The Ultimate Guide to the Dubai Mall

In many ways, the Dubai Mall serves as a microcosm for the city in which it helped to both modernize and popularize. It's opulent, expansive, and precision planned, filled with art installations, welcoming lounge areas, and inventive food concepts—all alongside every high-end designer brand on Earth. No really, there are two separate Missoni stores (one technically M.Missoni), a Louis Vuitton department store, and an entire wing for luxury children's clothes.

But as with the city of Dubai itself, the largest mall in the world is many things at once—shops, restaurants, an ice rink, theme park, flight simulation, outdoor fountain, movie theater, aquarium, and dinosaur exhibit. It makes the Mall of America look like a suburban shopping center.

Scroll through the slideshow and open your mind (and wallet) to the Dubai Mall.