Quick note: Bawadi Mall is located in Al Ain, part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi — not Dubai. There’s also a separate, unrelated “Bawadi Mall” that was once planned as part of Dubai’s Bawadi Dubailand project, so this guide covers the established, operating Al Ain property.
As the largest shopping destination in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi’s lush “Garden City,” Bawadi Mall has become the definitive retail landmark for the region. Since opening in 2009, it’s grown into a genuine one-stop destination combining international and regional brands, an eight-screen cinema, a bowling alley, and even a rollercoaster — a scale that few other malls in Al Ain can match.
Where Is Bawadi Mall Located?
Bawadi Mall is located on Zayed Bin Sultan Street (also referenced as Meyzad Road / Mezyad Road) in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, strategically positioned just 5 minutes from the town centre while conveniently avoiding in-town congestion. The mall sits about an hour and a half’s drive from Abu Dhabi city, giving it a genuinely central role in Al Ain’s own retail scene rather than functioning as a satellite of the capital.
It’s worth noting there’s an unrelated, separate “Bawadi Mall” that was once planned as part of the Bawadi Dubailand project in Dubai — the mall covered in this guide is the established, fully operational Al Ain property, which opened to the public on 30 April 2009, with Carrefour Hypermarket opening slightly earlier in January of the same year.
Shops and Stores: What’s Inside
Bawadi Mall covers a gross leasable area of 110,000 square metres (1,184,000 sq ft), with total area figures cited between 140,000–145,000 square metres depending on the source — making it slightly larger than Oasis Mall in Dubai. The mall is home to over 400 shops, according to its own official figures (early press releases at launch cited “more than 380 retail outlets”), representing both international and regional brands.
The retail lineup spans a wide range of high-street and designer labels: Marks & Spencer’s 7th UAE store is located here, alongside H&M, Mango, Centrepoint, New Look, Max Fashions, and BHS. Aldo offers trendy shoes and jewellery, while Hush Puppies covers comfortable footwear. Other notable names include Ace Hardware, Daiso, Etihad Holidays, Homes ‘R’ Us Al Ain, Kotton, Magrudys Bookshop, Paris Gallery, and Rasasi Perfumes — a genuinely broad mix covering fashion, home goods, books, and fragrance. Carrefour Hypermarket anchors the mall’s grocery and household offering.
Entertainment is where Bawadi Mall really sets itself apart. The 10,000 square metre Family Entertainment Center offers a genuinely wide range of attractions, including a Roller Coaster and a Fun Ski Village, alongside eight movie theatres operated by Star Cinemas (with average ticket prices around AED 42 per person) and a 16-lane bowling alley. An artificial ice rink, spanning 2,000 square metres with capacity for 200 skaters, adds yet another entertainment option rarely found at malls of this scale outside the major cities. A distinctively rich food court and numerous casual dining alternatives round out the offering, serving cuisines from around the world.
The mall’s design itself is notable too — a wide curved vaulted skylight soars above the main corridor and its three spacious courts, giving the space a genuinely bright, airy feel throughout.
Bawadi Mall Timings
Reported hours are consistent across sources:
| Days | Timings |
|---|---|
| Daily | 9:00 AM – Midnight |
This consistent daily schedule makes Bawadi Mall a reliably accessible destination regardless of which day you’re planning to visit.
Metro Station and Connectivity
Neither Al Ain nor the wider Abu Dhabi emirate currently has an operational metro system, so Bawadi Mall, like other malls in the region, is reached entirely by road:
- By Car: The mall’s position on Zayed Bin Sultan Street / Mezyad Road, just 5 minutes from Al Ain’s town centre, makes it easily accessible while bypassing typical in-town congestion.
- By Taxi: Taxi services are available directly at the mall, offering a straightforward option for visitors without a car.
- From Abu Dhabi City: The drive from the capital takes approximately an hour and a half, making Bawadi Mall a viable day-trip destination as well as a local shopping hub.
- Accessibility: The mall offers entrances for people with disabilities, alongside multilingual support across English, Hindi, Arabic, Urdu, Tagalog, and Russian.
Nearby Areas
Bawadi Mall’s central Al Ain position places it near several other shopping destinations and local landmarks:
- Al Ain town centre — just 5 minutes away, easily reached without navigating in-town congestion.
- Al Ain Mall — another major shopping destination in the city, offering an alternative or complementary shopping trip.
- Al Jimi Mall and Hili Mall — both nearby Al Ain shopping centres, giving visitors further options to explore.
- Barari Outlet Mall — another nearby retail destination in the wider Al Ain area.
FAQs — Bawadi Mall Al Ain
Q1. Where is Bawadi Mall located? A: On Zayed Bin Sultan Street (Meyzad/Mezyad Road) in Al Ain, part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi — about an hour and a half’s drive from Abu Dhabi city.
Q2. What are Bawadi Mall’s opening hours? A: 9:00 AM to midnight, daily.
Q3. Is there a metro station near Bawadi Mall? A: No — neither Al Ain nor Abu Dhabi currently has an operational metro system. The mall is reached by car or taxi.
Q4. What entertainment options does Bawadi Mall offer? A: A Roller Coaster and Fun Ski Village within its Family Entertainment Center, eight-screen Star Cinemas, a 16-lane bowling alley, and an ice rink with capacity for 200 skaters.
Q5. How many stores does Bawadi Mall have? A: Over 400 shops according to the mall’s official figures, spanning international and regional brands including Marks & Spencer, H&M, Mango, and Aldo.
Q6. Is this the same Bawadi Mall associated with Dubai’s Bawadi Dubailand project? A: No — that was a separate, unrelated project planned for Dubai. The Bawadi Mall covered here is the established, fully operational property in Al Ain.