Madinat Jumeirah

Is It a Mall? A Souk? A Fort? Actually, It's All Three

Madinat Jumeirah is one of those places that is hard to describe until you have been there. Traditional Arabian architecture, glittering lanterns, winding corridors that feel like they belong in 1001 Nights, and a network of canals weaving through the whole complex — it is a souk, a mall, and a fort all at once, and wandering through it with small children is a genuinely magical experience. Some of the shops feel completely unlike anything else in Dubai. For those who want to see it from the water, abra rides are available — a 20-minute boat tour through the canals with the Burj Al Arab as the backdrop. Tickets are AED 100 for adults and AED 50 for children, purchased at the Souk Abra station inside the complex.

Over 20 restaurants and bars line the walkways and waterfront, with cuisines from across the world and views to match — several of them are on the Entertainer app, which is worth checking before you book. Entry to the souk is free, shops are open daily from 10am to 11pm, and restaurants run from 8am to 2am.

Insider tip: if you have guests visiting from abroad, this is where we bring them for drinks or dinner. The canal at night, the Burj Al Arab in the background, the lanterns reflecting on the water — it never fails to impress.