The four-storey The Dubai Mall (TDM) is the cornerstone of the 162 ha Downtown Dubai development, adjacent to the tallest tower in the world, the Burj Khalifa. With a site area of 85 acres, and gross floor area of some 548,327 sq m (approximately four times of VivoCity), The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world (based on total area).

Conceptualized around creating the epitome of modernity and luxury, Dubai Mall is a work of iconoclastic prestige that would singularly place Dubai as the outstanding world-class class destination catering to an array of epicurean taste, generating immense tourism value through destination-making and brand reputation.

Conceptualised as a city, it is divided into eight precincts of different characters and designed with nodes, internal streets and facades for legibility. Taking its cue from the rich motifs and patterns in Arab culture, a pattern language of infinite constellations provide texture and grain synonymous to the local heritage on its façade.

Sensitive to the demands of sustainability and response to climate, The Dubai Mall is a single monolithic structure with a low surface area to volume ratio that limits heat gain through its external walls. Full height glazing is limited to a few specific areas for architectural impact and views. Skylights are designed to avoid glare and excessive heat gain through strategically placed shading, double glazing and the use of low-e glass.