Pictured: The stunning Dubai shopping mall that claims to be ‘the most visited place on EARTH’, clocking up a staggering 105million visitors in 2023

A shopping center in Dubai has claimed to be the most visited place in the world, having recorded 105 million visitors in 2023.

The ‘Dubai Mall’, the largest in the world in terms of total area, saw a 19 percent increase in its total visitors to 88 million in 2022.

Figures released by the shopping centre, which is owned and operated by Emaar, reveal that a staggering 20 million people visited the complex in the first two months of this year alone, and that 2024 will be another record year.

Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar says the new statistics show how the shopping center has become a global attraction, attracting visitors from all corners of the world.

He said: “These figures reflect the impressive status of Dubai Mall and reflect Dubai’s forward-thinking leadership and strong economy.”

‘Our shopping center embodies the city’s vibrant spirit and its dedication to excellence, turning leadership’s vision into reality. Being an integral part of Dubai’s economic fabric, we play a crucial role in the city’s success and innovation.

“This wide range of nationalities not only underlined the mall’s global charm but also reflected Dubai’s cosmopolitan culture.”

The 12 million square foot shopping center offers 1,200 retail stores, hundreds of dining venues, an Olympic-sized ice rink, a giant aquarium and a massive Chinatown district.

It is located next to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa (828 m/2,717 ft).

Other extremely popular shopping centers include the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, which welcomed 52 million visitors in 2019, according to statesmanand Mall of America, in Minnesota, which had approximately 40 million visitors in 2019.

The most popular tourist attractions in the United Kingdom are Windsor Great Park (5.6 million visitors in 2022); the Natural History Museum (4.6 million visitors) and the British Museum (four million visitors).

These figures are dwarfed by the footfall of the Dubai Mall, which is also much more popular than the world’s most visited city, Istanbul, which, according to Euromonitor International, welcomed 20.2 million international arrivals in 2023.