Dubai Square Mall has been announced as a prestigious new project in Dubai Creek Harbor, developed by Emaar. While some rumours claimed it would become the world’s largest mall, this appears to be a misconception. The confusion arose from a statement made during the announcement, which said the project is “three times the size of Downtown Dubai”. Many people interpreted this as referring to the mall itself, whereas it most likely referred to the total size of the Dubai Creek Harbour district.
The actual scale of the project in perspective
Downtown Dubai is a well-known district that is home to the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, among other landmarks. If one were to say that Dubai Square Mall is three times larger than the entire Downtown Dubai, that would also mean it is larger than both Downtown and Business Bay combined. That simply does not seem realistic, given the required space, infrastructure, and costs.
When you look at the master plan and land areas, you can see that the Dubai Creek Harbour district is indeed approximately three times the size of Downtown Dubai. This makes it clear that the statement was more likely about the size of the entire development, and not purely about the shopping centre itself. It is also notable that the announcement highlighted the use of electric vehicles within the mall, rather than speaking directly about the dimensions of the shopping centre.
Comparison with Dubai Mall and what this reveals about the project
The construction of the original Dubai Mall took four years and cost around USD 20 billion in 2008. Accounting for inflation, that would be approximately USD 30 billion today, or around AED 110 billion (approximately EUR 27.5 billion / GBP 23.5 billion). Dubai Square Mall is being built for a similar sum but is expected to be completed faster and with more luxurious finishes.
This indicates that the new mall’s scale is likely more in line with Dubai Mall than being significantly larger. The focus here does not seem to be on sheer size, but more on quality, experience, and its unique location within Dubai Creek Harbour. The area is envisioned as a self-sufficient district with waterfront views, direct metro access, and potential future views of the planned Creek Tower.
Edward Clarke is a seasoned property expert with extensive experience in international real estate investment, with a particular focus on Dubai’s fast-growing property market. Drawing on both personal investment experience and years of client advisory work, he helps investors make informed, realistic decisions when purchasing apartments, villas or off-plan developments in Dubai. With a pragmatic mindset, a sharp focus on returns and a strong commitment to transparency, Edward is a trusted point of contact for anyone considering a property investment in Dubai.
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