Which Dubai malls are worth visiting and what can you do there (especially to escape the summer heat)?

From 6-10am several malls run a "mallathon" program where you can jog indoors in air conditioning instead of a park — the list includes Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Hills Mall, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai Festival City Mall and Deira City Centre. Register at the counter to get a discount bracelet.

Walking outdoors in Dubai during peak summer is uncomfortable due to the heat; also the city isn't just Dubai Marina and Downtown — beyond those areas you get simpler neighborhoods like Karama.

Many downtown hotels are located near Dubai Mall, which has grocery supermarkets in addition to shops, cafes and entertainment.

Indoor air-conditioned options for summer include Dubai Mall (with its ice rink and aquarium), the IMAX cinema and Ski Dubai indoor snow park at Wafi Mall, and the Burj Khalifa observation deck; in July daytime heat limits you to just a basic itinerary.