One of Dubai’s true retail pioneers, Wafi Mall has been shaping the city’s shopping scene since 1991 — long before the mega-malls of Downtown Dubai existed. Instantly recognisable for its striking Egyptian-pyramid architecture and stained-glass detailing, it remains one of the city’s most distinctive shopping destinations, blending heritage-inspired design with a genuinely eclectic mix of retail, dining, and entertainment.
Where Is Wafi Mall Located?
Wafi Mall is located at the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Road and Oud Metha Road, in Umm Hurair 2, Dubai. Opened in 1991, it’s one of the oldest malls in Dubai, spanning 80,000 square metres (860,000 sq ft) across 5 floors, with 300+ stores and services and 2 anchor tenants.
The mall sits within the wider Wafi City development, and is directly connected to the 5-star Raffles Dubai hotel — one of the city’s more unusual properties, housed within a distinctive 19-storey pyramid with around 250 rooms and suites, numerous restaurants and bars, and a spa.
Shops and Stores: What’s Inside
Wafi Mall’s retail mix spans a genuine range of categories: WHSmith covers books, magazines, and stationery, while Wrangler handles fashion, and Yas Perfumes offers Arabic fragrances. A Carrefour hypermarket, which opened at the end of 2017, anchors the mall’s grocery offering — a relatively recent addition that’s added everyday practicality to the mall’s more boutique retail character.
One of Wafi Mall’s standout features is Khan Murjan, an underground market recreating a 14th-century Baghdad souk. It offers around 100 shops and vendors alongside an excellent Arabic restaurant, giving visitors a genuinely different shopping atmosphere from the rest of the mall — dim lighting, ornate tilework, and a maze-like layout that feels worlds away from a conventional retail floor.
Dining options are plentiful, with a solid food court on the First Floor featuring names like Marrybrown for fried chicken and burgers, Papa John’s for pizza and pasta, and Starbucks for coffee, alongside Wafi Gourmet, a very popular Lebanese restaurant and delicatessen.
For entertainment, Aya is Wafi Mall’s headline attraction — an immersive experiential entertainment experience that opened in December 2022, covering 40,000 square feet across 12 zones themed around water and space. From excellent breakfast menus to evening light shows, the mall has much to keep visitors occupied for hours on end, and evening visits are particularly recommended to catch the light shows.
Wafi Mall Timings
Reported hours are consistent across sources:
| Days | Timings |
|---|---|
| Saturday – Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Thursday – Friday | 10:00 AM – Midnight |
Individual stores, restaurants, and attractions like Aya may run their own separate schedules, so it’s worth checking directly if a specific venue is central to your visit.
Metro Station and Connectivity
Wafi Mall benefits from a genuinely convenient, close-by metro connection:
- Nearest Metro Station: Dubai Healthcare City Metro Station on the Green Line is just a few hundred metres from the mall — some sources describe it as a comfortable 5-minute walk, with shaded pathways and clear signage making the journey pleasant for families, tourists, and regular shoppers alike. Those travelling on the Red Line need to change trains at BurJuman Metro Station to reach the Green Line.
- By Bus: The nearest bus stop, Wafi City – 01, is about a 7-minute walk from the mall, with routes connecting major areas such as Karama, Al Baraha, Al Qusais, and Dubai Academic City.
- By Car: The drive from Downtown Dubai typically takes around 10 minutes, depending on traffic along Oud Metha Road and Sheikh Rashid Road.
- By Taxi: Taxis, Careem, and Uber are widely available around Wafi Mall, with dedicated drop-off zones.
- Parking: Free parking is available for over 1,000 vehicles, with charges only applying if you’re at the mall for more than two hours.
Nearby Areas
Wafi Mall’s position within Wafi City places it close to several notable Dubai attractions and communities:
- Raffles Dubai — the 5-star hotel connected directly to the mall, housed within its iconic pyramid structure.
- Dubai Healthcare City — the surrounding district, home to the nearest metro station.
- Umm Hurair 2 — the immediate neighbourhood housing the mall.
- Karama, Al Baraha, Al Qusais, and Dubai Academic City — all connected via the mall’s nearby bus routes, reflecting its reach across several central and eastern Dubai districts.
FAQs — Wafi Mall Dubai
Q1. Where is Wafi Mall located? A: At the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Road and Oud Metha Road, in Umm Hurair 2, Dubai.
Q2. What are Wafi Mall’s opening hours? A: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM from Saturday to Wednesday, extending to midnight on Thursday and Friday.
Q3. Is there a metro station near Wafi Mall? A: Yes — Dubai Healthcare City Metro Station on the Green Line is just a few hundred metres away, roughly a 5-minute walk with shaded, clearly signed pathways.
Q4. What is Khan Murjan at Wafi Mall? A: An underground market recreating a 14th-century Baghdad souk, featuring around 100 shops, vendors, and a popular Arabic restaurant.
Q5. What is Aya at Wafi Mall? A: An immersive experiential entertainment attraction that opened in December 2022, covering 40,000 square feet across 12 zones themed around water and space.
Q6. Is parking available at Wafi Mall? A: Yes — free parking for over 1,000 vehicles, with charges only applying after two hours.