How to read the scores
And now for the detailed scores! In almost every criterion there is a clear favourite — Dubai Hills Mall. But others stood out too: Safari Park, Unicorn Cafe, Dubai Hills Park and Dubai Mall.
To learn more about how the vote worked, who our experts are and what each criterion means, go to the main nomination page.
In this nomination we rate nominees against eight criteria:
- Universality — How well the place suits everyone, parents and children alike. The higher the score, the more universal the place; the lower, the more focused it is — for example, fun for kids but nothing for adults to do
- Safety — Security staff, CCTV, low risk of falls or injuries, not too crowded — the safer the place, the higher the score
- Comfort — Low noise, a place to grab a snack and use the restroom, quality materials, furniture and equipment, polite staff, climate control, good upkeep, a well-thought-out layout and no crowds — the signs of a truly comfortable place
- Price level — The more reasonable the prices, the higher the score. Where you are overcharged for no clear reason, the score is lower
- Modernity — How worn the infrastructure is, whether it feels dated, whether the place is trendy and in demand
- Usefulness — How much the place helps you grow, learn new things and become better
- Accessibility — Is it easy to get to, how long is it open, are there queues, is there free parking, are pets allowed
- Repeat value — Some places are worth visiting once, others you can return to again and again and keep discovering something new. The more 'repeatable' the place, the higher the score






