Dalma Mall is a super-regional shopping mall in Abu Dhabi’s ICAD district, opposite Mohammed Bin Zayed City, with over 450 stores, a 14-screen cinema, and free parking for 6,000+ cars. It opened in 2010 and serves as the main retail hub for western Abu Dhabi — Mussafah, Khalifa City, Baniyas, and MBZ City — rather than the downtown or Yas Island crowd. Below: current hours, how to get there without a car, what’s actually inside, and the things reviewers keep flagging that other guides leave out.
The Essentials
- Opened: 10 October 2010
- Owner: The Developers Holding LLC
- Location: Al Wazn Street, Abu Dhabi Industrial City (ICAD I), opposite Mohammed Bin Zayed City
- Size: roughly 250,000 sqm total, with 151,000–155,000 sqm of leasable retail space
- Stores: 450+
- Parking: 6,000+ free spaces
- Cinema: Cine Royal, 14 screens
Where Dalma Mall Actually Sits — and Why It Matters
It isn’t downtown, and that’s the whole point. The mall sits on the Abu Dhabi–Tarif–Al Ain highway, a short run from Maqta Bridge and Abu Dhabi International Airport.
That position puts it closest to a very different crowd than the Corniche or Yas Island malls. Mussafah’s industrial workforce, Khalifa City, Shakhbout City, Baniyas, and MBZ City residents all treat this as the default option — not because it’s flashy, but because the alternative is a 25–35 minute drive into the city.
If you’re coming from central Abu Dhabi purely for the shopping mix, know this upfront: the strength here is breadth and practicality, not luxury boutiques. If you want high-end fashion, The Galleria or Yas Mall fits better. If you want one stop that covers groceries, electronics, clothes, a cinema, and dinner, this is the stronger pick.
Dalma Mall Location on Map
Opening Hours
General mall hours:
- Sunday–Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Thursday–Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM (midnight)
Carrefour hypermarket keeps slightly extended hours in line with the rest of the property — Sunday to Thursday 10:00 AM–10:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM–midnight.
Cine Royal cinema typically opens earlier, from around 9:00 AM, and runs later showings on weekends.
Ramadan hours shift the whole schedule later in the evening and shorten the daytime window — if you’re visiting during Ramadan, check the official website or call ahead rather than trusting a generic listing, since these dates move every year.
Getting There
By taxi: the most reliable option if you’re coming from central Abu Dhabi. Expect a metered fare; from the airport it’s a straightforward, direct run along the highway.
By public bus: Route 101 (DARB) is the one to know — it terminates right at the mall’s main entrance, connecting through Al Danah/downtown Abu Dhabi and out to Al Reef Villas on the other end. Buses run roughly every 30–40 minutes, from around 6:00–7:20 AM until close to midnight. Fare is a AED 2 boarding charge plus a small per-kilometre add-on, so most trips land around AED 2–5, paid with a Hafilat card. The buses have wheelchair ramps and priority seating, and stops along the route are generally accessible. For live timings, check the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport site or app rather than a fixed schedule, since frequency shifts slightly during peak commuting hours.
By car: this is how most visitors arrive, and it’s what the site is genuinely built for. Free parking spans thousands of bays, with direct access from the highway — no paid parking apps, no tight multi-level ramps to navigate.
From the airport: it’s one of the closer major malls to Abu Dhabi International Airport, making it a realistic stop if you’ve got a long layover and want air conditioning, food, and a walk that isn’t a terminal corridor.
What’s Actually Inside Dalma Mall
Dalma Mall’s tenant mix is built around coverage, not curation — over 450 stores across three floors, anchored by names people actually use weekly. Carrefour and Debenhams are the two biggest names in the building: Carrefour hypermarket anchors the first floor and drives most of the weekly foot traffic, while Debenhams, the British department store, anchors the ground floor with clothing, accessories, and homeware under one roof — the closest thing here to a one-stop shop for a full family wardrobe.
| Category | Biggest brands | What they’re known for |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries & hypermarket | Carrefour | Weekly grocery runs; the main reason for repeat visits |
| Fashion | H&M, Debenhams, Matalan, Max, Centrepoint, M&S, American Eagle, Victoria’s Secret, ALDO, Charles & Keith, Nine West, Splash, Lifestyle, NEXT | High street to department-store fashion in one visit |
| Sports & footwear | Sun & Sand Sports, Adidas, Shoexpress, Crocs | Activewear, trainers, and casual footwear |
| Electronics | Sharaf DG, Jumbo | Samsung devices, Apple accessories, phones, appliances, same-day replacements |
| Kids & toys | Toys “R” Us, Mothercare, Babyshop | Toys, baby gear, children’s clothing |
| Beauty | Bath & Body Works, MAC | Cosmetics, skincare, fragrance |
| Home | Home Centre, Pottery Barn, ACE Hardware | Furniture, home decor, hardware and tools |
| Everything else | Pharmacies, bank branches, ATMs, specialty stores | Errands you’d otherwise make a separate trip for |
Dalma Mall Abu Dhabi Restaurants
The dining scene here is bigger than a typical food court — closer to 50 outlets across sit-down restaurants, cafés, and quick bites, covering most cuisines you’d want in one visit.
