Once again, Dubai has come out with a stupendous concept, in announcing the Mall of the World-an unprecedented project to become the first fully air-conditioned city in the world. This project intends to redefine luxurious and convenient sustainable living in terms of metropolitan habitation. The future city re-imagined.
Including over 48 million sq ft of conditioned space (about 4.5 million sq m), the Mall of the World ultimately aims to be a self-contained city within Dubai. The project comprises the following facilities:
- World’s largest shopping mall, providing 8 million sq ft of retail space.
- A 7-km-long temperature-controlled retail street network-comfort-worthy indoors all year long.
- A cultural district built by theaters and auditoria styled after world-famous icons such as New York’s Broadway and Barcelona’s Las Ramblas.
- The largest indoor theme park in the world, protected under a retractable glass dome that opens during cooler months.
- A 3 million square feet wellness district dedicated to medical tourism and holistic health services.
- Over 100 hotels and serviced apartment complexes combined to provide 20,000 room space.
This integrated approach provides the residents and tourists a configuration of seamless blending for shopping, entertainment, healthcare, and hospitality.
Engineering Climate Comfort
The most significant factor in introducing Mall of the World is a climate control system of unprecedented design. The entire city will be built under state-of-the-air-condition environments, making the city the very first of its kind in the world. It addresses the extreme summer climates of Dubai, assuring comfort to all inhabitants. The closeness and openness of the scheme integrate a retractable glass dome over the theme park, allowing natural ventilation during cooler seasons while retaining full enclosure during hotter months.
Strategically Important
The Mall of the World lies along the strategic locations of Sheikh Zayed Road, and it is anticipated to draw more than 180 million visitors annually. The project’s scope aligns with Dubai’s vision in becoming one of the leading hubs for tourism, commerce, and culture in the world. The size and ambition of this project reaffirm the emirate’s commitment to sustainable urban development and diversification of its economy.
Present Position and Future Prospects
The Mall of the World was announced in 2014. However, it underwent multiple modifications regarding its designs and feasibility. As of 2025, the mall has not begun construction yet and is being optimized by the project developers to meet modern sustainability standards and market demands to come.
Once completed, it would set new standards in urban planning, giving an example to developments in the rest of the world.
Go to the official Dubai Holding website for further details about the Mall of the World and its developments.