• UAE's biggest malls: The Dubai Mall has more than 1,200 retail units in addition to 200-plus food and beverage outlets. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE's biggest malls: The Dubai Mall has more than 1,200 retail units in addition to 200-plus food and beverage outlets. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Mall of the Emirates in Dubai has more than 630 retail units and 100-plus food and beverage outlets spread out across 233,467 square metres. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Mall of the Emirates in Dubai has more than 630 retail units and 100-plus food and beverage outlets spread out across 233,467 square metres. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Dubai Hills Mall boasts 600 retail units plus 7,000 parking spaces. Photo: Emaar Malls Management
    The Dubai Hills Mall boasts 600 retail units plus 7,000 parking spaces. Photo: Emaar Malls Management
  • Sahara Centre is located on the Dubai-Sharjah Highway, covers almost 240,000 square metres and has 530 retail units. Victor Besa for The National
    Sahara Centre is located on the Dubai-Sharjah Highway, covers almost 240,000 square metres and has 530 retail units. Victor Besa for The National
  • Reem Mall on Abu Dhabi's Reem Island is set to open in 2022 and will feature 450 retail units plus 85 food and beverage outlets. The mall will cover an area of more than 260,000 square metres. Photo: Reem Mall
    Reem Mall on Abu Dhabi's Reem Island is set to open in 2022 and will feature 450 retail units plus 85 food and beverage outlets. The mall will cover an area of more than 260,000 square metres. Photo: Reem Mall
  • Dalma Mall in Abu Dhabi has over 450 retail units spread across more than 151,000 square metres. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
    Dalma Mall in Abu Dhabi has over 450 retail units spread across more than 151,000 square metres. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
  • The Galleria Al Maryah Island is one of Abu Dhabi's newest malls and features 400 retail units plus 100 food and beverage outlets. Photo: The Galleria Al Maryah Island
    The Galleria Al Maryah Island is one of Abu Dhabi's newest malls and features 400 retail units plus 100 food and beverage outlets. Photo: The Galleria Al Maryah Island
  • Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall has more than 400 retail units, covering an area of 122,000 square metres. Photo: Sammy Dallal
    Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall has more than 400 retail units, covering an area of 122,000 square metres. Photo: Sammy Dallal
  • Yas Mall on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island has more than 370 retail units and 68 food and beverage outlets spread out across 232,257 square metres. Victor Besa / The National
    Yas Mall on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island has more than 370 retail units and 68 food and beverage outlets spread out across 232,257 square metres. Victor Besa / The National

Dubai Hills Mall to open on February 17


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Residents near Dubai Hills Mall have patiently waited as they watch the expansive shopping centre near completion. Now that day is here, as it's been announced that the mall is opening today, Thursday February 17.

It is set to become one of the biggest malls in the UAE when it opens at 10am.

Scroll through the gallery above to see the country's biggest shopping centres.

There is plenty to see and do inside the two-storey mall, which features 600 retail outlets, including internationally renowned brands, plus a Roxy Cinemas outlet, an Adventure Park and an indoor roller coaster that's said to be the fastest of its kind in the world.

It's located in Dubai Hills Estate, the 1,093-hectare development from Emaar that forms part of Mohammed Bin Rashid City.

The mall, which will have 7,000 parking spaces, sits next to Dubai Hills Estate Park and is a short drive from other thriving residential communities such as Arabian Ranches, Town Square Dubai and Damac Hills, and is accessible via Umm Suqeim Street and Al Khail Road.

One of its main attractions is undoubtedly the world's fastest indoor roller coaster, which is called The Storm, and for youngsters, the Adventure Park play area where there are all manner of activities and attractions to keep them entertained, including a slide and trampolines.

On top of the retail stores and entertainment attractions, there are also several food and beverage outlets, as well as a Geant Hypermarket.

Dubai Hills Estate is also home to a water park, skate park and Dubai Hills Golf Club, as well as Kings College Hospital London and supermarkets such as Franprix, Geant and Urban Foods.

Dubai Hills Mall will be home to hundreds of retail stores. Photo: Emaar Malls Management
Dubai Hills Mall will be home to hundreds of retail stores. Photo: Emaar Malls Management

A Common Grounds cafe is also scheduled to open within the community soon.

At the mall, retail stores will be open from 10am to 10pm on Sunday to Thursday, with restaurants and cafes open until midnight and Geant Hypermarket open from 9am to midnight.

On Friday and Saturday, shop hours extend slightly until midnight.

See inside one of the largest properties in Dubai Hills Estate:

  • This custom-built mansion in Dubai Hills Estate is on the market for Dh115 million.
    This custom-built mansion in Dubai Hills Estate is on the market for Dh115 million.
  • Enter via a striking double-height central hub.
    Enter via a striking double-height central hub.
  • The property's expansive basement, complete with a bar and TV area.
    The property's expansive basement, complete with a bar and TV area.
  • One of seven spacious bedrooms.
    One of seven spacious bedrooms.
  • A wine cellar, to be filled at will by the owner.
    A wine cellar, to be filled at will by the owner.
  • A spacious private swimming pool.
    A spacious private swimming pool.
  • A snug and inviting formal living room.
    A snug and inviting formal living room.
  • The property comes fully furnished, with high-end pieces.
    The property comes fully furnished, with high-end pieces.
  • There are a number of areas to relax around the property.
    There are a number of areas to relax around the property.
  • Generously sized walk-in wardrobes.
    Generously sized walk-in wardrobes.
  • The design is inspired by the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
    The design is inspired by the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
  • Bright and airy design throughout the upper floors.
    Bright and airy design throughout the upper floors.
  • A spacious ensuite bathroom.
    A spacious ensuite bathroom.
  • Looking down on the central hub from the first floor.
    Looking down on the central hub from the first floor.
  • Italian marble and porcelain has been used in the bathrooms.
    Italian marble and porcelain has been used in the bathrooms.
  • Space to entertain in the basement.
    Space to entertain in the basement.
  • Wood is a key design material throughout the property.
    Wood is a key design material throughout the property.
  • A formal dining area.
    A formal dining area.
  • A plush living area.
    A plush living area.
  • A sleek home office.
    A sleek home office.
  • A view of the back of the property at night.
    A view of the back of the property at night.
  • The grand staircase connected to the central hub of the home.
    The grand staircase connected to the central hub of the home.
  • A design feature flowing down the stairs.
    A design feature flowing down the stairs.
  • A more relaxed dining area.
    A more relaxed dining area.
  • The back of the property by day.
    The back of the property by day.
  • A quiet corner to relax in.
    A quiet corner to relax in.
  • A view of the top landing.
    A view of the top landing.
  • Space to watch TV.
    Space to watch TV.
Uefa Nations League: How it works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

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Price: From Dh2,099

The smuggler

Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. 
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.

Khouli conviction

Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.

For sale

A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.

- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico

- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000

- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950

Updated: February 17, 2022, 4:53 AM