Pictured: Dubai’s stunning shopping center that claims to be ‘the most visited place on earth’, with a whopping 105 million visitors by 2023

A Dubai mall has claimed it is the most visited place in the world, with 105 million visitors by 2023.

‘Dubai Mall’, the world’s largest by total area, saw a 19 percent increase in visitor totals from 88 million in 2022.

Figures released by the shopping center – which is owned and operated by Emaar – show that as many as 20 million people visited the complex in the first two months of this year alone, with 2024 set to be another record year.

Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar claims the new statistics show how the mall has become a global attraction, attracting visitors from all corners of the world.

He said: “These figures reflect the impressive status of Dubai Mall and reflect Dubai’s progressive leadership and strong economy.

Dubai Mall saw its visitor total of 88 million increase by 19 percent in 2022. Upstairs is the mall’s epic aquarium

“Our mall embodies the city’s vibrant spirit and commitment to excellence, making the leadership’s vision a reality. As an integral part of Dubai’s economic fabric, we play a crucial role in the city’s success and innovation.

‘This wide range of nationalities not only underlined the global charm of the mall, but also reflected the cosmopolitan culture of Dubai itself.’

The 12 million square foot mall offers 1,200 stores, hundreds of dining options, an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, a giant aquarium and a huge Chinatown district.

It stands next to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa (828 meters).

The 12 million square meter shopping center offers 1,200 stores

Shopping Mecca: Dubai Mall is the world’s largest by total area

The shopping center is located next to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa (828 meters)

Other extremely popular shopping centers include the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, which received 52 million visitors in 2019, according to figures. Statisticaland Mall of America in Minnesota, which attracted about 40 million visitors in 2019.

Britain’s most popular tourist attractions are Windsor Great Park (5.6 million visitors in 2022); the Natural History Museum (4.6 million visitors) and the British Museum (four million visitors).

These figures pale in comparison to the visitor numbers of the Dubai Mall, which is also much more popular than the most visited city in the world, Istanbul, which welcomed 20.2 million international visitors in 2023, according to Euromonitor International.