Dubai’s Ibn Battuta Mall drew the biggest crowds in its history during the three-day holiday for UAE National day in early December.

The mall had more than 213,000 visitors over the three days, which the mall owner Nakheel says is a 50 per cent increase in the number of visitors to Ibn Battuta in 2015.

The record numbers follow the opening of several key expansions to the mall this year. In May, Nakheel opened a 28,000 square metre extension with 60 new shops and restaurants opened for business. In November the Dubai-based developer opened a AED135m two-level link with 90 outlets connecting the mall with Ibn Battuta Metro station.

The mall now has almost 500 shops, restaurants, cafes and entertainment outlets, and more are planned with another 437,000 square metre expansion.

In October. Nakheel opened the first of two hotels at Ibn Battuta Mall. The 372-room hotel, managed by Premier Inn Hotels, is directly connected to both the mall and the Ibn Battuta Metro station. Nakheel has tendered a construction contract for the second hotel.

Set on a 520,260 square metre site, the 1.2 kilometre- long mall is themed around the travels of renowned 14^th century Arabian explorer, Ibn Battuta. The mall, which opened in 2005, has six individually-designed zones named after and featuring architecture to reflect the most influential places he visited.