I'll be featuring different malls within Dubai and other emirates because they are so huge and grand! I adore them! I love to shop and I'm a certified mall rat.
So for the first Mall Hop, i'll be featuring Ibn Battuta Mall named after a Muslim Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta. Last February 25, Google Doodle featured him to celebrate his 708th birthday! I wrote a little background on him and his travels
here.
Ibn Battuta Mall is situated on the far side of Sheik Zayed Road (going to Abu Dhabi) near The Gardens and Jebel Ali . It's a huge mall, boasting of over a million square feet of retail space. It is divided into 6 clusters or courts named after some of the countries or cities Battuta visited. Those are China, India, Persia, Egypt, Tunisia and Andalusia.
Personally, I had hard time going through the entire mall in one go so I have to plan each visit which shops to check. I usually go the th China court where the cinemas and Asian restaurants are located.
How to get there:
*by Metro train
-take the red line and exit on Ibn Battuta Station
*by Bus
-there are several bus available depending on your initial location
*by car or taxi
-drive towards Abu Dhabi direction on Sheik Zayed road, between interchage 5 and 6
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Around the Mall
(pictures and italized descriptions from the official website of Ibn Battuta Mall)
Andalusia Court Grand in style, convenient in design. Andalusia Court takes care of your everyday needs, be it a quickie hair cut or an impromptu bouquet of flowers for the one you love. The centre-piece of Andalusia Court is its magnificent Lion Fountain, inspired by the Fountain of Lions in Alhambra.
Tunisia Court Blue skies and white fluffy clouds guide the way through 14th century inspired Tunisia Court. Here, you can let the kids enjoy a little time out at Fun City while you buy the weekly goods at Geant. Afterwards, why not follow the sensational aromas to one of Tunisia Court’s 16 international food outlets, where culinary delights await.
Egypt Court Pyramids and fairy tales, hieroglyphics and temples, kings and queens – Egypt Court brings to life the wonder and romance of its ancient history and leads visitors on a journey of discovery. For books galore, there’s Magrudy’s. For gadgets and playtime, there’s The Toy Store. For outdoor pursuits, there’s Sun and Sands. And for children’s clothes and toys, there’s Mothercare. Be sure to take away the perfect gift after your travels of Egypt Court with a tailor-made piece of silver jewellery, engraved with Arabic Calligraphy.
Persia Court The jewel in Ibn Battuta Mall’s crown, Persia Court is home to the dome, a captivating masterpiece which was hand-painted by a small group of talented artists. A host of distinguished stores have taken residence along her streets – the glamorous Paris Gallery, Debenhams and high-street favorites such as H&M and Forever 21. Take a moment to relax and enjoy a street-side coffee at Starbucks or Hediard and simply absorb the atmosphere and beauty of Persia Court.
India Court Showcasing the latest fashions, India Court is the place for those in search of classy boutiques, luxury brands and stylish stores. Outlets include Evisu, Bauhaus and the award-winning Ginger and Lace.
China Court Home to the Entertainment Zone, China Court has the region’s first IMAX theatre and 21 cinema screens. For casual dining with the family, there’s a host of restaurant to choose from including Finz for Mediterranean cuisine and Pizza Express for Italian. The mall’s largest electronics store, Sharaf DG, is pure entertainment in itself, housing every imaginable electronic device and gadget.
