Majid Al Futtaim Unveils The Hangout by Mall of the Emirates, a New Indoor-Outdoor Lifestyle and Entertainment Destination
- A major new precinct within Mall of the Emirates’ AED 5 billion transformation, bringing together entertainment, dining and social experiences in one connected destination.
- Four distinct entertainment concepts will offer immersive, active and social experiences for visitors of all ages.
- 18 F&B experiences, including 12 restaurants, four kiosks and two dining outlets integrated within its entertainment venues.
- Mall of the Emirates’ first-ever outdoor F&B courtyard, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor destination during Dubai’s cooler months.
Four entertainment concepts, 18 F&B experiences and the mall’s first outdoor courtyard — a key milestone in Mall of the Emirates’ AED 5 billion transformation.
Dubai, UAE, 1 October 2026 — Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping malls, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, today 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 AED 5 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.
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.
“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.”
“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.”
— Khalifa Bin Braik, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management
“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.”
— Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment and Lifestyle
Four New Entertainment Experiences
At the heart of The Hangout are four distinct entertainment concepts, each designed around a different way to play, discover and connect.
Activate
Opening October 2026
Following its debut at City Centre Mirdif, Activate — the world’s first active gaming experience — blends physical activity with immersive gameplay across 12 light-up rooms and more than 50 interactive challenges. Designed for guests aged six and above, teams can test their mental agility, compete cooperatively and climb the global leaderboard together.
SOCO
Opening Q4 2026 · 2,700 sqm
A social entertainment destination built around connection, bringing people together through play, food and shared experiences. Combining friendly competition with curated dining, SOCO will feature state-of-the-art bowling lanes, UAE-first simulators, AR darts, karaoke and VIP party rooms — for visitors of all ages.
Explorers
Opening Q1 2027 · 2,500 sqm
Following its debut at City Centre Mirdif, Explorers is a family destination for children aged 1–12, with three immersive play zones including suspended net climbs and STEM-focused water play, alongside hands-on workshops in cooking, woodworking and arts — combining free play with expert-led skill-building.
Magic Planet
Opening 2027
The Hangout’s fourth concept marks the next chapter for Magic Planet, one of the most recognised family entertainment brands. Reimagined for a new generation, the experience will bring together familiar favourites and new innovations within a contemporary destination designed for families to play, connect and create lasting memories.
A New Dining Destination
Dining will be integral to The Hangout, with 18 F&B experiences planned across the precinct. The line-up will include 12 restaurants and four kiosks, bringing together distinctive homegrown favourites and sought-after international concepts across cuisines spanning Indian, Levantine, Italian and Pan-Asian.
Confirmed names include Fatt Pundit, Crunch, Apollo, Asma, Junk Smash Burger, Public Pizzeria, Crystal Jade Noodle Bar and Feels, with further concepts to be announced.
Two of The Hangout’s entertainment destinations will also incorporate dedicated F&B experiences, bringing dining and entertainment together within the same experience. Together with the outdoor courtyard, the mix will establish The Hangout as a significant new dining and social district within Mall of the Emirates.
Reimagining Mall of the Emirates for Its Next 20 Years
The Hangout forms part of Majid Al Futtaim’s AED 5 billion transformation of Mall of the Emirates, one of the most significant investments in the destination since it opened more than two decades ago. The wider transformation also includes a luxury wellness club, new dining precincts and a new theatre, alongside improvements to accessibility, mobility and the overall customer journey, including barrierless parking.
Together, these investments reflect the changing role of the modern mall, evolving beyond a destination centred primarily on transactions into one built around experiences, connection and community. As Mall of the Emirates looks ahead to its next 20 years, The Hangout provides an early look at that future: more social, more experiential and designed around how people want to spend their time.
The Hangout at a Glance
| Where | Mall of the Emirates, Dubai |
| Opening | In phases through 2026 and into early 2027 |
| Entertainment | Activate · SOCO · Explorers · Magic Planet |
| Dining | 18 F&B experiences — 12 restaurants, four kiosks and two in-venue outlets |
| Outdoors | The mall’s first outdoor F&B courtyard, plus a climate-controlled link to New Covent Garden Theatre and Fashion Dome |
| Investment | Part of the AED 5 billion transformation of Mall of the Emirates |
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