Majid Al Futtaim has announced The Hangout, a new lifestyle and entertainment precinct at Mall of the Emirates, as part of the destination’s AED 5 billion transformation.
The precinct will combine four entertainment concepts with 18 food and beverage experiences across a connected indoor-outdoor environment.
During Dubai’s cooler months, the space will extend into the mall’s first dedicated F&B courtyard, with fully operable façades linking it to the main indoor area. A climate-controlled outdoor walkway will also connect The Hangout to New Covent Garden Theatre and Fashion Dome.
“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,” Khalifa Bin Braik, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management said in a statement.
“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” Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment and Lifestyle added.
The four entertainment concepts span a range of formats. Activate, described as the world’s first active gaming experience, arrives in October 2026 following its debut at City Centre Mirdif, featuring 12 light-up rooms and more than 50 interactive challenges.
SOCO, a 2,700 sq. m social entertainment venue with bowling lanes, AR darts, karaoke and VIP rooms, opens in Q4 2026. Explorers, a 2,500 sq. m family destination for children aged 1 to 12, follows in Q1 2027. Magic Planet, one of the mall’s long-standing family entertainment brands, will be reimagined for a new generation in 2027.
On the dining side, confirmed names include Fatt Pundit, Crunch, Apollo, Asma, Junk Smash Burger, Public Pizzeria, Crystal Jade Noodle Bar and Feels, with further concepts still to be announced. The line-up spans Indian, Levantine, Italian and Pan-Asian cuisines across 12 restaurants and four kiosks.
The Hangout is one component of a larger programme at Mall of the Emirates that also includes a luxury wellness club, new dining precincts, a new theatre, and improvements to parking and accessibility. The mall opened more than two decades ago and the AED 5 billion investment is described by the company as its most significant since launch.
