Mall of the Emirates is getting a new social district. The Hangout, a dining and entertainment precinct inside the Al Barsha mall, will open in phases across 2026 and 2027, bringing active gaming, bowling, karaoke and the mall’s first dedicated outdoor food and beverage courtyard under one roof.
The project forms part of the mall’s Dh5 billion transformation. Reporting by Devo Dubai, citing What’s On, says no single overall opening date has been announced; instead, venues will launch in stages, with a climate-controlled pedestrian connection linking the district to the Fashion Dome and the New Covent Garden Theatre.
The four anchor venues, and when they open
Activate leads the rollout in October 2026. The active gaming venue mixes physical movement with technology across 12 light-up rooms and more than 50 interactive games. SOCO follows later in 2026: a 2,700-square-metre space combining dining with bowling lanes, augmented-reality darts and private karaoke rooms.
Two family venues are planned for 2027. Explorers is an educational playground with three zones — suspended net climbs, STEM-focused water play and hands-on workshops in cooking, woodworking and arts. Magic Planet also returns refreshed in 2027, pairing arcade favourites with new technology-led attractions.
An outdoor courtyard for the cooler months
The design detail regulars will notice most is the facade. During Dubai’s cooler months, operable walls open the district into a landscaped outdoor terrace for meals, events and family gatherings — a first for the mall, which has always been an indoor destination. That timing suits an October launch: the same weeks bring back the city’s outdoor season, from Miracle Garden to Global Village, both reopening this month and listed among Time Out Dubai’s October changes.
Getting there is unchanged: the mall has its own Mall of the Emirates Metro station on the Red Line, and our guide to hotels near Mall of the Emirates covers staying in Al Barsha. Exact opening dates for each Hangout venue are still to be confirmed, so check the mall’s channels before planning a trip around a specific venue.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Hangout at Mall of the Emirates?
A new dining and entertainment district inside the mall, opening in phases through 2026 and 2027 as part of a Dh5 billion transformation.
What opens first?
Activate, an active gaming venue with 12 light-up rooms and over 50 games, is scheduled to lead the rollout in October 2026. SOCO, with bowling, AR darts and karaoke, follows later in 2026.
What is planned for 2027?
Explorers, an educational family playground, and a refreshed Magic Planet family entertainment venue.
How do I get to Mall of the Emirates?
By Dubai Metro Red Line to Mall of the Emirates station, which connects directly to the mall, or by taxi to Al Barsha.
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