Dubai Square Mall: The Future of Retail in Dubai Creek Harbour

Emaar has once again stirred the city with the unveiling of Dubai Square Mall, an emblem of its unwavering ambitions. Poised to redesign the leisure and retail landscape, it brings forward a tech-oriented development concept in Dubai.

This upcoming retail hub is announced as part of the staggering master plan of Dubai Creek Harbour. With the incorporation of lifestyle, hospitality, shopping, and entertainment, a next-generation retail destination will be given birth amidst the upscale DCH’s waterfront node.

This exclusive project boasts Emaar’s strategic planning toward a futuristic urban ecosystem as well as alignment with Dubai’s long-term tourism strategies and economic diversification blueprint.

Explore the guide to dive deep into the experiential shopping experiences, retail categories, and anticipated opening of the mall.

Dubai Square Mall: Project Overview & Development Vision

Transcending all the retail complexes, Dubai Square Mall surfaces a future-led design and is set to celebrate its position as the “first drive-through mall” on the global stage. This flagship leisure and shopping destination is announced as part of Dubai Creek Harbour.

By transforming traditional mall concepts into tech-driven experiential environments, it represents Dubai’s wider vision of a future-proof retail sector.

Key Mall Highlights

• Features uninterrupted access to the Dubai Creek Tower
• Designed as one of the UAE’s largest retail hubs
• Exhibits a groundbreaking concept of “indoor-city”
• Projected to emerge as the most innovative retail development globally

1. Spectacular Location within Dubai Creek Harbour

Touted along the historic Dubai Creek and directly opposite to the Downtown skyline, Dubai Square Mall’s premier location integrates modern urban infrastructure with heritage waterways.

Location Advantages

• 14-15 minutes from Business Bay & Downtown Dubai
• Straightforward access to Ras Al Khor Road/ E44
• Seamless access to future transport links and metro lines
• Only 11 minutes far from the DXB Airport
• Overlooks Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
• Surrounded by high-end hotels and residential towers

The premier positioning of Dubai square Mall ensures sustained residents and tourist flow throughout the year.

2. Dubai Square Mall Size and Scale

Planned within the broader Dubai Creek Harbour mega-city project, the mall’s leasable and built-up area space position it among the largest shopping hubs ever planned in the region. Its magnificent size has been unveiled to compete with globally dominant retail destinations.

Moreover, the architectural magnificence is anchored by the integration of outdoor and indoor retail promenades. This enables year-round visitor engagement despite seasonal changes, while its sprawling size allows it to host both local and flagship global brands and varied entertainment options.

Capacity & Size Highlights

• Planned within the expansive 11 million sq. ft. master-plan district.
• A retail monument covering 2.6 million sq. m. area
• Thousands of dedicated parking bays
• Multi-level retail boulevards
• Open-plan spaces and large atrium for events
• Anticipated to become Dubai’s second largest shopping destination

3. Vision Behind Dubai Square Mall

Dubai Square Mall was first revealed in 2018, but its details of design and scale were unveiled in later years. The shopping and leisure hub is conceptualized to support Dubai’s evolution from an ordinary shopping center into a retail capital and global experiential hub.

Furthermore, its alignment with the broader vision showcases its ambition to remain among the world’s top shopping destinations.

Core Development Objectives

• Features a one-of-a-kind drive-through mall experience
• Leverages advanced AI to predict retail needs and assess visitor behavior
• Fosters a personalized leisure and shopping experience
• Create a next-generation retail and entertainment ecosystem
• Integrated EV infrastructure and vehicle access to select retail areas

4. Scheduled Inauguration Date

Dubai Square Mall’s master developer Emaar Properties has confirmed the project’s movement into the execution phase.

Considering its official announcement of construction commencement in December 2025, the much-anticipated mall will open doors for visitors in the next three years. The mall’s expected delivery around 2028 will surface a new gem in Dubai for shoppers and entertainment enthusiasts alike.

5. A Tech-Oriented Retail Destination

Innovation and advanced artificial intelligence features will be key characteristics of Dubai Square Mall. Besides transforming the interaction between spaces, brands, and consumers, it will allow retailers to utilize AI data for optimizing inventory, enhancing customer engagement, and personalizing shopping experience.

Several future-forward principles will include:

i. Automated Platforms

Dubai Square Mall will operate on high-performing digital solutions, including cashless payment options, smart checkout systems, and mobile applications.

ii. Sensory Technology

Planned to foster an immersive shopping experience, Dubai Square Mall will incorporate glazed roofs, skylights, glass windows, and LED technology. Additionally, lush landscapes in its surrounding will add a serene touch to the overall exclusivity.

iii. Drive-Through Options

As the planned world’s first drive-through mall, it will support a cutting-edge mobility infrastructure with EV parking and charging options.

iv. Omni-Channel Shopping

Dubai Square Mall will merge offline and online retailing, giving rise to a one-of-its-kind omni-channel ecosystem.

v. F&B Solutions

Plans to include optimized table turnovers, including the use of QR code for viewing, placing, and paying for the orders. The mall may include software-driven floor plans to manage seating during peak hours, reduced wait time for services, and ensure the food is prepared when customers walk in.

vi. Tech-Powered Retail Transformation

The smart dressing rooms and interactive mirrors will transform the whole shopping from just transactional into a sensory-driven experience. Moreover, the mall’s futuristic features will offer buyers AI recommendations tailored to their specifications.

