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So-called ‘supermalls’ have exploded in popularity in recent years, even becoming destinations in themselves. However, as consumers increasingly shift towards e-commerce, their survival is in serious jeopardy. Across the globe, so-called ‘supermalls’ are struggling in the face of changing retail habits and a shift to online commerce, which is robbing them of millions of customers. Sprawling across the desert terrain, the Dubai Mall is a sight to behold. This behemothian construction covers 13 million square feet and boasts more than 1,200 stores, along with an indoor theme park, cinema complex and an aquarium and underwater zoo. The mall’s glittering facade hides its true fortunes, though. Footfall has stalled entirely in recent years, remaining stubbornly at 80 million annual visitors since 2014 despite ongoing expansion of the mall and its surrounding area. This stagnation is not limited to the Dubai Mall, either: across the globe, so-called ‘supermalls’ are struggling in the face of changing retail habits and a shift to online commerce, which is robbing them of millions of customers.