Mall of the Emirates

Yes, one can pick up a watch from Audermars Piguet or a frock from Balenciaga here, but there’s so much more to do at this self-styled “world’s first shopping resort.” Why not spend the day on the (indoor) slopes at Ski Dubai, complete with chairlifts, snowboard lessons and even a colony of penguins? Or there’s the virtual-reality Dreamscape world, which takes visitors through alien zoos and lets them have up-close encounters with dragons. Or how about the Magic Planet, full of arcade games, thrilling rides and a trampoline park? And after all that activity, refuel at an outpost of the Dallas-based Texas de Brazil, which puts a modern spin on the classic Brazilian steakhouse.