As Al Ain’s very first shopping mall, Al Jimi Mall holds a genuine first-mover status the city’s newer retail centres can’t match. Originally a bustling vegetable and meat market in the early 1980s, it’s since evolved into a vibrant shopping and dining destination — and following a major recent redevelopment by Aldar Properties, it’s now positioned more firmly than ever as “the residents’ mall of choice” in Al Ain.
Where Is Al Jimi Mall Located?
Al Jimi Mall is located on Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street, in Al Jimi, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi’s garden city and heritage heartland, about a one-and-a-half hour’s drive from Abu Dhabi city. Inaugurated in 2001, the mall is owned and managed by Aldar Properties and covers over 76,000 square metres of land in this well-established Al Ain neighbourhood.
The mall is particularly popular with tenants residing in the apartments in Al Jimi, giving it a genuine residential catchment beyond just city-wide shoppers.
Shops and Stores: What’s Inside
Al Jimi Mall houses around one hundred local and international stores according to earlier guides, though Aldar’s recent redevelopment has significantly expanded the offering — a AED 318 million expansion in 2016 added a Retail Park of standalone big-box units, followed by a AED 500 million second redevelopment announced in 2023 and completed by early 2025. That second phase increased the mall’s leasable area by 20 percent to roughly 91,000 sqm, adding more than 40 new brands, a refreshed façade, and a new valet parking area, while keeping the mall open to shoppers throughout construction.
H&M, Sephora, and Centrepoint anchor the fashion and beauty floors, giving the mall a solid mix of high-street and beauty retail. Visitors will find everything from daily household supplies to chic furniture pieces and traditional Arabic incense here, alongside fashion accessories, clothing, makeup, electronics, stationery, and groceries. Sharaf DG operates a store within the Retail Park section specifically, covering electronics and technology needs.
Dining options include Gazebo Restaurant, IKEA Bistro, and Muji’s café offering, alongside a broader mix of restaurants catering to different tastes. For entertainment, an eight-screen VOX Cinemas complex and the Magic Planet children’s entertainment centre carry the leisure side, while Fun City offers a dedicated children’s play area, allowing parents to enjoy some leisurely shopping while kids are entertained separately.
The mall attracts roughly eight million visitors a year, drawn to what Aldar calls Al Ain’s “Garden City” — a market where Al Jimi has held first-mover status since 2001, and where the company’s substantial redevelopment spend signals a genuine bet on continued growth in the city’s resident population.
Al Jimi Mall Timings
Reported hours are consistent across sources:
| Days | Timings |
|---|---|
| Sunday – Thursday | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Friday – Saturday | 10:00 AM – Midnight |
It’s worth noting that during the recent redevelopment period, some visitors reported the mall’s central zone and food hall being temporarily closed off, with select food traders operating from temporary locations — since the second phase completed by early 2025, this should now be fully resolved, but it’s still worth checking current status if visiting a specific central-zone store.
Metro Station and Connectivity
Neither Al Ain nor the wider Abu Dhabi emirate currently has an operational metro system, so Al Jimi Mall is reached entirely by road:
- By Car: The mall’s opening hours and general flexibility make it convenient for visitors driving long distances, including those coming from Abu Dhabi, roughly a 90-minute drive away.
- By Bus: Bus lines 380 and 390 take routes leading directly to the mall, with the closest bus station, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street 127, less than a 4-minute walk away.
- By Taxi: Widely available and considered very easy, convenient, and affordable for reaching the mall.
- Parking: The recent redevelopment added a new valet parking area, alongside the mall’s existing parking provisions.
Nearby Areas
Al Jimi Mall’s position in Al Ain places it close to several of the city’s other notable attractions and shopping destinations:
- Al Jimi — the immediate neighbourhood housing the mall, known for its residential apartment communities.
- Mall of Al Ain (formerly Al Ain Mall) — another major shopping destination in the city, offering over 250 stores across three floors.
- Al Ain’s other top attractions — the mall sits within close proximity to many of the city’s other popular things to do, reflecting Al Ain’s broader appeal as a heritage and garden-city destination.
FAQs — Al Jimi Mall Al Ain
Q1. Where is Al Jimi Mall located? A: On Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street, in Al Jimi, Al Ain, part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Q2. What are Al Jimi Mall’s opening hours? A: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday, extending to midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Q3. Is there a metro station near Al Jimi Mall? A: No — neither Al Ain nor Abu Dhabi currently has an operational metro system. Bus lines 380 and 390 serve the mall directly, alongside widely available taxis.
Q4. What are the main stores at Al Jimi Mall? A: H&M, Sephora, and Centrepoint anchor the fashion and beauty offering, alongside Sharaf DG in the Retail Park section for electronics.
Q5. Has Al Jimi Mall recently been renovated? A: Yes — Aldar completed a AED 500 million redevelopment by early 2025, increasing leasable area by 20%, adding over 40 new brands, a refreshed façade, and new valet parking.
Q6. Is Al Jimi Mall good for families? A: Yes — Fun City offers a dedicated children’s play area, alongside Magic Planet and an eight-screen VOX Cinemas complex, making it a comprehensive family day-out destination.