Dubai: You don’t have to be a teenager to be a mallrat in the UAE. One of the most common pastimes in the country, mall visits top the agenda of the young and old alike. Whether it’s for shopping, eating out or just chilling over a stroll or cup of coffee, thousands of residents and tourists throng the UAE’s shopping centres every day. And as if the year-round lure of promotions, offers and activities are not enough, several innovative services, many of them free of cost, are also provided, with the aim of making customer visits a smooth and hassle-free affair. A look at some of these services:
App to help you find your way around
Going around the world’s largest mall can be quite a task. But thanks to Dubai Mall’s free wayfinding app, you can now navigate around the 1,200-plus stores and 200 F&B outlets without any difficulty. Available on both IOS and Android devices, the app requires you to simply input the outlet you are looking for and an indoor navigation system built into it will guide you.
Hands free shopping
At Mall of the Emirates you can drop off your bags for free at Hands Free collection desks located around the mall. All items are securely sealed by Fetchr representatives who arrange delivery or collection which can be scheduled using the mall’s mobile app or calling the Hands Free Shopping team on 04 801 8188, 20 minutes before leaving the mall. Home delivery is also an option.
Park assist kiosks to find your car
It’s okay if you forget where you parked your car in some malls like Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif. A park assist facility in these malls will find your car for you within seconds. On your part, you need to go to the nearest ‘Park Assist’ kiosk in the mall, punch in the registration plate number and receive a map indicating the exact location of your car with a photo.
Ride from the car park
If you’re visiting City Centre Ajman during its ongoing redevelopment phase, you don’t have to worry about walking from your car to the mall in the heat. You can hop into one of the several golf buggies in the car park and be driven right to the entrance. Complimentary wet wipes and bottles of chilled water are also provided to you when you enter the mall.
Pink parking for women
If you are a woman, you can drive straight into a dedicated parking bay at Abu Dhabi’s Al Wahda Mall. The bay has over 80 pink parking spaces meant only for women, who make up 50 per cent of the mall’s visitors. The idea is to save you the time and bother of looking for parking spaces.
Metro links, express trains and much more
Malls like Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta have direct links to the Dubai Metro, while others like BurJuman, City Centre Deira and Marina Mall have Metro stations right at their doorstep. Most malls provide free wi-fi. You can also expect facilities like Emirates Post letterbox, ATM machines, prayer rooms for men and women, golf buggies, express trains, kiddie carts, baby strollers and wheelchairs, valet parking, tour buses and charging stations for phones and electric cars.
Tags for your little ones
Dubai Mall hands out wristbands to little children which help reunite them with you should they get lost. All you have to do is go to a guest service desk where designated staff strap a wristband around your child’s hand after noting down the child’s name, besides your name and mobile phone number on the bracelet.
