Another late one — sorry.
This happened directly after the Dubai 7s on 1 December, but by then I was already deep into the familiar post-event haze: tired legs, overstimulated senses, and that slightly dangerous mindset of “I’m already here, so I may as well…”

Instead of heading straight back after the rugby, I stayed one extra night in Dubai. The logic was simple: if you are that close to the Burj Khalifa and don’t go up it, it feels a bit like standing outside the Colosseum and saying, “No thanks, I’ll Google it later.”

So the next day was dedicated to two things that are impossible to separate:
the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall.

Now, let’s be clear — as malls go, this one is not playing the same game as the rest of the world. Calling the Dubai Mall a “mall” is like calling the ocean a “puddle with ambition.” This thing is a beast. You don’t walk through it; you commit to it. You don’t browse; you embark. The storefronts are endlessly alluring, designed to slow you down just enough to question your willpower.

Movement through the mall became a kind of contact sport. I found myself actively avoiding tackles by the endless number of perfume purveyors, each armed with blotter cards and absolute confidence. If you stop to sniff, it is over — you are going to buy. The only viable strategy is to smile politely and keep moving. Just smile and run.

And you absolutely cannot miss the mall if you’re heading up the Burj. The two are so tightly integrated that at some point you’re no longer sure whether you’re shopping, sightseeing, or simply trying to find daylight again.

One of the first major distractions — and there are many — was the aquarium. Integrated directly into the mall itself, it is impossible to ignore. Massive viewing panels reveal sharks, rays, and schools of fish gliding past while shoppers wander by with coffee cups and shopping bags, entirely unfazed by the fact that there is a full underwater ecosystem casually built into the wall. The sheer scale of it is impressive, and there’s something oddly calming about watching the slow, steady movement of the larger fish in the middle of all that motion.

Eventually, after navigating escalators, corridors, and what felt like at least three separate postal codes, I made my way to the Burj Khalifa entrance. The lift ride deserves its own mention. It doesn’t so much move as transport. One moment you’re standing there, the next you feel as though you’ve been quietly beamed up — a smooth, near-silent ascent where your ears gently remind you that physics is still involved, and your brain briefly wonders whether sightseeing has been replaced with experimental teleportation.

And then, just as suddenly, you’re there — stepping out onto the viewing deck, looking down at a city that now resembles a carefully arranged model. From that height, everything slows down. Roads become lines, buildings become patterns, and the noise of the city disappears entirely. It’s impressive, humbling, and quietly grounding all at once.

On the way back down — and back into the mall — I had a mission. I had been charged by family members with finding a very, very specific piece of teen cultural art: a particular set of action figures. This quest led me to an entire wing dedicated to the pleasure — and purse — of the young and the frivolous. Shelves of collectibles, neon signage, and more pop-culture references than any one person needs in a single afternoon.

By the time I finally exited the mall — blinking slightly in the daylight — I was tired in a very specific way. Not exhausted, just done. The kind of tired that comes from having seen enough for one day and knowing that you’ll probably still process it in pieces later.

That extra night turned out to be a good decision. Less rushed, more curious, and a fitting full stop to a very full stretch of travel. Rugby, towers, fish tanks, perfume dodging, and malls that could comfortably host small nations.

And now, much later than planned, finally written from a quieter place — another memory filed, another story caught up.

Worth staying an extra night for.