The Dubai Mall, Dubai (must see)

Imagine a shopping trip so vast it could double as an Olympic event. That’s The Dubai Mall—an empire of retail therapy drawing more than 80 million visitors a year. With over 1,300 stores, from Bloomingdale’s to Galeries Lafayette, this mall is virtually the Middle East’s unofficial fashion capital. Designer names gleam from every corner, while shops selling traditional Arab jewelry and hand-embroidered fabrics remind you where you are.

If you're feeling hungry, take your pick from over 200 places to eat. You could sip Parisian hot chocolate at Angelina, taste modern Middle Eastern dishes at Asma, or spice things up at Tulum Mexican Restaurant. Or, if comfort food calls louder than couture, you’ll find familiar names like Chili’s, Hardee’s, and Joe’s Crab Shack.

Beyond fashion and food, the mall caters to every kind of shopper—and dreamer. Tech fans can test gadgets at The Apple Store or Al Yousuf Robotics. Beauty lovers can dive into Chanel or Make Up For Ever, while home decorators browse Bloomingdale’s Home. The kids aren’t forgotten either—between Ralph Lauren Kids and Candylicious, there's a good chance you’ll be leaving with something sticky in your shopping bag.

But here’s where things get truly surreal: inside this temple of commerce swims the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, complete with sharks and rays gliding over your head. Next door, VR Park plugs you into digital adventures, KidZania lets children play grown-up for a day, and an Olympic-sized ice rink offers a refreshing break from the desert heat. Meanwhile, moviegoers can head straight to the Reel Cinemas megaplex.

Indeed, this place turns shopping into spectacle—a city-within-a-city where you can buy, eat, skate, dive, and daydream all under one extravagant roof. And if your feet give out before your wallet does, remember: the mall offers free buggy rides. Consider it Dubai’s most glamorous version of public transport...