Water seeps into shopping malls

Dubai: A shopkeeper is seeking compensation after his carpet shop was flooded, damaging an estimated Dh2-million worth of goods.

Shahdab Mir, Director of Kani Home in Ibn Battuta Mall, said about half of the carpets were ruined. It is the second time his store was hit by flooding. Water seeped into other outlets and corridors at the giant mall, although the shopping centre remained open and traders said shoppers were out in force.

"The customers were complaining: 'What is this, a shopping mall or a water theme park?' I think the total loss is around Dh2 million to Dh2.5 million. I feel bad because carpets take time and effort to make."

A staff member with Daniel Hechter said: "The ceiling is damaged."

A spokesman for Ibn Battuta developer and landlord Nakheel said David Furling, head of the company's retail arm, was "pretty satisfied" with how the mall withstood the deluge.

Buckets were placed on floors in Mall of the Emirates after rainwater seeped in from the ceiling.