McPhee Family

We had a slightly earlier start to our day today (after our healthy sleep ins yesterday) and after breakfast, we headed to the largest shopping mall in the world (depending on what measure you use), the Dubai Mall.

Regardless of rankings, it is massive and so beautiful inside too … quite the tourist attraction.

We parked in one of the mall’s 14000 parking spots and made our way inside to the ‘At the Top Burj Khalifa’ entrance.  By the way, the Mall of the Emirates shopping centre only has a meagre 7900 parking spaces.

The observation decks that most people go to are on the 124th and 125th floor.  The elevator ride is one of the fastest in the world, but also one of the smoothest … you had no idea you were moving so fast.  Whilst we were waiting to hop in, they projected images on the door of the lift position (which was changing quickly).

As we got to the 124th floor, we headed straight outside and enjoyed the views.  Of course, it was very hot in the sun.  Some of our views:

This is looking down at the Dubai Mall (on the left edge) and the Dubai Fountain in the middle.

The massive Dubai Mall

In the distance you can see the failed World Islands, which was planned to be an artificial archipelago of various small islands constructed in the rough shape of a world map.  It is located in the waters of the Arabian Gulf, about 4kms off the coast.

In the distance on the water’s edge, you can just see the Burj Al Arab hotel.

This photo is looking up from the 124th floor to the top, which shows just how far up it goes.

You are able to walk up a flight of stairs to another observation deck on the 125th floor as well.

We headed back on down the same super smooth lift and spent the next few hours wandering around the Dubai Mall, and not getting close to walking passed every shop.  We also headed outside near the Dubai Fountain for another glance up at the Burj Khalifa.

Here are a few photos below from inside the mall:

Of course, what shopping mall is complete without its own aquarium inside it.

After walking around the mall for a few hours, we headed back to our apartment for a swim before heading back to the Dubai Mall at night to watch the Dubai Fountains, located right next the Dubai Mall (as shown in the photos above).

They were spectacular!!

This final photo below doesn’t do justice to how beautiful the Burj Khalifa looks all night lit up … it was literally right behind us when we were viewing the fountains.