7 New UAE Malls Opening | 2026 Update

The UAE’s retail landscape is getting ready for a major expansion in 2026, with new UAE malls opening in 2026 across Dubai and beyond, promising fresh designs, community-centered spaces, outdoor leisure areas, and wellness-led experiences.

Here’s a closer look at the most anticipated UAE mall openings in 2026 and what makes each destination unique.

Dubai’s expanding retail scene complements the city’s growing residential and investment landscape, especially in areas seeing strong demand for properties for sale in Dubai.

1. Sobha Hartland Community Mall | Dubai

Mall Type: Community lifestyle destination

Located within Sobha Hartland, this upcoming neighbourhood mall is designed as a community lifestyle hub rather than a tourist-heavy destination. It caters to everyday needs with boutique retail, a supermarket, fitness facilities, play courts, and family-friendly dining.

What makes it stand out is its walkable, community-centric design, reflecting the growing demand for neighborhood malls in Dubai where residents can shop, eat, and socialize without long drives.

2. Liwan Mall (Le Meryeme Liwan Mall) | Dubai

Mall Type: Boutique lifestyle mall

Set in Wadi Al Safa, Liwan Mall introduces a boutique, European-inspired retail experience. With café-lined streets, open-air dining, and landscaped spaces, it focuses on leisure rather than volume retail.

This project fits perfectly into Dubai’s shift toward open-air retail destinations and boutique shopping malls, offering a relaxed alternative to traditional enclosed malls.

3. Villa Square (Le Meryeme The Villa Mall) | Dubai

Mall Type: Wellness & lifestyle retail destination

Villa Square blends retail with wellbeing. Designed around wellness-focused amenities, curated dining, and even a rooftop pool, it reflects the rise of wellness-focused malls in Dubai.

Targeted mainly at families and health-conscious residents, this mall highlights how mixed-use retail developments are becoming essential to modern urban living.

4. South Bay Mall | Dubai South

Mall Type: Waterfront lifestyle mall

Overlooking lagoon views in Dubai South, South Bay Mall is planned as a full shopping and entertainment hub. Spread across three levels, it will feature retail outlets, a premium food hall, gym, spa, and healthcare facilities.

With open-air walkways and strong community integration, it represents the future of Dubai lifestyle malls designed around daily life rather than occasional visits.

5. Dubai Square Mall | Dubai Creek Harbour

Mall Type: Mega retail & entertainment destination

Dubai Square is easily the most ambitious of all future malls in Dubai. Conceptualized as an “indoor city”, this mega development at Dubai Creek Harbour will feature walkable retail districts, immersive entertainment, and tech-enabled shopping experiences.

Expected to be one of the largest new shopping destinations in Dubai, Dubai Square reflects Dubai’s ambition to lead global shopping tourism through innovation and scale.

6. Ghaf Woods Mall | Dubai

Mall Type: Nature-integrated lifestyle mall

Part of a forest-led residential development along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Ghaf Woods Mall takes a radically different approach. Built around greenery and thousands of trees, it focuses on nature, wellbeing, and sustainability.

This project showcases how experiential retail in the UAE is moving beyond air-conditioned interiors toward outdoor, wellness-driven environments.

7. Dubai Mall & Mall of the Emirates Expansions

Mall Type: Major retail expansions

While not entirely new malls, the Dubai mall expansions 2026 deserve mention. Dubai Mall is adding hundreds of luxury retail units, while Mall of the Emirates is expanding its dining, entertainment, and outdoor social spaces.

These upgrades will further strengthen Dubai’s position as a global retail capital and reshape the UAE retail landscape 2026.

What New UAE Malls Opening in 2026 Mean for UAE Retail

The rise of community-centric malls in Dubai, waterfront retail promenades, and wellness-led shopping destinations reflects a broader shift in how retail is planned across the country. As new UAE malls opening in 2026 and wider Dubai retail developments 2026 come online, these destinations are designed to serve daily needs, support longer visits, and remain relevant beyond initial launch.

For residents, tourists, and investors alike, this evolution signals a more sustainable and immersive retail environment where shopping, leisure, and community living are seamlessly connected.

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