Watch: Two drones race through an empty mall in Dubai

Pilots give a peek inside Nakheel Mall on Palm Jumeirah as you have never seen it before

It is no secret that we love our malls here in the UAE.

While people are isolating and practising social distancing, trips to the mall are clearly not what they used to be. But for those feeling a bit nostalgic for their favourite hangouts, Nakheel Mall, located on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah, has partnered with pro-drone pilots Ryan Copeland and Vladimir Ivanov to release a one-off video.

Residents can get a glimpse at what it's like to be inside a completely empty mall. As seen in the video, the pilots raced their drones up and down escalators, around fountains and past some of the mall's major attractions and stores.

To create the footage, the pilots were given access to the mall for a night, with the whole of it filmed within four hours.

“For a drone pilot, this was a great venue and a great opportunity to do something that would not normally be allowed. When we were told we would have exclusive access, we jumped at the chance,” says Copeland.

“We wanted to turn the challenge of the mall closure into an opportunity to highlight the talent and creativity of these drone pilots,” says Omar Khoory, Managing Director, Nakheel Malls. He also says that Covid-19 safety procedures were followed during the exercise.

While the mall is temporarily closed, the Waitrose and pharmacies within are open as per the government's directives. Restaurants are also open for home delivery.Khoory
Nakheel Mall is one of the newest entertainment destinations in Dubai, having opened on Palm Jumeirah last November.