Dubai: The Beach, a new retail centre rising adjacent to The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), will bolster retail offerings at the leisure attraction and add new parking spaces, says the master developer of JBR’s 40 towers.

Dubai Properties Group (DPG) told Gulf News that the new retail centre would add 1,000 underground parking spaces below a well-designed retail complex with open walkways for beach access. In contrast to recent media reports deriding the project as a mall that would block sea views and remove existing parking, DPG said the project would, in fact, be a great development and improvement to the lifestyle in the area.

The new retail complex between the Hilton Hotel and Sheraton Hotel is located on a DPG site and will be constructed by a third party.

“The project, entitled ‘The Beach’ will be a mixed-use retail and entertainment development. It will include underground parking and beach-related facilities. The project development, management and operations is handled by Meraas Holding. Development activity is under way and is scheduled to be complete within approximately two years,” a DPG spokesperson said.

“For clarification, the new development has not been designed specifically as a mall. Rather, it will be an extension to the highly successful The Walk at JBR, and will provide a variety of enhancements for residents and visitors to the area. The development is designed to complement and enhance The Walk and other attractions currently available at JBR.”

Parking lot removed

A parking lot in the centre of The Walk has been removed but will be replaced with “the creation of more than 1,000 underground parking spaces,” the DPG spokesperson said.

The beach will still be a highly guarded aspect of The Walk, the spokesperson said.

“Residents and visitors continue to have access to the public beach through pedestrian walkways located at various points along JBR. In addition, The Beach has also been planned so as to ensure that sea views will not be blocked for any residents within the community,” the spokesperson added.

The new retail centre will be constructed in front of the Amwaj and Rimal sections of JBR.