City walk was presented to the public in 2013. It added a new landmark to the nearby area of Jumeirah and became a modern icon in Dubai. City walk was built by the famous developer Meraas known for its chic destinations with unique flavors. Like every other destination by them, city walk also has a signature touch to its design and the whole vibe of the place.
The location of the city walk is on Al Safa Street, a quarter located just off Sheik Zayed road. This gives the city walk excellent connectivity. City walk is a shopping and entertainment destination close to downtown Dubai. But unlike a regular indoor shopping mall, city walk provides visitors with unique experiences. Although the City Walk layout looks like a typical street, it is exclusively for pedestrians, and vehicles are not allowed inside the area.
After its initial opening in 2013, the area underwent further expansion in 2015 and again in 2016. Today, it is a bustling attraction for residents of Dubai and tourists alike.
City walk is family-friendly, providing many entertainment opportunities for kids and their parents. The largest gaming center in the UAE is a part of this and has a complete building dedicated to it.
Although not exhaustive, here is a list of attractions in the City Walk Dubai.
Attractions in City Walk Dubai
The Green Planet
Probably the most prominent and one-of-a-kind spot in the city walk. The green planet has grown a mini tropical rainforest in the desert. That, too, is in the middle of a busy city.
There is a sizeable glass-shaped dome with a climate-controlled biome located almost in the middle of the Citywalk. This is where over 3000 species of wild animals thrive. The humidity has to be 70% to support the alien species in Dubai’s hot and arid climate.
The dome does not look like a dome from the outside. It follows a more modern architecture, with the central glass cylinder surrounded by a cubical structure that houses the biome’s equipment.
When you enter the glass dome, the first thing that you will notice is the tree. The tree starts from the floor of the green planet and extends to the top, with branches spanning the entire radius of the dome. The tree might look quite natural and live on a first look. But it is as fake as a 200-dollar bill.
The tree is there to support natural plants that are planted on it. That’s why it is called a life-supporting tree and is the largest of its kind.
As all the plants grow and run around the life-sustaining tree in a few years, it will look much greener.
The most intriguing aspect of the green planet is animals. Unlike typical zoos that exhibit, species that usually delve into tropical rainforests are selected here. They include a slew of reptiles, birds, and animals you usually won’t find in a zoo.
You will note that these animals are that they are brightly colored. These include chameleons, macaws, sloths, snakes, and crocodiles. The green planet is a small waterfall and an aquarium surrounding the giant tree’s foot.
Hub Zero
An 18,000 sq meter gamers’ paradise is spread over two floors in a dedicated building. It has redefined the gaming scene in Dubai. The world’s biggest game companies have dedicated spaces for them, themed after famous games from each. There are 14 gaming zones, including Electronic Arts, Capcom, Microsoft, and more.
Customized gaming simulators adapted to the environment of each game provides an immersive gaming experience. The one thing that gamers have been asking for is there in Hub Zero. That is 360-degree gaming.
There are separate game areas modeled to suit the game world for Gears of War and Ghost Busters. You can be like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible inside the Laser Maze. Here it would be best if you sneaked undetected, avoiding all the sensors to save the Hub Zero base from extinction.
Have you ever ridden on a dragon? It’s cool if you haven’t because you can do so in hub zero. Check out the Dragon flight simulator for that. But those with a thing for speed will like the HyperDrive, an immersive racing simulator with a broader angle of view and all the real-life accessories. You can drive at gobsmacking speeds without any risks of it.
If you are more into real-world games, they have it too. You can put your soccer skills to the test in the soccer simulator or scale up the climbing wall. The billiards tables are for those who want it a little more relaxed.
Hub Zero is suitable for extended visits. If you are here to enjoy the games, you should have at least three hours for that.
Mattel Play! Town
If Hub zero is for older kids and young adults, Mattel Play! Town (or simply Mattel Playground) is for younger kids. Kids can meet their favorite cartoon characters and become the characters in this playground.
Mattel is the leading toy producer on the planet. Their toy characters from the last century have lived through generations and are popular even among generation z. Barbie used to be their most popular toy. But Mattel’s Play Ground in Dubai brings all the latest and greatest toy characters that have made their presence in cartoons and animated movies.
Barney and friends
Meet the purple dinosaur Barney and his cute little friends. Kids can watch barney shows, which give out short little lessons for the young ones.
Thomas and friends
The talking train engine and his friends will take kids places and discover new places along the journey. All this happens in a 4D cinema environment.
Fireman Sam
Be a firefighter and learn to save lives. Fireman Sam is a roleplaying game that lets kids dress up like firefighters, replete with helmets and firetrucks. They can climb the walls, slide down to the bottom, and complete different challenges.
Bob the Builder
We all know the hardworking builder and his friendly team of construction equipment. Mattel allows kids to explore creativity and build things using small-sized and kid-friendly cranes and trolleys. Kids can learn teamwork and develop their motor skills with these activities.
Besides all this, there are party rooms for celebrations. Mattel Play! The ground suits kids still in love with their toys and cartoon characters.
Coca-Cola arena
This is the latest addition to the city walk. The Coca-Cola arena, named after the famous soft drink brand, was completed in June 2019. It can seat up to 17000 people at a time. Before naming it the coca-cola arena, it was called the Dubai arena. It is located opposite the Burj Khalifa metro station and is easily accessible.
Since its opening, this arena became host to hundreds of shows even before completing a year. The arena shines in all red to resemble the coca-cola brand. This modern-looking place has become the central entertainment center in Dubai.
Street arts
The walls of most of the developments by Meraas become a canvas for artists. City Walk has a lot of street art and murals.
But one thing that is unique to City walk is the 3D arts. These arts give different perspectives depending on where you look at them.