The architecture and design were inspired by the collection of retailers and their brand personality, yet blended with a unique style exclusive to the property. Upon arriving in The Great Room, visitors experience the dramatic, soaring glass wall directly ahead of them framing downtown Abu Dhabi across the water. White patterned marble walkways and floor-to-ceiling glass walls create a sense of expansive spaciousness, providing an unobstructed showcase for retail storefronts. Escalators cascade down two levels to The Galleria's main space, The Great Room, which is home to more than 100 luxury and contemporary brands arrayed along a two-story retail concourse.

In addition to the primary entrance, four secondary entrances use hospitality-derived design to make The Great Room a natural passageway. Drawing pedestrians in, the entrances feature pavilions with focal-point digital walls to invite visitors to the staircase that carry them to both shopping levels. At its western edge, The Galleria culminates in a bowed glass façade soaring 20 meters (66 feet) high, looking out towards a landscaped waterfront promenade. Lined with two levels of high-end, chef-driven indoor and outdoor dining venues, the sweeping promenade offers diners a panoramic view of the Abu Dhabi skyline.