If you have already seen the hustle and bustle of Deira and fell in love with Dubai with its mixture of historical and modern elements, you should certainly pay your attention to this part of the city. It’s Al Ghurair Centre UAE, one of the UAE’s oldest and most convenient shopping centers, where many years of tradition and cutting-edge innovations combine perfectly into one.
Unfortunately, many travelers rarely know about this historical site until the last days of their vacation in Dubai – which is a pity, as this shopping center in UAE can provide you with much more than it is possible to imagine. Thanks to the following guide, you will learn the right ways to get there, best time to come, types of facilities and services, as well as places to eat and shop at every level of the shopping center.
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Introduction: What Is Al Ghurair Mall UAE & Its History?
Al Ghurair Centre Dubai belongs to the first generation of shopping centers in this city, which started operating in 1981. As the first of its kind in this area, it became one of the key turning points in the local commerce development and gave birth to numerous enterprises.
Al Ghurair Mall is run by the prestigious UAE family business group known as Al Ghurair Group. Over many years of its successful operation, the shopping center has been expanding rapidly, getting some new retail wings, modern food court, and even cinema complex.
Today the mall covers the territory of 232,000 sq. m. Despite the long period of operation, it is doing rather well in the highly dynamic Dubai environment – and continues to work successfully for more than three decades!
Al Ghurair Mall, UAE: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Official Name | Al Ghurair Centre |
| Location | Omar Bin Al Khattab Street, Deira, Dubai |
| Year Opened | 1981 |
| Owner | Al Ghurair Group |
| Total Area | 232,000+ sqm GLA |
| Number of Stores | 300+ |
| Dining Options | 40+ restaurants and cafés |
| Cinema | Vox Cinemas |
| Nearest Metro | Al Rigga Station (Red Line) |
Where to Find Al Ghurair Mall UAE?
Location and Surroundings
As Al Ghurair centre is located in Deira area of Dubai, it offers many landmarks to visit in the vicinity. Some of them include Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Dubai Creek – these are the locations to visit in the same day.
Given the cultural diversity of Deira area, visitors of Al Ghurair Mall become capable of experiencing the atmosphere of authentic Dubai while enjoying the convenience of a modern shopping experience.
Some of the notable landmarks around the shopping center in Deira include Al Rigga Road, Deira City Centre, and Dubai Creek waterfront.
Getting There by Different Means (Car, Taxi, Public Transport)
Getting there will be rather simple for every visitor no matter what means of transport you use to get to Dubai. Take a look at the instructions for getting there by different means below:
By metro: the closest Dubai metro station is Al Rigga Metro Station, Red Line. It takes no more than 5 minutes of walking from Al Rigga Metro Station to Al Ghurair Mall (from exit 1).
By bus: several RTA buses pass along Omar Bin Al Khattab Street. Feel free to plan your route using RTA Dubai bus map.
By car: multi-story car park of the shopping center in Deira has enough space for cars – you can use Omar Bin Al Khattab Street and Al Rigga Road entrances.
By taxi: Careem or Uber: all the mentioned taxi services will drop you off directly at the main entrance of the shopping center in Deira.
What Are the Opening Hours of Al Ghurair Mall UAE? Best Times to Visit
Operating Schedule
| Day | Opening Hours |
| Saturday – Thursday | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Friday | 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
| Ramadan (approximate) | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Dubai Shopping Festival | Extended hours apply |
Before you decide to go to this shopping centre, please check its operating hours, as Al Ghurair Dubai can be closed on some days in Dubai. The regular timetable of the shopping center is presented in the table below:
During Ramadan, operating hours are expanded due to the need to extend the period available for shopping after iftar.
In case you are planning to spend your holidays in Dubai, do double-check operating hours of the shopping center as the schedule can be changed during special occasions.
Best Visiting Times (No Crowds)
It may be rather helpful to be aware of the busiest times at the center and choose your visiting time correspondingly to avoid overcrowdedness. The following advice should be useful for you:
- Weekdays at 10 AM – 1 PM: it is the quietest time of the day, so if you are going to come with kids or elderly people – it is the best time to go shopping.
