Ibn Battuta-- The Mall!

Hello friends,

Ibn Battuta was the famous Muslim explorer in the 14th century.

"Ibn Battuta started on his travels when he was 20 years old in 1325. His main reason to travel was to go on a Hajj, or a Pilgrimage to Mecca, as all good Muslims want to do. But his traveling went on for about 29 years and he covered about 75,000 miles visiting the equivalent of 44 modern countries which were then mostly under the governments of Muslim leaders of the Worldof Islam, or "Dar al-Islam". He met many dangers and had many adventures along the way. He was attacked by bandits, almost drowned in a sinking ship, was almost beheaded by a tyrant ruler, and had a few marriages and lovers and fathered several children on his travels!"*

The countries he went to includ Persia, India, China, Andalusia, Egypt and Tunisia. Why am I talking about Ibn Battuta? It's because one of the latest malls in Dubai is themed after him: Ibn Battuta Mall! The mall is divided up in six parts, and each part is themed after the countires mentioned. China has a shipwrecked 'junk'' (chinese boat), India has a stunning 8 meters high elephant, Persia has an elegant high rise dome, Egypt has these amazing mosaics, Tunisia has this grandiose entrance and Andalusia has the court's lion fountain. It's all very impressive. It's certainly very large.

However, the whole idea behind designing a mall after Ibn Battuta is immediately lost once you step inside it. There is absolutely no information on who Ibn Battuta is. There is historical information on when each of the country was explored, what was discovered and how it was discovered. Instead, we get to see huge shops like Paris Gallery , Debenhams, River Island, Giordano, and all the fast food restaurants in the food court. There is a huge cinemaplex and Dubai's first IMAX theatre. All of the people there, from the local residents, to expatriates, to tourists, from old to young have no idea who Ibn Battuta is. The mall did not bother to mention anywhere why they chose to name the mall after him! It's sad how the makers of this mall decided to cash in on his name. I am sure Ibn Battuta would be turning over in his grave to know that his name is being commercialized.

The only place where one can find out who Ibn Battuta is on the pamphlet of the Mall Guide, and even that, they did not have enough, and not everyone gets a guide anyways. Instead, people were clamoring to get the free car shades, tshirts, stickers with the Ibn Battuta Mall logo on it.

If anything, I saw it as an opportunity lost. Dubai could have very used this mall as an educational medium to the tourists which it expects to be in millions soon, to help them learn more about the Islam and some of the great people, like Ibn Battuta. We don't get that. Instead, we get Dubai which is hell-bent on making more and more money. Dubai is what I would like to call "mini Las Vegas!" What's next? Emperor Salahuddin's Mall? Caliph Abu Baker's 5-star hotel?

Mansur
www.ibnbattutamall.com