The Dubai Mall didn’t stop growing after becoming the world’s most-visited shopping destination — it simply expanded across the road. Dubai Mall Zabeel, officially known as The Dubai Mall Zabeel Expansion (TDMZE), is a seven-storey extension that gave the mall a genuinely different identity: quieter, more design-forward, and connected to the main complex by one of the more memorable pedestrian bridges in the city.
Where Is Dubai Mall Zabeel Located?
Dubai Mall Zabeel sits directly across Financial Centre Road from the main Dubai Mall, in the Zabeel district rather than Downtown Dubai proper — a genuinely different administrative area, even though it functions as one seamless shopping experience. It’s connected to the main mall via a 200-metre-long, climate-controlled footbridge, with the walkway located on the second floor, between the entrance to Galeries Lafayette and the main Grand Parking entrance.
The expansion opened in 2019 as part of Emaar Properties’ effort to grow Dubai Mall’s total area by 40%, a project that helped the mall accommodate over 100 million visitors a year. The Zabeel building involved constructing ten podium levels of mixed-use parking and retail space spread across 245,000 square metres (2.6 million sq ft).
Shops and Stores: What’s Inside
Dubai Mall Zabeel was designed to house 63 retail and dining units, offering a fresh, distinctly different atmosphere from the main mall’s polished marble interiors — think raw concrete, lower ceilings, and exposed pipework, giving the space an edgier, more industrial-chic feel.
On the right side of the extension, key outlets include Lulu Hypermarket, McDonald’s, and Ibn Sina Pharmacy, alongside several other retail stores and elevator access. The left side features additional shopping outlets covering a mix of fashion, lifestyle, and convenience stores. Notable tenants that opened as part of the extension include Fitness First (already established at La Mer, Al Quoz, and Abu Dhabi’s World Trade Centre), a streetwear-focused fashion store known for embroidery and sequin-heavy designs, a Dubai-made beachwear and home accessories brand, small robotics and 3D figurine printing stores, and a standalone Casio store for Baby-G and Rangeman watch collections. A well-known stationery and games retailer also has an outlet here.
More recently, the expansion has continued to add lifestyle experiences, including EKart Zabeel, a supermarket, extensive public art installations throughout the space, and a range of new food and beverage options — reflecting Dubai Mall’s ongoing effort to keep the Zabeel side fresh rather than treating it as a one-time expansion project.
The overall vibe of Dubai Mall Zabeel is notably calmer than the main mall — it offers a more relaxed shopping experience with less crowding and easier access to essential stores, making it a popular choice for quick grocery runs, fast food, or pharmacy needs without navigating the main mall’s heavier foot traffic.
Dubai Mall Zabeel Timings
Reported hours are:
| Days | Timings |
|---|---|
| Daily | 10:00 AM – Midnight |
This generally aligns with The Dubai Mall’s own standard operating hours, though individual restaurants and retail units within the Zabeel extension may adjust slightly around special events or holidays.
Metro Station and Connectivity
Since Dubai Mall Zabeel is physically part of The Dubai Mall complex, it shares the same core transport connections, with a couple of Zabeel-specific access points:
- Nearest Metro Station: The Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station on the Red Line serves the wider complex, with a roughly seven-minute walk from the metro entrance toward the Zabeel side.
- By Footbridge: Visitors can also access Zabeel directly from inside the main mall via the 200-metre climate-controlled skywalk, or take a short two-minute walk along an immersive link bridge from certain points within the main mall.
- By Car: Dubai Mall Zabeel offers new, easier access from Al Khail Road, in addition to Financial Centre Road, making it a genuinely useful alternative entrance for drivers looking to avoid the busier main mall approach roads.
- Parking: The extension adds 3,000+ new parking spaces across seven levels, plus ample valet service — a significant boost to the mall’s overall parking capacity.
- Getting Around Once There: A free buggy cart service operates within the Zabeel extension, helping visitors move between different sections without the longer walks that come with a seven-storey building.
- By Taxi: Widely available around both the main mall and the Zabeel side, making it a hassle-free extension to reach even without a car.
Nearby Areas
Because Dubai Mall Zabeel sits just across the road from the main complex, its surroundings mirror Downtown Dubai’s key attractions:
- The Dubai Mall (main building) — directly connected via the footbridge, with all of its retail, dining, and attractions just minutes away.
- The Dubai Fountain — located next to the main mall, within easy reach of the Zabeel extension via the connecting bridge.
- Burj Khalifa — part of the same broader complex, accessible from either side of the mall.
- Zabeel district — the surrounding administrative area, offering a slightly different, less touristy backdrop compared to Downtown Dubai proper.
FAQs — Dubai Mall Zabeel
Q1. Where is Dubai Mall Zabeel located? A: Directly across Financial Centre Road from the main Dubai Mall, in the Zabeel district, connected via a 200-metre climate-controlled footbridge.
Q2. What are Dubai Mall Zabeel’s opening hours? A: Generally 10:00 AM to midnight, daily, aligning with The Dubai Mall’s standard hours.
Q3. Is there a metro station near Dubai Mall Zabeel? A: The Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station on the Red Line serves the complex, with roughly a seven-minute walk from the metro entrance toward the Zabeel side.
Q4. What makes Dubai Mall Zabeel different from the main Dubai Mall? A: Its interior design has a more industrial, edgier feel — raw concrete, lower ceilings, and exposed pipework — and it offers a noticeably calmer, less crowded shopping experience.
Q5. How many parking spaces does Dubai Mall Zabeel add? A: Over 3,000 new parking spaces across seven levels, plus valet service, significantly expanding the mall’s total parking capacity.
Q6. Can I walk between the main Dubai Mall and Zabeel? A: Yes — a 200-metre, air-conditioned pedestrian bridge connects the two directly, and a free buggy cart service operates within the Zabeel extension itself.