Kempinski Mall of the Emirates

Al Barsha

Kempinski Mall of the Emirates

Luxury

By WTDD

Last checked: August 2026

Kempinski Mall of the Emirates is a five-star hotel built directly into the Mall of the Emirates complex on Sheikh Zayed Road, in Al Barsha. It’s one of only a handful of Dubai hotels with true ski-in, ski-out access to Ski Dubai’s indoor snow slopes, and its defining feature — the Aspen Chalets — lets guests watch skiers from a window one floor above a desert highway.

The property sits under the Kempinski brand, a European luxury hotel group with a long presence in the UAE, and it functions as both a shopping-break hotel for tourists and a business stopover given its Sheikh Zayed Road location. Public reporting on the hotel notes room counts ranging from roughly 350 to nearly 400 rooms and suites across renovation phases, plus 19–20 chalet units split between ski-facing and pool-facing categories.

For anyone researching this hotel before booking or visiting, the essentials are: direct mall access (700+ stores), a Dubai Metro station within walking distance, multiple restaurants spanning Levantine, Spanish, and Italian cuisine, two outdoor infinity pools, and a spa (SENSASIA Stories) built around a courtyard with Asian-inspired arches.

Why Kempinski Mall of the Emirates Stands Out

Most Dubai luxury hotels sell beach access or skyline views. This one sells convenience and a genuine novelty: indoor snow next to desert heat. That combination, plus the mall’s retail scale, is the property’s core value proposition — not proximity to the coast or Downtown Dubai landmarks, both of which are a drive away rather than a walk.

The hotel is also positioned for business travelers, with ten meeting and event spaces, and for shoppers who want to walk from a Dubai Metro station straight into air-conditioned retail without dealing with midday heat or traffic.

Rooms, Chalets, and On-Site Dining

Room categories span Superior, Deluxe, Grand Deluxe, Executive Grand Deluxe, and Family Rooms, along with Fit Rooms that include in-room exercise equipment. The Aspen Chalets are the standout tier: ski-facing chalets are designed like winter lodges with faux fireplaces and dark wood finishes, while pool-facing chalets open onto the two outdoor infinity pools. Dining options include Salero Tapas & Bodega (Spanish), Vera Versilia (Italian), and Aspen (afternoon tea), among others reported across current listings.

Editorial Assessment

WTDD Rating: 4/5 — This is WTDD’s own editorial judgment, based on the hotel’s location, amenities, and cross-checked review data, not an average of public scores. Separately, for reference: aggregated guest-review platforms show the property scoring in the high range (around 9.3/10, “Wonderful,” based on several thousand verified stays), as of August 2026.

Looking to plan more of your stay, browse more Dubai hotel and attraction picks on WhatToDoDubai, or check the Explore section for other Al Barsha-area listings.

Insider Tips

Metro access: Mall of the Emirates Metro Station (Red Line) sits within walking distance of the hotel entrance, making it one of the more transit-friendly five-star properties on Sheikh Zayed Road. Check current Dubai Metro service info via the RTA before travel.
From the airport: Dubai International Airport is roughly 32 km away; allow extra time during Sheikh Zayed Road peak-hour traffic (typically 7:30–9:30 AM and 5:00–8:00 PM on weekdays).
Booking chalets: The Aspen Chalets are a limited inventory (19–20 units total) split between ski-facing and pool-facing types, and they book out ahead of UAE public holidays and winter weekends — reserve these specifically rather than a generic “suite” category if the ski view is the goal.
Ski Dubai access: Some room categories include complimentary Ski Dubai Snow Park tickets as a seasonal promotion; confirm inclusions at the time of booking rather than assuming they apply, since offers change.
Parking: On-site parking is available, tied to the shared Mall of the Emirates parking structure; weekends and mall sale periods see the heaviest congestion.
What to pack: A light jacket is genuinely useful even in summer — Ski Dubai and the chalet corridors run cold, in contrast to outdoor Dubai heat.

Plan Your Visit

Opening Hours

The hotel operates 24 hours a day, with a front desk staffed around the clock. Standard check-in is 3:00 PM and check-out is 12:00 PM, with early check-in or late check-out available on request, subject to availability and possible additional charges.

Best Time to Visit

November through March brings Dubai’s cooler, drier season, which suits the outdoor pools and the walk between the metro and the hotel. Because the hotel’s main draw — Ski Dubai — is fully indoor and climate-controlled, it’s also a practical choice during the hot summer months (June–September), when guests can move between air-conditioned mall, hotel, and snow park without much outdoor exposure. Shoulder months (April–May, October) tend to bring lower room rates than peak winter season.