Al Ain — the UAE's garden city, better known for its oasis, zoo and mountain-backed hot springs than its retail — is quietly building a shopping and dining case for itself. Mall of Al Ain has signed a deal with UAE retail operator Apparel Group to bring 20 international brands to the city, with the first stores expected to open in late Spring 2027.

The line-up covers fashion, footwear, beauty, sports and family retail, and includes several names that haven't previously had a presence in Al Ain: Levi's, Birkenstock, Skechers, Crocs, Aldo, Charles & Keith, New Yorker, LC Waikiki, Koton, Fitflop, Beverly Hills Polo Club and Call It Spring among them. Beauty and lifestyle picks include Inglot and Rituals, while families get Babies & More, R&B and OFF/PRICE. There's a food angle too — Tim Hortons will be part of the arrival.

The store rollout is a precursor to something bigger. Construction on a full redevelopment of the mall begins in early 2027, covering a refreshed external façade, upgraded retail and dining areas, better circulation and accessibility, and a relocation of the existing ice rink to nearly triple its current size. Hotel services are planned as part of the expansion, which would give the city its first mall-adjacent stay option of this kind.

Al Ain's dining scene is moving in the same direction. Al Mutarid Lifestyle Center has already welcomed Em Sherif Deli, Blu Pizzeria, Somewhere and Knot Bakehouse this year, with more on the way — Slrp Ramen & Rolls Bar, BAKE by SKW, Jona's Burger and Orijins are all slated to open across 2026 and the first half of 2027.

Why does this matter for travellers? Al Ain has long been the UAE's under-visited second city — a UNESCO World Heritage site with cooler winter temperatures, Green Mubazzarah's hot springs, Al Ain Zoo and a growing public art scene — but it rarely justified an overnight trip from Dubai or Abu Dhabi. A proper retail and dining offering, plus hotel services at the mall, makes it a far more workable weekend escape, especially between November and March when the weather invites outdoor exploring rather than mall-hopping.

The timing works out neatly: visit now for the zoo, springs and art, then return from late Spring 2027 for the new stores — or hold out for the full redeveloped mall and a bigger ice rink afterwards.