- Weekdays at 2 PM – 5 PM: this is the time of the day, when the crowd is at its minimum – the perfect option for comfortable shopping.
- Saturday & Sunday at 6 PM: weekend evenings are the busiest time at Al Ghurair, but you can manage to visit the center earlier and book some seats in advance.
Crowd level increases during special selling weeks (Dubai Shopping Festival, back-to-school sale week). Prices are rather low during these periods, but the crowd level is extremely high too.
Al Ghurair Mall Shopping: Stores & Retailers
Fashion & Clothing Anchor Stores
Concerning shopping opportunities, you are likely to enjoy many possibilities to get your favorite products at Al Ghurair Center in Dubai. The centre presents many popular brands, which produce quality clothes and accessories that you may want to buy.
Such brands as Zara, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Mango, Pull&Bear are presented in this shopping complex in Deira, including many other clothing stores. Additionally, Al Ghurair center has many stores, which sell modest clothes and abayas, which is a nice detail for an Arab shopping complex!
Electronics & Accessories Shops
To purchase electronics and gadgets in Dubai, we suggest you to consider Al Ghurair center. This shopping complex provides numerous electronics retailers as well as mobile phones shops, where you can find different devices from budget options to luxurious models.
This time of the year can become the most favorable for purchasing electronics, as you are provided with generous discounts during Dubai Shopping Festival, which can reach even up to 70%.
Book lovers can also visit some bookstores inside the shopping complex. You can find there many kinds of books and stationary that are needed for studies – nothing easier than to purchase everything you need for your studies.
Hypermarket at Al Ghurair Centre Dubai
Carrefour hypermarket at Al Ghurair center becomes another point of interest inside the shopping center. This hypermarket can be considered to be one of the largest in this neighborhood, offering visitors everything they need – starting from household goods and finishing with fresh meat.
One of the reasons for visiting Carrefour hypermarket is fresh imported meat, which is halal. This is especially important for Muslims, who follow their traditions strictly.
Al Ghurair Food Court & Restaurants
Food Court of Al Ghurair Mall Dubai
Diverse menu of food court in Al Ghurair center is surely to delight every visitor – you will have a possibility to enjoy dishes made by cooks of various nationalities. You can find here such famous foods as Indian biryani, Lebanese shawarma, South Asian samosas, or Chinese noodles. All the dishes are made with great effort and with halal certification – and that makes a great advantage for you as you can try out many different foods in one place.
Additionally, food court of Al Ghurair centre has affordable prices – thus it is often visited by local people and tourists.
Suggestion to Visit Sit-Down Restaurants of Al Ghurair Mall
Of course, fast food in Al Ghurair centre is not the only option for visiting the shopping center. There are also many sit-down restaurants offering diverse menus of meals of the most famous cuisines. Such diverse range of options helps visitors select the type of cuisine according to their tastes.
Lebanese, Emirati, Indian, Eastern-Asian and international cuisines will delight visitors with their tasty meals. Moreover, there are many restaurants that are friendly for families with children – you can have comfortable dinner together without problems.
Coffee Shoppes of Al Ghurair Centre
You can visit many cafés at every floor of the shopping center. There are international cafés, such as Starbucks and Costa Coffee. In addition, there are also local cafes, which specialize in producing fresh juices and smoothies. If you have a sweet tooth, do not miss to visit desserts corners – especially kunafa.
Entertainment & Activities Inside Al Ghurair Mall Dubai
Children’s Corner
Al Ghurair shopping center is a great destination for families with children or for those who plan to visit it with children. Special child-friendly zone at Al Ghurair Center is designed for spending comfortable time together.
Here you can see many soft playing zones, which are equipped with age-appropriate games and toys. Besides, there are also game zones designed for teens, where they can play the latest video games and rest after studies.
Movies & Cinema at Al Ghurair Mall
Another interesting option to visit in the evening time is visiting a movie theater. Vox Cinema, which is situated inside Al Ghurair shopping center, will provide you with many entertaining films of all genres. Whether you prefer English-language films or Arabic ones – there are always some movies that can suit you.
