors in 2025, the Dubai Mall is the ideal example of how malls are a major component of Dubai’s tourism strategy. Malls in Dubai witness daily visits from tourists who heavily engage with retail outlets during their visits.
Interestingly, Balchandani argues that Dubai Square Mall will not be competing for the same single day visitor, but will rather aim to influence visitors into extending their stay. In detail, he explains:
“Tourists can now plan multi-day retail and entertainment itineraries that move from Downtown to Sheikh Zayed Road to Creek Harbour, increasing total spend in the emirate rather than fragmenting it. That multi-nodal experience is exactly what underpins Dubai’s ambition to be among the world’s top three cities for tourism, business, and quality of life.”