Al Ain: The world is at your fingertips. The phrase becomes meaningful upon entering a shopping mall with goods from across the world all around you. It is the place where shopping, entertainment, culture, tourism, and socialisation unite to present a spectacular arena.
With new shopping malls, residents of the Oasis City have lately been experiencing a transformation that has increased the number of local and foreign tourists in the city. The phenomenon has also given them access to the world's leading brands and entertainment for which they earlier used to travel to other cities.
Life in and around the shopping malls such as Bawadi Mall, Al Ain Mall, Al Jimi Mall, has become more active and busy, demonstrating that Al Ain is no longer the sleepy town it was regarded previously.
Investors
For investors behind the shopping malls, the city's population of more than 400,000 constitutes a renewed hope. For them Al Ain offers an attractive retail environment that is well suited to the construction of more shopping malls.
It was proven last year when Bawadi Mall, the newest and the largest mall in the city, saw a footfall of 360,000 a month during the soft opening. It is now more than double the amount, according to the mall's administration.
Inaugurated by Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region, on May 2009, Bawadi Mall has more than 400 shops in a spacious and inviting environment. It has a 10,000 square-metre family entertainment centre.
Eight movie theatres, a 16-lane bowling alley, a distinctively rich food court, and many more casual dining alternatives make the mall a worthwhile and exciting experience.
The mall has 110,000 square metres (gross leasable area) and a built-up area of 145,000 square metres. The exterior architecture of the mall and the heritage village and the traditional souks are all inspired by traditional Islamic architecture. The colours used are a fusion of desert and modern vibrant colours which reflect the region's local heritage blended with its modern civic lifestyle.
Bashar Tamimi, general manager of the Bawadi Mall, said it has come at a time when Al Ain city has been expanding dramatically.
"Bawadi Mall provides an ideal shopping experience for people of the UAE and beyond," he said. The shopping sector in the UAE, he added, is very robust and this explains why top brands are setting their sights on this region, away from their home countries.
Khalid Shraim, marketing manager of Bawadi Mall, said the mall has been attracting visitors from all over the UAE and the neighbouring GCC countries. "Al Ain is an attractive tourism destination in the region for its zoo, Green Mubazzara, Jebel Hafeet and Arabian culture and heritage. The addition of Bawadi Mall in the city has given people an added attraction of shopping," he added.
Al Ain has a number of hypermarkets, department stores, traditional markets, shopping plazas and centres. Some new shopping malls are also under construction in different parts of the city. One of them is Wahat Mall which is a project of Potential Real Estate — the development arm of the Sultan Bin Rashed Group. It is located in the Hili district next to the UAE-Oman border.
The developers of the mall believe that it will boost Al Ain's already existing leisure, commercial, and tourism appeal.
The city aims to achieve the goals of the 2030 economic plan which includes housing a total population of one million. The project is currently under construction and expected to be completed later this year. The three-floor 52,250 square-metre Wahat Mall is part of a 95,845 square metres of mixed-use development which also includes a 250-room, five star hotel. The hotel will be managed by the Rotana Group.
Wahat Hili Mall will have a built-up area of 59,438 square metres, designed with an Arabian theme with whitewashed walls, blue domes and wooden balconies.
The Rotana hotel will provide hotel guests the opportunity to shop, dine and entertain themselves during their stay in Hili district. The mall recently signed up the French hypermarket Géant as one of the major tenants for the retail project.
Two existing malls, Al Ain Mall and Al Jimi Mall, are also a popular shopping and leisure destinations for the people living in Al Ain and also for those coming from other cities.
Over the years, the mall has gained a reputation for hosting live performances by traditional artists and its cultural programmes. It includes various entertainment facilities such as a four-screen cinema multiplex, an ice rink, a family amusement centre, 12-lane bowling city, a spacious food court and a wide selection of restaurants and cafes.
Al Jimi Mall was the first shopping mall in the city. It is located in Al Jimi district. The building was originally built as a vegetable and meat market in the early 1980s, but was later renovated and revamped and the mall now has an approximately 110 tenants including Carrefour, Centrepoint, Home Centre, and Fun City.
Shopping potential
- 400,000: Approximate population of Al Ain
- 360,000: Monthly footfall during latest mall's soft opening
- 52,250: Square-metre Wahat Mall is under construction