We strongly recommend you to visit this movie theater during special weeks of the year, such as Dubai Shopping Festival or Eid.
Other Services and Facilities Available at Al Ghurair Mall Dubai
Besides, there is a wide range of other services available inside Al Ghurair Mall. Here are the details:
- Prayer rooms at Al Ghurair shopping center can be found on each floor. They are very convenient for praying as they are always clean and prepared for it.
- You can withdraw some cash using ATMs located inside Al Ghurair Center. You can use cash points located both on the ground floor and on other floors.
- Wheelchair-accessible areas are available at each level of Al Ghurair mall. Additionally, there are elevators that you can use for entering or leaving the shopping complex.
- All visitors of the center are provided with Wi-Fi for free.
- There are also lost-and-found counters, nurseries, and information centers inside.
Insider’s Advice: Useful Tips For Visiting Al Ghurair Center Dubai
There are many aspects concerning Al Ghurair shopping complex, which most of the people tend to be unaware of. However, these tips will be very helpful for you.
- The most convenient way to reach the shopping complex is by using metro. The closest metro station is Al Rigga metro station of Dubai metro.
- Please remember to visit side corridors on upper floors, where you will be able to find many independent retailers and will be pleasantly surprised with some discoveries.
- Saving money during sale weeks is possible at Al Ghurair center as it presents many discounts on various items.
- After visiting Al Ghurair center, you should also visit nearby markets. For example, Gold Souk or Spice Souk are some great places to visit.
- Al Ghurair center in the evening time seems to be more appealing as you will be able to participate in entertaining events.
Al Ghurair Mall UAE VS Other Dubai Shopping Centers
| Feature | Al Ghurair Mall | Dubai Mall | Deira City Centre | Mirdif City Centre |
| Location | Deira, central | Downtown Dubai | Deira | Mirdif, eastern Dubai |
| Size | Large | Enormous | Medium-large | Large |
| Crowd Level | Moderate | Very high | Moderate | Moderate |
| Budget Friendliness | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Parking Ease | Easy | Difficult | Easy | Easy |
| Metro Access | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Limited |
| Family Facilities | Strong | Outstanding | Good | Strong |
| Cultural Experience | High | Low | Medium | Low |
Making a comparison between Al Ghurair center and other Dubai malls will let you see their differences. In our comparison, we decided to compare these shopping centers according to some specific characteristics of them.
Who Should Visit Al Ghurair Mall UAE?
Of course, not everyone can visit this shopping center and benefit from it. Thus, Al Ghurair shopping center is intended mostly for:
- Deira residents who are not willing to travel to downtown Dubai to go shopping.
- Visitors who do not want to pay luxury prices and are looking for a place to buy their products.
- People who want to experience the authentic Dubai.
- Families, which plan to have some shopping time in comfortable conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Al Ghurair Mall UAE
What are the operating hours of Al Ghurair shopping center?
Generally, shopping center is open daily on Saturday-Thursday from 10:00 to 22:00 and Fridays from 14:00 to 22:00. But keep in mind that during Ramadan and during Dubai Shopping Festival, opening hours are extended.
How can I get to Al Ghurair Mall?
You can get to this shopping center in Dubai using Al Rigga metro station of Dubai Metro – it is the closest to Al Ghurair shopping center.
Are there parking facilities at the shopping center?
Yes, there are some free parking facilities at the parking lot of Al Ghurair shopping center.
Where can I have dinner in this shopping complex?
Al Ghurair mall has restaurants, which serve Lebanese, Eastern-Asian, Indian and Emirati meals. All meals in this shopping complex are halal.
Who is the owner of Al Ghurair shopping center?
The shopping center operates for more than 30 years under the ownership of UAE company Al Ghurair Group.
Conclusion
Al Ghurair shopping center is more than a shopping complex. It is a unique place of emotional and interesting experiences for Dubai residents and visitors. Being one of the oldest shopping complexes in Dubai, Al Ghurair Mall UAE can boast of the great number of facilities.
Thus, at every level of the shopping center you can find many different shops, clothing retailers and restaurants – and it guarantees that you will have something interesting to discover. Do not waste your time – visit the shopping center now!
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