Dragon Mart Dubai is not a normal mall. It is a dragon-shaped market in International City, about 1.2 kilometres long, packed with thousands of small shops selling almost everything China makes. Furniture, lights, tools, toys, clothes, phone covers: if it exists, someone here sells it, usually for less than the big malls.
But first-time visitors get three things wrong. They walk into the wrong building. They trust the old opening hours still shown on many websites. And they worry they cannot buy one single piece, because the place looks like a wholesale market.
This guide fixes all three. You get the real opening hours from the mall itself, a clear Dragon Mart 1 vs Dragon Mart 2 answer, the honest bargaining rules, and where to park when you get there.
Quick facts
- Where: International City, on Al Awir Road, Dubai
- Hours: Sunday to Thursday 10 AM to 10 PM; Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 11 PM (Checked: 19 October 2026)
- Entry: free, just walk in
- Parking: free parking is often reported at the Sun Tour building and at Dragon Mart 2, and valet parking is offered at the entrances. Check the signs on arrival.
- Good to know: both buildings sell wholesale and retail, so buying one piece is fine
- Mall information line: +971 4 390 9999
What is Dragon Mart, and how big is it really?
Dragon Mart is the largest Chinese trading hub outside China. The first building opened in 2004, shaped like a dragon and stretching about 1.2 kilometres. Inside are thousands of small shops, most of them selling goods imported from China.
This is a working market, not a luxury mall. Traders from across the region come here to buy stock for their own shops. Small business owners buy in bulk. And normal families come to furnish a flat, fit out a villa, or find a party decoration that no other shop stocks.
The mart sits inside Dubai International City, among the residential clusters. That is why it feels different from the famous malls: it serves the people who live and trade around it, every single day.
Dragon Mart 1 vs Dragon Mart 2: which one do you need?
There are two buildings side by side, and picking the right one first saves you a lot of walking.
Dragon Mart 1 is the original 2004 building. It has a market feel: long rows of small shops grouped by trade. This is the building for tools and hardware, building materials, electronics, textiles and furniture sections. Traders and bulk buyers shop here, and bargaining is strongest here.
Dragon Mart 2 is the newer building next door. It feels like a proper mall: wider walkways, food courts, a cinema and a supermarket. This is the easier building for family home shopping, décor, kitchenware and toys, with a meal or a movie at the end. Mart 2 also has its own building materials and hardware sections, so it is not only a family mall.
A simple way to choose:
- Tools, hardware, building materials and bulk buying: start at Dragon Mart 1, the classic market building for these trades
- Home décor, kitchen items, toys, a family trip with food and cinema: start at Dragon Mart 2
- Big buys, furniture and lights: check both buildings. Mart 2 has building materials and hardware sections too, the two buildings are a short walk apart, and prices differ from shop to shop
Both buildings sell many of the same goods, so for one big item, it is worth comparing two or three shops before you pay.
How much time do you need? With a clear list, one building takes about two to three hours. If you want to walk both buildings properly, plan for half a day, with a food break in Dragon Mart 2 in the middle.
Dragon Mart Dubai opening hours: the real ones
Many websites still show old Dragon Mart Dubai timing, including old opening hours. Ignore those. The mall’s own opening hours today are:
- Sunday to Thursday: 10 AM to 10 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 10 AM to 11 PM
(Checked: 19 October 2026, on dragonmart.ae, the mall’s official site)
Individual shops open and close around these times, and a small shop may shut a little earlier on a quiet day. If you are making a special trip for one item, arrive well before closing time.
The complex also has supermarkets and restaurants, including Nesto Hyper Market and a food court. Check each shop’s hours on the day.
What to buy at Dragon Mart Dubai
Shops here cover furniture, home essentials, electronics, building materials, machinery, fashion and more. In real life, these are the strongest buys:
- Lights and chandeliers: whole rows of lighting shops, at prices well below the mall lighting stores
- Furniture and décor: sofas, beds, curtains, artificial plants and wall décor
- Home renovation: tiles, sanitary ware, doors, tools and fittings; a favourite with villa owners and contractors
- Electronics and gadgets: cables, small appliances and phone accessories; test the piece before you pay
- Party and seasonal stock: decorations, costumes, and Ramadan and festive items in season
- Toys, luggage, textiles and clothing in the market rows of Dragon Mart 1
What Dragon Mart Dubai is not: a place for luxury brands. The deal here is simple. Prices are lower, and in return you check the quality with your own eyes before you buy.
