You’ll immediately be struck by the Ibn Battuta Mall from the outside, since it’s hard to miss the huge arch on the front of the adjoining Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, while the delightfully exotic interior could be mistaken for the setting of one of the stories from A Thousand and One Nights.
The name of the Mall recalls the legendary endeavors of one of the most famous explorers in history, Ibn Battuta, who traveled through the lands the mall is inspired by: China, India, Persia, Egypt, Tunisia and Andalusia.
As you wander around the shopping courts, you’ll be awestruck by the spectacular array of colors, decorations and mosaics.
The China Court, inspired by Imperial China, has large open spaces and porticoes decorated with giant dragons, and ceilings with gold patterns on a red background. In the center of the large fountain, you can also admire a reconstruction of a Chinese junk, a boat that was widely used centuries ago, also by pirates.
The India Court, which takes its inspiration from the Islamic Mughal Empire, features a spectacular dome in the center, as well as the incredible Elephant Clock, which has no equal anywhere in the world.
Another magnificent dome, decorated mostly in golden yellow, can be seen in the Persia Court, exquisitely decorated with arches, mosaic in shades of blue and turquoise, and geometric patterns reminiscent of the creations of skillful Persian artists.
As you might expect, the hallmark of the Egypt Court are the hieroglyphics and gracefully decorated friezes in pale shades that adorn the sand-colored walls.
The Tunisia Court is inspired by the coastal cities of the country it takes its name from, with white walls, blue doors and elaborate mosaic tiles, as well as a delightful food court, with an atmosphere that’ll make you feel you’re actually in a city somewhere in North Africa.
In the Andalusia Court, you’re sure to be impressed by the ceiling, painted to resemble the sky, and the splendid Fountain of the Lions. Some of the details will remind you of the Alhambra Palace and the Great Mosque of Cordoba.
Let me leave you with an interesting fact: the massive Elephant Clock is a masterpiece of technology, based on a design originally made by an important thirteenth-century scientist named Al-Jazari.
