Dubai prepares for world's biggest mall

The biggest shopping centre in the world is set to open in Dubai later this summer.

According to the Dubai government's tourism department, the Dubai Mall will launch at the end of August and will be equivalent in size to 50 football pitches.

Located at the Downtown Burj Dubai development - which will also include the world's tallest building - the mall will house stores such as Harvey Nichols, H&M, Boots and Debenhams, among others.

A total of 1,200 stores and 120 food and beverage outlets will be located at the shopping centre, as well as a massive indoor aquarium, the world's biggest indoor gold souk, an Olympic-sized ice rink and a Sega indoor theme park.

"Dubai's world-class shopping malls and trailblazing projects such as the Dubai Mall showcase how people have come to expect the best from the emirate," commented Ian Scott, UK and Ireland director of the department of tourism and commerce marketing in Dubai.

"And, with all prices tax-free, Dubai is well and truly setting itself apart from other holiday hotspots."

Earlier this month, the Dubai government released figures suggesting that the number of hotel visitors set to stay in the region is expected to rise to ten million by 2010.

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