Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping malls, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, today (October 1) unveiled The Hangout by Mall of the Emirates, a major new indoor-outdoor lifestyle and entertainment precinct and a key milestone in the destination’s AED5 billion transformation.

Designed around the way people increasingly choose to spend their time, The Hangout will bring together entertainment, dining and social experiences within one connected destination. 

The precinct will introduce four entertainment concepts alongside 18 F&B experiences, creating a dynamic new environment where visitors can play, connect, dine and spend time together.

During Dubai’s cooler months, The Hangout will extend outdoors through Mall of the Emirates’ first dedicated F&B courtyard. Designed as a landscaped social space, the courtyard will connect seamlessly with the indoor precinct through fully operable façades, creating a fluid indoor-outdoor environment for al fresco dining, gatherings and events.

The destination will also introduce a dedicated climate-controlled outdoor pedestrian connection to New Covent Garden Theatre and Fashion Dome, improving connectivity across the wider entertainment district and creating a more seamless customer journey through the space.

Opening in phases through 2026 and into early 2027, The Hangout represents an important step in the continued evolution of Mall of the Emirates from a leading shopping destination into a multi-dimensional lifestyle destination creating more reasons for people to visit, stay longer and return more often.

Khalifa Bin Braik, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, said: "Mall of the Emirates has been defining retail and lifestyle experiences in Dubai for more than two decades. Our ambition now is to ensure its next chapter is as transformative as its first."

"Today, destinations are competing for people’s time as much as their spend. The Hangout responds to that shift by bringing entertainment, dining and social experiences together in a way that creates more reasons for people to visit, stay and connect," he stated.

“As part of our AED 5 billion investment in Mall of the Emirates, we are not simply introducing new concepts; we are evolving how the destination is experienced. The Hangout is an important expression of that ambition and of our long-term commitment to ensuring Mall of the Emirates continues to evolve alongside the communities it serves,” he added.

Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment and Lifestyle, said: "Entertainment is evolving as customers increasingly seek experiences that are active, social and shared. The Hangout responds by bringing together Activate, our home-grown concepts SOCO and Explorers, and a reimagined Magic Planet for a new generation."

“Together, they create one connected destination where customers can play, dine and discover more. It represents the future of location-based entertainment: greater choice, more reasons to return and long-term value for the wider destination,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service