Developed and owned by Majid Al Futtaim Group, it opened in November 2005 and is located at interchange four on Sheikh Zayed Road.

The chair lifts in the snow park and the structural steel works were handled by Emirates Building System and the piling by Bauer.

[6][5][7][8] Shops at the mall include a Carrefour hypermarket, Centrepoint, Debenhams, Harvey Nichols, Home Centre, Jashanmal and Marks & Spencer.

Phase one of the project which will increase 5,000 sqm area more is already completed but expected to open in mid-2015 includes new shopping, dining and entertainment concepts.

However, due to the limitations of its location, the mall will be expanded upwards by constructing a second floor on top of the Carrefour area.

This project includes an additional of 1300 new spaces for car parking, 12 new restaurants, new prayer rooms for both, men and women and the relocation of the current VOX Cinemas which will now have 24 screens.

[37] As per senior asset director of Mall of the Emirates Mr Fuad Sharaf,“Retail stores and restaurants seeking to expand throughout the world are often choosing the UAE to open their first Middle East location, based on the growing demands for high-fashion and choice across shopping and dining sectors.

Mall of the Emirates is boosting the UAE’s retail landscape by offering international brands with a platform for growth.”[38] The new expansion project "Evolution 2015" was officially opened on 28 September 2015 which increased the gross leasable area to 26,000 square metres (280,000 sq ft).

[39] On 30 September 2015, David Beckham visited the mall for the inauguration of the Adidas store which was built in the newly expanded section.