Shop and stare at the grandeur
Have you ever been to any mall of Dubai and looked beyond the glamorous shops? You may not have noticed but we urge you to set those shopping bags aside and look up at the ceiling and domes of the city’s malls. We promise you will be left blissfully gaping at the architecture, and instead of those selfies, you’ll end up snapping hundreds of photos of just the mall ceilings.
Malls of Dubai have a wow factor to them and each has its own unique character. Ranging from contemporary style to bringing to life the wonder of ancient history or being inspired by legends, the rich architecture that the malls offer is like taking a walk through history while you shop.
Every mall seems to be telling a story of its own and most of them are based on certain themes that depict the influences of that great time and civilisation. Influenced by many architectural styles, from Egyptian to Turkish, Wafi Mall is dominated by its modern interpretation of the Pharaohs, whose epic splendour is conveyed through exquisite stained glass, intricate mosaics, carvings and sculptures.
Enter the Ibn Battuta mall and at once you are transported into the era of the extraordinary adventurer Ibn Battuta. His life and travels can be seen depicted in the interior themes and names of courts that are based on the six different lands — Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India, China and Andalusia. At the Andalusia court, the star-shaped ceiling and Fountain of Lions are inspired by the Alhambra Palace. The lofty halls and accentuated arches take you back to Grand Mosque of Cordoba, while the red stone walls and terracotta tiles add to the distinct Andalusian flavour.
One of the world’s most-visited mall — The Dubai Mall — has a contemporary style architecture visible in the immaculately decorated mall. One look at its ceiling and you can say a lot of care has been given to its design.
Called the world’s first shopping resort with more than 560 shops, 90 restaurants, the Mall of the Emirates is a massive complex with a glass ceiling that offers a beautiful view of the sky through amazing architecture. The architecture in the three-storey complex combines Arabic and Mediterranean elements.
The list of malls is never-ending but apart from their retail mix, malls of this city also focus on cultural exchange that allows one to not only shop but also educate oneself on the different cultures of the world.
saman@khaleejtimes.com