The Hangout Is Coming. Here’s What Opens When.
Activate is scheduled for October, bowling and karaoke follow later this year, and the children’s attractions stretch into 2027. This is not one big opening day.
yapped Editors · Oct 4, 2026 · 2 min read
Mall of the Emirates is getting The Hangout, a new indoor-outdoor spot for food and entertainment. Before the children start allocating their weekend, it’s opening in stages.
Majid Al Futtaim announced the plans on 1 October, with four entertainment concepts rolling out across 2026 and 2027. “Coming soon” has a fairly flexible diary.
First Up: Activate
Activate is due to open in October, with 12 light-up rooms and more than 50 interactive challenges for ages six and above.
Expect physical games, teamwork and a leaderboard to test the family’s claim that “it’s just about having fun”.
The exact opening date, prices and booking details are still to come. Keep it on the list. Hold off on promising Saturday.
“Reasons to get excited. We got a few.”
Bowling Comes Next
SOCO is due in the final three months of 2026, bringing bowling, simulators, augmented-reality darts, karaoke and dining.
Plenty to settle the “what shall we do after dinner?” debate. Less to settle who gets the microphone.
Small People, Longer Wait
Explorers is due between January and March 2027, with climbing, water play and cooking, woodworking and art workshops for ages one to 12. Plenty for busy hands. Mercifully, someone else’s kitchen.
A reimagined Magic Planet is also planned for 2027, with no month confirmed. Save both for later. Small children are notoriously poor at “coming soon”.
And There Will Be Food
The wider plan includes 18 food and drink experiences and an outdoor dining courtyard. Just don’t expect all 18 to be taking orders when the first attraction opens.
Plan around what’s actually open. And keep the water play quiet until there’s a date. Small people hear “coming soon” as “get your shoes”.