przez Kamil Marciszewski 
Dubai Square in Dubai Creek Harbour was conceived as a destination where shopping, dining and entertainment meet digital technology. Rather than presenting another conventional mall, Emaar outlined an urban experience bringing together retail streets, family attractions and places to spend time beyond the shop counter.
A note on timing: the CNN report behind this article was published on August 13, 2018. The figures and attractions below describe those original proposals. We separately reference Emaar’s official announcement of February 7, 2024. The images are concept renderings, not photographs of a completed mall.
What is Dubai Square, and where is it located?
Dubai Square was planned within Dubai Creek Harbour, the waterfront district east of Downtown Dubai and close to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. The wider neighbourhood combines residential development with a marina, promenades and public spaces. When the scheme was announced, Dubai Creek Harbour was being developed through a joint venture between Emaar Properties and Dubai Holding.
That setting helps explain the ambition. Dubai Square was intended to serve residents’ everyday needs while also giving visitors from elsewhere in Dubai a reason to spend a longer day in the district. Its role was described as part of a wider neighbourhood, not simply a standalone shopping building.
How large was the proposed Dubai Square mall?
CNN’s 2018 report described a project valued at approximately US$2 billion, with more than 8 million square feet of retail space. That is over 743,000 square metres, a scale compared at the time with more than 100 football pitches.
The original announcement also compared its planned retail space with Dubai Mall, suggesting a footprint more than twice as large on that measure. This needs careful interpretation: retail space, leasable area and total building area are different metrics. A historical comparison should not be presented as a current, verified ranking of the world’s largest malls.
Smart fitting rooms and a connected shopping experience
Technology was central to the proposal. Features described in the original coverage included interactive mirrors, smart fitting rooms, private VIP dressing areas and personalised presentations of fashion collections.
The broader idea was to make the boundary between online shopping and visiting a physical store less visible. Customers could interact with products and make purchases through a phone, a desktop computer or the shop counter. Dedicated applications, barcode scanning and radio-frequency identification, known as RFID, were proposed to support stock handling and shopping services, including approaches that reduce dependence on conventional checkout processes.
This is often called omnichannel retail: linking different sales channels into one customer journey. For Dubai Square, the concept reached beyond payment to the way visitors would discover, examine and collect products.
Entertainment, restaurants and a proposed Chinatown
The plans described by CNN included an events arena with 3D projection mapping, theatrical lighting and sound. Concerts, live performances and theatre were part of the proposed programme. Family-oriented facilities mentioned in the original coverage included a cinema, a water park, a sports arena and an indoor winter-themed adventure park.
Dining was another important part of the vision, alongside luxury shopping boulevards and an arts district with exhibition space. The original scheme also featured a Chinatown, promoted in 2018 as the future largest of its kind in the Middle East. That was a development proposal, not evidence of an attraction operating today.
What did Emaar confirm in February 2024?
On February 7, 2024, Emaar announced the completion of the detailed design for Dubai Square. It again emphasised an integrated shopping, dining and entertainment destination supported by advanced technology, with a planned direct link to Dubai Creek Tower.
The developer also described using artificial intelligence to analyse and anticipate the needs of retailers and visitors. Completing detailed design is not the same as opening a mall, however. The sources cited here do not establish a binding, up-to-date opening date, so this article does not present one as confirmed.
Why does Dubai Square matter for Dubai Creek Harbour residents?
A major retail and leisure destination can make a neighbourhood more convenient, add places to meet and reduce the need to travel further for services. For someone considering a home in Dubai Creek Harbour, the proposed infrastructure is one part of the broader picture.
It should be assessed alongside the exact building location, amenities already in operation, ownership costs and the quality of the individual apartment. Announced infrastructure is not a guarantee of higher property prices or a specific investment return. Property decisions should rely on current information about the actual home and the progress of nearby developments.
Dubai Square: frequently asked questions
Is Dubai Square the same as Dubai Mall?
No. Dubai Mall is in Downtown Dubai. Dubai Square is a separate development planned within Dubai Creek Harbour.
Are the attractions described here already open?
This article does not describe them as operating attractions. They belong to the original 2018 concept, and their final scope should be checked against the developer’s latest announcements.
Is there a confirmed opening date?
The sources used here do not verify a current, binding opening date. Check Emaar’s latest updates before planning a visit.
Considering a home in this waterfront district? Explore Dubai Creek Harbour projects on EmiResi and compare the locations of individual developments.
Sources
- CNN Travel: Dubai Square report, August 13, 2018.
- Emaar Properties: detailed-design announcement, February 7, 2024.
Original editorial content by EmiResi. Visual materials: Emaar Properties, as featured in the CNN report.
