Abu Dhabi Construction on the long-overdue Reem Mall in the heart of Reem Island will begin this year, developers have announced.
National Real Estate Company (NREC), one of the leading MENA real estate developers, has appointed international consultants Mace to manage the development of the mall.
The mall is now expected to open in 2018.
Currently in the concept design stage, Reem Mall will start construction this year.
Once completed, Reem Mall will bring a wide range of family-focused retail, leisure and entertainment offerings to Abu Dhabi including some 450 stores and 85 food and beverage outlets.
Shane Eldstrom, Vice President-Development for NREC, said: “Once completed, Reem Mall will become Abu Dhabi’s most exciting new retail, leisure, dining and entertainment destination.
“Working with a renowned delivery partner such as Mace will bring a new level of international expertise to our professional consultant team, and ensure that the delivery of the Reem Mall project adheres to the highest industry standards.”
Nic Alford, Mace Operations Director, said: “Reem Mall is NREC’s largest and most ambitious project to date. We are delighted to be trusted by NREC to deliver Reem Mall, which will make a significant contribution to the development of Reem Island, a vital component in Abu Dhabi’s 2030 urban structure framework plan.”
Stalled
Paragon Bay Mall is yet another incomplete retail project Reem Island that has seen an inordinate delay. Residents say it has been an exhaustively long wait for residents who moved in almost five years ago expecting to see a sprawling retail and leisure destination in their vicinity.
“That was the last thing we expected – the mall project to get stalled,” said British mum Dorothy Johnson, a Reem Island resident.
She said one of the biggest attractions of buying a property in Marina Square was the mall.
“The first concern when you move in to a new property is whether you have easy access to amenities like groceries. A mall right at the opening of the Marina Square looked perfect,” she said.
Maha Obeid, a Lebanese resident, said it was definitely a disappointment that the mall never happened.
“But we were happy when Boutique Mall opened two years ago. It will be great if we have another mall in three years,” said Obeid.
