Meydan One Mall

Meydan One Mall is a large retail and leisure complex planned inside the Meydan One master development in Mohammed Bin Rashid City. Presented in initial concept form, the project brings together a major mall building with a cluster of high-profile attractions and supporting infrastructure intended to create a multipurpose destination within the wider Meydan precinct.

What this place is and where it sits

Meydan One Mall is the retail and leisure element of the Meydan One scheme, positioned between the existing Meydan racecourse and Al Khail Road. The project footprint is part of a 40.4 million sq ft site that was the focus of a groundbreaking ceremony on 15 March 2017. Delivered as a single, large-scale complex, the mall is described in the project materials as the base for a number of signature pieces: a very tall Meydan One tower, hospitality elements, an indoor ski slope, a Crystal Lagoon and extensive retail and entertainment areas.

Transport and typical travel times

The published material for the development highlights road travel times from the mall to a set of major Dubai destinations. Approximate driving times from Meydan One Mall are: roughly 24 minutes to Dubai Mall, about 32 minutes to Palm Jumeirah, around 30 minutes to Burj Al Arab and close to 35 minutes to The Walk JBR. Highway access is provided via Al Khail Road and surrounding arterial routes.

Metro connectivity is specified in two ways. The project description notes that two metro lines will run under the mall, including an extension of the Green Line linking the site with Dubai International Airport (DXB). Separately, an existing metro reference in the location data lists the Red Line station code R26 at a straight-line distance of 3,382 metres; that station is not described as walkable in the location dataset.

Estimated road travel to airports given in the project materials are roughly 30 minutes to Dubai International Airport (DXB) and about 53 minutes to Al Maktoum International Airport, depending on route and traffic conditions.

Design, facilities and attractions

The original project brief sets out an ambitious mix of retail, hospitality, entertainment and civic elements. Key features described in the planning and concept material include:

• a 711-metre-high Meydan One tower located as part of the broader scheme;
• a luxury Plaza Hotel planned within the complex;
• a 1-kilometre indoor ski slope with a 12,000 sq m Winter Village built above parts of the mall;
• an 8.2-kilometre Crystal Lagoon with more than 500 metres of white sandy beaches, an exclusive beach club and water-based leisure activities such as sea kayaking and paddle boats;
• a 380-metre display of dancing water fountains described as a choreographed three-dimensional water field with a digital colour array;
• a 160 m by 100 m central atrium, referred to as the Central Canyon, designed with a retractable roof and luxury retail units flanking the main void;
• retail provision totalling over 550 shops, including 30 anchor stores, 80 flagship luxury stores and approximately 190 food and beverage outlets, plus a very large hypermarket of 131,150 sq m;
• a 24,000 sq m multi-purpose sports facility intended to host courts for football, basketball, indoor cricket and various racket sports;
• a dedicated entertainment cluster including a 21-screen cinema and a 28,000 sq m ‘Experience Zone’ for programmed entertainment, sports and edutainment;
• parking for 12,600 cars to serve retail, leisure and event uses;
• a multipurpose civic plaza sized to contain up to 30,000 people for cultural and entertainment events;
• an incubation district offering plug-and-play space for startups in retail-facing sectors such as fashion, beauty and food and beverage.

These components, as described in the concept documentation, are laid out to create a mixed-use destination that combines large-scale retail with event, sports and resort-style water attractions.

Construction, contractor and programme notes

The construction programme for the mall began in the late 2010s. The Italian contractor Salini Impregilo was awarded a US$435 million contract that covers the mall construction and some substructure and superstructure elements for neighbouring features, including foundations and concrete support structures for the 1 km indoor ski slope that sits above parts of the retail complex.

To support the structural works, project delivery made use of an on-site concrete batching plant and local pre-fabrication facilities. These logistics were organised to enable around-the-clock shifts and to reduce transport and handling requirements for large volumes of concrete and prefabricated elements.

Initial statements indicated a construction period of 23 months for the contracted works, however the programme has been extended beyond early forecasts. The mall’s publicised completion date was revised from 2020 to the end of 2021 in order to ensure full delivery of access roads and related infrastructure. Concept imagery published with project announcements reflects early designs; developers note that design revisions are common during implementation and completed elements can differ from initial concepts.

Who the development suits

The scale and mix of uses described make Meydan One Mall relevant to several groups:

• retail operators and luxury brands seeking flagship and anchor locations within a large destination mall;
• hospitality operators and investors with an interest in city-scale leisure tourism, given the planned Plaza Hotel and the leisure attractions;
• leisure and sports operators able to programme indoor and outdoor water-based activities, multi-sport courts and edutainment offerings;
• event organisers and cultural programmers able to use the civic plaza and large-format performance spaces for public gatherings and shows;
• early-stage consumer-facing businesses seeking short-term plug-and-play incubation space in the planned startup district.

FAQ

• What is the current project status?

  The project is presented in project materials as under construction; contract awards and site works were reported following the 2017 groundbreaking. Published schedules have been revised during delivery.

• How many shops and major outlets will the mall include?

  Concept material lists over 550 shops, including 30 anchor stores and 80 flagship luxury stores, together with roughly 190 food and beverage outlets and a large hypermarket space of 131,150 sq m.

• What transport connections are planned?

  Two metro lines are planned to pass under the mall, one of which is described as an extension of the Green Line that would improve direct links to Dubai International Airport. The nearest referenced Red Line station in the location dataset is R26 at a reported distance of 3,382 metres (noted as not walkable).

• Are the concept images definitive?

  Images published with early announcements reflect initial concept designs. The project documentation explicitly notes that developments may undergo design revisions during construction and that finished elements can differ from early imagery.

For further technical or investment details, consult the official project releases and the developer’s planning documents. This page summarises verified factual elements from published project material and site records.

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