A parent’s guide to Dubai Mallathon: The best malls for walks, naps and coffee

I dislike malls. This may seem strange for someone who is no stranger to crowds − I have covered festivals and sporting events attended by hundreds of thousands of people without feeling troubled − but put me inside a busy shopping centre and panic can set in.

However, fatherhood has made some of my long-held grudges seem less important. My nine-month-old son wakes at 5.30am, an hour he considers perfectly reasonable for beginning the day. Keeping him entertained through a UAE summer requires imagination, especially when I still need to…