Can you buy one piece? Wholesale, retail and bargaining
Here is the biggest myth about Dragon Mart Dubai: many people think it is wholesale only. It is not. Both Dragon Mart 1 and Dragon Mart 2 sell wholesale and retail, and shops are happy to sell a single piece to a normal shopper. Traders buy by the box; you can buy one lamp.
Bargaining is normal here, more in Dragon Mart 1 than in some of the fixed-price shops. These simple rules work:
- Ask for the best price politely, then make a fair lower offer. Smiling works better than arguing.
- The bigger the item, or the more pieces you take, the more room there is to move on price.
- For a large buy, check prices in two or three shops first. Shops selling the same item often sit close together.
- Agree the final price, and ask about delivery, before you pay.
- Keep the shop’s card, or take a photo of the shop name and number, in case you need to find it again.
Some shops are fixed price. If the seller says the price is fixed, accept it with a smile and decide if the item is still worth it.
How to reach Dragon Mart Dubai (and where to park)
Dragon Mart Dubai is in Dubai International City, on Al Awir Road. First, the honest warning that many guides skip: there is no Metro station at Dragon Mart, and no direct Metro ride will take you there. Any Metro trip needs a bus or a taxi for the last part of the journey, and online guides disagree about that route. So plan the public transport part on the day with the RTA S’hail app or the RTA journey planner. RTA buses do serve International City and stop near both buildings.
Most visitors simply drive or take a taxi:
- By car: follow the signs for International City and Dragon Mart on Al Awir Road. The two buildings sit side by side.
- Parking: free parking is often reported at the Sun Tour building and at Dragon Mart 2, and valet parking is offered at the entrances. Check the signs on arrival.
- By taxi: ask for Dragon Mart 1 or Dragon Mart 2 in International City. Drivers know both buildings well, so decide which building you want before you get in.
If you are planning a full day out, our guide to things to do in Dubai pairs this trip with the city’s other big sights.
Read this before your first visit
- It is huge. One building is about 1.2 km long. Wear comfortable shoes and keep your shopping list short and focused, or you will happily lose half a day wandering.
- Note the shop name or number when you see something you like. Finding the same small shop again is harder than you think.
- Do not expect a luxury mall. Expect a busy working market: bright lights, stacked boxes, and real bargains if you check quality and bargain politely.
- Weekday mornings are the calmest time to shop. Friday and Saturday evenings, when the mart stays open until 11 PM, are the busiest.
- Bring a trolley or a big bag if you plan to buy a lot. The walk back to the car can feel long with heavy bags.
- For big items, ask about delivery before you pay, not after.
Go in with the right building, the right hours and a short list, and Dragon Mart Dubai becomes one of the most useful shopping trips in Dubai.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are Dragon Mart Dubai opening hours?
Sunday to Thursday, 10 AM to 10 PM, and Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 11 PM. Some small shops close a little earlier, so do not leave a big shopping run to the last hour. (Checked: 19 October 2026)
2. Is Dragon Mart wholesale only, or can I buy one piece?
You can buy one piece. Both Dragon Mart 1 and Dragon Mart 2 sell wholesale and retail, so normal shoppers are welcome in almost every shop.
3. Which is better, Dragon Mart 1 or Dragon Mart 2?
Dragon Mart 1 is the original market-style building, best for tools, hardware, building materials, textiles and bulk buying. Dragon Mart 2 is the newer mall-style building, best for home shopping, décor, toys, food courts and the cinema, and it also has building materials and hardware sections of its own. For furniture, lights and any big buy, check both.
4. Can you bargain at Dragon Mart?
Yes. Bargaining is expected in many shops, especially in Dragon Mart 1 and on bigger or bulk buys. Stay polite, compare two or three shops, and agree the final price before paying. Some shops are fixed price.
5. How do I get to Dragon Mart, and is parking free?
Dragon Mart is in International City, on Al Awir Road. There is no direct Metro, so a public transport trip needs a bus or taxi for the last part; most people drive or take a taxi. Free parking is often reported at the Sun Tour building and at Dragon Mart 2, and valet parking is offered at the entrances. Check the signs on arrival.
The Dubai Tours and Safari editorial team researches and updates our Dubai and UAE travel guides, checking prices, timings and facts against official sources.
