Dubai is gearing up for one of its most ambitious retail projects yet, and it’s absolutely massive. Emaar’s upcoming Dubai Square Mall at Dubai Creek Harbour is set to be three times the size of Downtown Dubai, cementing its place as one of the region’s biggest shopping and entertainment giants. 

Backed by a Dh180 billion investment, the project is expected to open in three years and is already being called a game-changer for Dubai’s retail future.

Emaar announced the Dubai Square project earlier this year, positioning it as a next-generation destination where residential, retail, dining, entertainment and lifestyle experiences all come together under one address. At the heart of it is the Dubai Square Mall, a tech-forward, eco-friendly retail hub designed to feel more like a futuristic city than a conventional shopping centre.

A mall designed for the future

Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar revealed that the mall will go big on sustainability and technology. With Dubai’s EV ownership rapidly rising, the new mall will feature dedicated electric vehicle facilities, ensuring a smooth, modern and planet-friendly experience for visitors.

One of the mall’s standout features?
It will operate as a drive-through mall, aligning with Dubai’s push for smart, green and ultra-convenient infrastructure.

Future tech

Dubai Square Mall will use Artificial Intelligence to enhance the shopping journey, from personalised recommendations to seamless navigation and smarter retail services. Think of it as a mall that gets to know what you like before you even walk in. The mall will also integrate dedicated EV facilities and smart-drive design features.

Immersive design, inside and out

The mall’s architecture leans heavily into light, openness and immersive visuals. Expect:

• Striking skylights
• High-tech LED installations
• Glazed roofing and expansive glass windows
• Vast landscapes and greenery woven throughout

The result? A bright, airy, modern space that blends indoor and outdoor vibes, very much in line with Dubai’s evolving design language.

Emaar is already the name behind Dubai’s most iconic retail destinations, and Dubai Square Mall is set to add a whole new chapter to that lineup, bigger, smarter and more forward-thinking than anything the developer has done before.

Dubai’s most walkable lifestyle hub is getting a sleek new extension. Meraas, part of Dubai Holding Real Estate, has awarded a Dh440 million contract to GCC Contracting to develop City Walk Northline, a premium residential expansion that’s set to reshape life in one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

Expected to be completed by 2027, City Walk Northline will feature three modern residential buildings that seamlessly blend with the area’s contemporary energy, offering residents a fresh take on urban living with more space, more light, and more lifestyle experiences right at their doorstep.

A new home in the heart of the action

City Walk Northline 1 will house 114 one- to three-bedroom apartments, while Northline 2 will feature two eight-storey towers with 190 units, all designed with open layouts, elegant finishes, and private terraces that extend the indoors into Dubai’s year-round sunshine.

Set between Jumeirah Street and Sheikh Zayed Road, the new development gives residents instant access to the best of the city, from Coca-Cola Arena and Dubai Mall to Jumeirah Beach, all just minutes away.

Designed for the way Dubai lives

The new residences will introduce a refined, minimalist aesthetic, inspired by City Walk’s architectural rhythm and landmarks such as The Green Planet and Central Park. Interiors will be bathed in natural light, with premium materials, sleek kitchens, and timeless design touches that balance comfort and style.

Residents can look forward to infinity-edge pools, modern gyms, shaded terraces, and stylish communal lounges, all designed to offer a private retreat from the city buzz while staying connected to its energy.

A community built around lifestyle

For residents, the expansion means even more walkable dining, leisure, and green spaces, reinforcing City Walk’s identity as a place where people can live, work, and play without ever needing to leave the neighbourhood.

Move over, Burj Khalifa, Saudi Arabia could soon claim the crown for the world’s tallest building. A proposed mega-project in Riyadh aims to build the Rise Tower, a jaw-dropping 2,000-metre-tall skyscraper that would soar more than twice the height of Dubai’s iconic 828-metre Burj Khalifa.

Unveiled by global architectural firm HKS, the Rise Tower is planned to feature a staggering 678 floors, with luxury hotels, fine dining restaurants, observation decks, and premium offices. The record-breaking structure will serve as the centrepiece of North Pole, a futuristic 306-square-kilometre urban development envisioned as a “city of the future” built around innovation, technology, and sustainability.

If built as planned, the Rise Tower would not only shatter height records but also become a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, positioning Riyadh as a global hub for business, tourism, and design.

The project is currently in the design and tender phase, with construction expected to commence around 2026; however, a completion date has not been set yet.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower, another skyscraper project designed by Adrian Smith, the architect behind the Burj Khalifa, is also racing toward completion. Expected to stand 1,000 metres tall, the Jeddah Tower has faced multiple delays but is now progressing, with completion anticipated by 2028.

At 2km, Rise Tower would rise nearly four-and-a-half times the height of New York’s Empire State Building, featuring energy-efficient glass facades, vertical gardens, and smart climate systems.

If realised, it would redefine the global skyline and mark a new era of architectural ambition, not just for Saudi Arabia, but for the entire world.