Dubai, UAE - Majid Al Futtaim has unveiled The Hangout by Mall of the Emirates, a new indoor-outdoor dining and entertainment precinct forming part of the mall's $1.36 billion (AED 5 billion) transformation.
The development will introduce four entertainment concepts and 18 food and beverage venues, including 12 restaurants, four kiosks and two dining outlets integrated into entertainment venues.
The Hangout will open in phases through 2026 and into early 2027.
New entertainment and dining precinct
The precinct will include Mall of the Emirates' first dedicated outdoor F&B courtyard, designed for use during Dubai's cooler months. Fully operable façades will connect the courtyard with the indoor areas.
A climate-controlled outdoor pedestrian connection will also link The Hangout with New Covent Garden Theatre and Fashion Dome.
Khalifa Bin Braik, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, said:
"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."
Four entertainment concepts
Activate will open at Mall of the Emirates in October 2026 following its debut at City Centre Mirdif. The active gaming concept will feature 12 light-up rooms and more than 50 interactive challenges for guests aged six and above.
SOCO is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. The 2,700 sqm venue will include bowling lanes, UAE-first simulators, augmented reality darts, karaoke and VIP party rooms alongside dining.
Explorers will follow in the first quarter of 2027. The 2,500 sqm family venue, aimed at children aged one to 12, will feature three play zones, including suspended net climbs and STEM-focused water play, as well as cooking, woodworking and arts workshops.
Magic Planet will also be reworked as part of The Hangout, with the new concept scheduled for 2027.
Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment and Lifestyle, said:
"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."
