
Desert Experiences from Abu Dhabi
From camel rides to Bedouin-style camps, here are some of the top desert experiences available from Abu Dhabi.
Opened in 2001, the Marina Mall packs a punch when it comes to its size and variety. Shoppers can trawl through everything from high-end boutiques to high-street fashion brands, plus perfume, cosmetics, sporting goods, antique and tech emporiums, as well as an anchor hypermarket. Restaurants, coffee houses, and fast food outlets also beckon, as do numerous family entertainments such as a 9-screen VOX Cinema, tenpin bowling, arcade games and rides, a trampoline park, and a musical fountain.
Thanks to its retail offerings, scenic location, and proximity to the Marine Eye and Heritage Village, Marina Mall is featured in most Abu Dhabi tours from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Most stops here include time to enjoy the shops and restaurants, or to take photos of the mall’s breakwater setting and Corniche views.
Visiting the Marina Mall is essential for shoppers, sightseers, and families with kids.
Wear comfortable shoes; the mall is gigantic.
The mall offers free on-site parking, with up to 4,000 spaces available.
ATMs and mobile phone charging booths can be found inside the mall.
Disabled parking spaces are located near the mall entrances, and wheelchairs are available for use free-of-charge.
The Marina Mall stands on Al Kasir Island, a man-made island connected to Abu Dhabi’s breakwater and Corniche Road. To get there by car, follow the Corniche Road and turn onto 18th Street signposted to the mall and Heritage Village. Alternatively, hop on one of the city’s public buses—most stop at the mall—or jump in a cab.
Standard opening hours are 10am to 10pm Saturday to Wednesday, and 10am to 12am Thursday and Friday. The mall is quietest during weekday mornings and afternoon, with weekends and evenings attracting the largest crowds.
Head for Marina Mall in the mid-afternoon to shop before it gets busy. Then, with your shopping done, make tracks for the nearby Heritage Village beach to experience its Instagram-worthy views of the sun setting over Abu Dhabi’s Corniche skyscrapers.