Beyond Shopping: Why Silicon Central Mall is the Soul of Dubai Silicon Oasis

Dubai has a lot of malls, but not all of them are looking towards a real community. One of the few exceptions is Silicon Central Mall. Lying at Nadd Hessa in the Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) free zone, this three-level lifestyle hub covers a massive 81,500 square metres of retail, eating, entertainment and all services you need. It’s where residents go to everyday and visitors are surprised to find. It’s located in-between two of Dubai’s main arterial roads, making it accessible, functional and just plain fun to hang out in. 

Silicon Central Mall: Location 

Located at the heart of Nadd Hessa in the Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) free zone, the Mall will not only be a place to shop, it will be a three level lifestyle and community destination for those who live, work, and study in one of Dubai’s most dynamic tech-infused neighbourhoods. 

Architectural Design

Mall design is based on the special lifestyle of ancient Arabian desert, with a new and futuristic by the famous design international of worldwide architecture studio. Inside, five unique squares: The Cave,The Canyon, The Forest, The Lagoon and The Mirage, put their personality on everything in the mall; make it look new, exciting. 

Operating Hours

Silicon Central has long hours at all locations, so it is convenient to visit them on any day of the week.

Shops & Kiosks 

• Sunday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM 
• Thursday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Restaurants & Cafes 

• Sunday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM 
• Thursday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM

LuLu Hypermarket Open daily: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM

The hypermarket is open for the longest time and even on an early morning or late night it is a convenient place to visit. Restaurants and cafes may be open up to an hour after regular hours for retail shops, so you can always finish your shopping with a good meal. 

Silicon Central Mall: Stores & Retail

This is a very good selection of retail stores for a mall in this community. There’s something on every level that’s worth stopping to experience, be it your daily errands or something you want to do for yourself.

• Lulu Hypermarket: The main anchor store in the Ground Floor, will open as early as 8:00 AM. Many residents come in every day for fresh produce, electronics, fashion and other household items, all in one giant roof!
• Brands For Less: On Level 1, this store offers global fashion brands at up to 80% off retail prices, which is a true bargain hunter’s heaven.
• REO Fashion & Giordano: Casual, trendy, and affordable clothing options that are easy to wear and even easier on the wallet
• Portofino Aesthetic Clinic: Focuses on skin rejuvenation and body contouring, for a more elegant form of self-care
• Malabar Gold & Diamonds: A trusted jewellery brand worldwide with a UAE presence.
• Dubai’s best nail salon, Tips & Toes is hailed as one of the finest beauty salons in the community with the finest treatments.
• Miniso: Playdough items, fun design, home decoration, gadgets and every day things
• Melodica Music Academy: The UAE’s biggest music and dance academy located in the basement, with classes for every level and age.

The rest of the list of stores includes Max, Mumuso, Al Ansari Exchange, Lulu Exchange, DU, Life Pharmacy, Gulf Optics, Flormar, and Mario Telecom, ranging from fashion to finance to everyday needs. 

Dining & Restaurants

Silicon Central‘s culinary environment has a satisfying selection of tastes, atmospheres and price ranges.

• Asli Beirut: Smoky Lebanese grills & fresh manakish with generously packed amounts of taste, perfectly designed to be shared. 
• Chicking: Mexican/American-inspired fast food, prepared well. Reliable family-friendly option.
• Jollibee: The well-known Filipino super brand, whose legendary crispy fried chicken and one of a kind burgers are sure to be a hit among everyone.
• Piazza Sabbioni: Pizza without preservatives and homemade pasta using materials imported from Italy.
• Gazebo: The best Indian food in Abu Dhabi! This is predominantly Mughal style Indian cuisine. The highlights are its sizzling kababs, mouth-watering fragranced curries and of course the legendary dum pukht biryani.
• IL Forno: The real comfort food, Italian style, for those who want the sit down service. 

Services & Facilities

This is where the mall earns extra points for practicality:

• Telecom service centres
• Free Wi-Fi
• Prayer rooms for men and women
• Baby changing rooms
• Baby feeding stations
• Accessible toilets and family restrooms
• Customer service desks
• First aid room with trained staff
• 24-hour on-site security
• Al Ansari Exchange
• Lulu Exchange
• Multiple ATMs across all floors
• Life Pharmacy
• Wheelchairs

Entertainment

Silicon Central is more than just shopping when it comes to entertainment. There is something for everyone for all ages and moods at the mall:

• Cinema Complex: A state-of-the-art screen on the second floor, to enjoy the latest movies from around the globe and the region, perfect for a night of leisure and a weekend family outing.
• Total Ninja: A huge three-storey obstacle and inflatable playground for entertainment of all ages! 

Getting There

Nad Al Sheba (Residential & Villa) and Academic City & Liwan are only 12 km away from Silicon Central and 15 km away from Dubai International Airport.

• By Road: Al Ain Road (E66) and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) there is free multi storey parking on site.
• By Bus: RTA bus 365, 366 and X25 stop at Silicon Oasis North Park 1 and Silicon Oasis Arch Building 1 (short walk away).
• Car park: Places to wait for Uber/Careem are at the main entrance. 

Expert Tips

A few things worth knowing before you go:

• Best time to visit: Weekday mornings (10am–12pm) for a quieter experience
• Avoid: Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons unless you enjoy the buzz
• With kids: Head to the entertainment zone first, before it fills up
• For deals: End-of-season sales here are less picked-over than central Dubai malls
• Stay updated: Follow the mall’s social media for flash sales and event alerts

Conclusion

Other malls do not even need to be the biggest or the most spectacular to be an integral part of the city. Silicon Central Mall does its interesting job by giving customers or visitors exactly what they are looking for in a space that is not only comfortable but also welcoming. Somewhat a rare comfort to DSO residents. Be it for the first time visitors to the site, it seems to be getting a little more genuine and lively and less made for tourists. While the city always looks for the next gross spectacle to cash on, its quite admirable that there is already a mall that does just that. 

FAQs 

Is parking free? 

Yes, there is free multi-station parking, including family parking and parking spaces for people of determination.

Is there a public transport option to get there? 

Yes. There are RTA buses that run from Al Rashidiya and Academic City to DSO. At the entrance to the site, there are places designated for people to drop off. 

Is there entertainment for children? 

Absolutely, there is a dedicated children’s entertainment zone plus regular seasonal events throughout the year.

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