6. Experience-Led Zones

Dubai Square Mall plans to introduce immersive zones to combine entertainment with commerce. These zones will host fashion events, exclusive product launches, and global brand activations.

• Pop-up retail incubators
• Luxury and fashion pavilions
• Concept lifestyle stores
• Interactive brand showrooms
• Seasonal exhibition spaces

7. Entertainment at Dubai Square Mall

Planned entertainment mega-attractions reinforce the mall’s position as a day-to-night hub, breaking grounds for the traditional leisure spaces and pioneering new standards for visitors from worldwide. Few of the entertainment offerings may include:

• Cineplex
• Waterpark
• Ice Adventure
• Sports Arena
• Art District
• Virtual Reality Park
• Fire, Color, & Music Plaza

8. Brand and Retail Mix

Dubai Square Mall is expected to welcome a diversified mix of retail components, spanning from luxury and mid-market to experiential brands. This balance of retail will cater to both everyday consumer needs and destination shopping.

Key Retail Categories

• High-fashion luxury brands
• Street fashion global chains
• Lifestyle and home décor brands
• Tech and electronic megastores
• Athlete and sports outlets
• Supermarkets

9. An Immersive F&B Experience

Extensive culinary options at Dubai Square Mall combined with AI technologies and scenic creek vistas reflect the city’s top-of-the-line dining culture and create experiential value for international visitors.

• Rooftop dining terraces
• Waterfront fine-dining outlets
• Celebrity chef restaurants
• Food halls and live cooking stations
• International franchise cafés

10. Smart Urban Design and Sustainability

Sustainability and green development features are embedded at the core of Dubai Square Mall, elevating its position due to its alignment with Net Zero Strategy of Dubai.

• Sustainable material sourcing
• Water recycling infrastructure
• Energy-saving building systems
• Pedestrian-friendly elements
• Cooling and smart lighting technologies

11. Integration with Dubai Creek Harbour Lifestyle

Dubai Square Mall strategically aligns with the lifestyle master plan of Dubai Creek Harbour. Here’s how:

• Easy access to public art and cultural spaces
• Walking distance from residential towers
• Linked to serviced apartments and premier hotels
• Connected to seafront boulevards

12. Impact on Retail Economy of Dubai

Dubai Square Mall is projected to foster tourism inflows, improve consumer spending, and influence retail supply. Moreover, its splendid scale reinforces it as a competitor to developed mega malls in the region and worldwide. Key economic contributions include:

• Accelerated retail spending among tourists
• Expansion in gross leasable areas of Dubai’s retail
• Unfolds job opportunities and business spaces
• Attraction for international flagship stores

13. Impact on Real Estate Values

Besides viable benefits to Dubai’s economy and retail, the mall is expected to uplift Dubai Creek Harbour’s property values and demand. Key impacts on the district’s property market will include:

• Instant capital growth for investors
• Optimized rental yields
• Escalating demand for waterfront residences
• Higher occupancy rates in nearby towers

14. Visitor and Tourism Growth Potential

The mall will strengthen Dubai Creek Harbour’s position as an appealing tourism hub, capturing both long-stay visitors and short-term leisure travelers. What will mainly drive visitors include:

• Mega festivals and retail events
• Integrated leisure attractions
• Adjacency to Downtown landmarks
• Creek waterfront vistas

Off-Plan Investment Opportunities Near Dubai Square Mall

Investors are increasingly drawing to real estate options in Dubai Creek Harbour to secure units at early phases for long-term gains promised by Dubai Square Mall’s completion. Some latest launched projects in the community are:

• Lyvia by Palace – Ant. Completion in 2029
• Creek Bay - Ant. Completion in 2030
• Valo - Ant. Completion in 2028
• Aeon - Ant. Completion in 2028

Closing In!

Dubai Square Mall’s extraordinary unveiling surfaces not just another ordinary retail destination in the region, but defines a transformative leap in the entertainment and retail industry of the emirates.

Its anchoring on experiential design, smart technology, and mega-scale retail infrastructure makes it one of the most influential and flagship launches in Dubai. While it spans over a multi-million square meters of area, its impact also expands beyond shopping and covers real estate, tourism, and economic sectors.

While the future plan will unfold details on specific brands and F&B outlets, one factor is certain! The mall’s standout appeal as a future-ready hub among shoppers and leisure visitors.