Indian & South Asian: Barbeque Nation is the go-to for grilled meats and a lively buffet setup. Gazebo draws a loyal following for biryani and North Indian classics. Sangeetha covers South Indian favourites for anyone craving dosa or idli.
Middle Eastern & Turkish: Qaser Al Salateen serves authentic Turkish dishes — the iskender kebab and adana kebab are regularly recommended, with baklava for dessert. Golden Fork Restaurant handles Arabic cuisine for anyone wanting shawarma, grills, or mezze.
Chinese & Asian: Gypsy Chinese Restaurant is a reliable, affordable pick — Hakka noodles and Schezwan chicken are the standout orders.
Italian & Western: Buca di Beppo covers Italian comfort food, from pasta to the well-known half-pound meatballs.
Cafés & Bakeries: La Brioche on the first floor is popular for all-day breakfast, pastries, and fresh bread. The Chocolate Bar, Coffee Club, and Starbucks cover the coffee-and-dessert crowd throughout the day.
If you’re vegetarian, Sangeetha and the vegetarian sections of most Indian restaurants here are consistently well reviewed — worth knowing since not every mall in the city covers this as thoroughly.
Entertainment and Family Attractions
Cine Royal Cinema is Dalma Mall’s biggest draw beyond retail, with 14 screens — one of the larger multiplexes in Abu Dhabi outside the newer waterfront properties.
Fun City covers play for children roughly 1–12 years old, while a separate soft-play PlayZone area is aimed at toddlers, keeping the youngest visitors away from the bigger kids’ equipment.
Adventure HQ, mentioned frequently and favorably in visitor reviews, adds an indoor adventure/activity element that goes beyond the standard arcade setup.
Between the cinema, the play areas, and the food court, a family visit realistically runs 3–4 hours, longer on weekends when the cinema and play areas both fill up.
Facilities Worth Knowing About
Prayer rooms are located on the ground floor and near the top level, both described in visitor reviews as clean and well maintained. Bank branches and ATMs are distributed throughout for on-the-spot withdrawals or currency exchange. Basic healthcare services and pharmacies are also on-site, which matters for a property that serves a large working-population catchment rather than a purely leisure crowd.
Nearby Attractions
If you’re extending the trip beyond shopping, several spots near Dalma Mall are worth folding into the day:
- Mohammed Bin Zayed City Park — around 4–5 km away, a quick stop for open green space if you’re travelling with kids or just need a walk after the mall.
- Mazyad Mall — roughly a 13-minute drive, useful as a second stop if you didn’t find what you needed.
- Makani Mall, MBZ City — also about 13 minutes away, another nearby retail option.
- Zayed Cricket Stadium — around 19 minutes’ drive, worth checking for match schedules if you’re a cricket fan.
- Forsan Central Mall & Golf Club — about 19 minutes away, combining a golf course with additional dining and retail.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque — further out, closer to 30 minutes by car, but it’s the standout landmark in the wider area if you’re building a full day around the visit.
None of these require a separate trip from the city — they sit close enough to the mall that they fit naturally into the same outing.
What Visitors Actually Complain About
Being upfront here is more useful than pretending everything runs perfectly. Recent visitor reviews flag a few recurring issues:
- Inconsistent customer service experiences with individual staff members at specific counters, rather than mall-wide
- Crowding around the taxi stand and main entrance during peak evening hours
- Long queues at Carrefour checkouts on weekend evenings
None of these are dealbreakers, but if you’re planning a quick in-and-out trip, avoid Thursday and Friday evenings, when both the cinema crowd and the weekend grocery run overlap.
Best Time to Visit Dalma Mall
Weekday mornings (10:00 AM–1:00 PM) are consistently the quietest window — parking is easy, Carrefour checkout lines are short, and the food court has open seating. If you’re going purely for the cinema or evening dinner, Sunday through Wednesday evenings avoid the Thursday–Saturday surge without sacrificing the extended midnight closing hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it in Abu Dhabi city or Mussafah?
Dalma Mall sits in Abu Dhabi Industrial City (ICAD I), close to Mussafah, opposite Mohammed Bin Zayed City — not in the downtown/Corniche area.
How many stores are there?
Over 450 retail and service outlets, spread across three floors.
Is there a cinema on-site?
Yes — Cine Royal, with 14 screens, one of the larger multiplexes in Abu Dhabi.
Is parking free?
Yes, free parking is available across more than 6,000 spaces with direct highway access.
What’s the closest hypermarket inside?
Carrefour, located on the first floor, functioning as the main anchor tenant.
How far is Dalma Mall from Abu Dhabi Airport?
It’s a short, direct drive along the highway — one of the more accessible major malls if you’re arriving from the airport.
Does it get busy on weekends?
Yes — Thursday through Saturday evenings see the heaviest footfall, driven by cinema showings and weekend grocery shopping combined.
