Shoppers enjoy a retail revolution

The UAE is set to be the ultimate global shopping
experience if the rate of new malls being built is anything to go by.

A retail revolution is taking place around the UAE with the building of ever-more innovative shopping malls. Dubai in particular makes full use of its malls to host events such as Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises, and has honed retail to such an extent that it has become a shopping paradise for millions.

Over the past two decades malls have sprung up all over Dubai and are continuing to do so in the new developments along the roads to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Within spectacular and large projects such as Downtown Burj Dubai, The Palms, Dubailand and others, combining residential and commercial complexes with unique selling points (USP) has become the norm. Several new malls will open soon and existing ones are being revamped and extended to add to their allure.

The Dubai Mall, an Emaar project being built alongside the iconic Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world, is set to open next month. It will comprise a five-million square foot mall, and residential and retail facilities. The mall alone is to cover the equivalent of 50 international-sized soccer pitches and is due to be the largest shopping space in the world, larger than any existing malls in the USA. It is expecting 35 million visitors in its first full year of business, followed by annual increases of 20 to 30 per cent.

The ocean-liner shaped Dubai Mall will accommodate more than 1,000 individual shops located between 10 and 15 distinct ‘malls-within-a-mall' including the world's largest indoor Gold Souq. Emaar, which has already opened Souk Al Bahar in Old Town for residents there, is also developing Dubai Marina Mall within the Dubai Marina community. Souk Al Bahar is a mix of shops, restaurants and cafes, providing residents of the Old Town with everything they need on their doorstep. The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence similarly offers every convenience on the doorstep.

Nakheel Retail Shopping Malls division is about to commence the development of 13 million square feet of new retail space across five separate mega projects: Palm Mall, Palm Jumeirah a premier retail destination on the first Palm development; Palm Mall, Palm Deira an enormous retailing precinct planned for the first phase of the Palm Deira; Ibn Battuta Mall Phase II, doubling the mall's size with new themed courts and an expanded retail mix; India Mart, which will combine the very best of Indian wholesale and retail shopping with entertainment facilities; and finally Great Mall Dubai a ‘3-in-1' mall concept at International City. Nakheel's Dragon Mart is already a huge success.

The 4 million square foot first phase of the Mall of Arabia, part of the City of Arabia Project undertaken by developers Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group within the massive project called Dubailand, is set to be in operation by the end of 2010. One of the world's largest malls, it will offer more than 1,400 diverse retail outlets, a rooftop hotel, waterfront alfresco dining and entertainment for all the family, as well as the Restless Planet theme park, earth science museum and planetarium. When completed, the 10 million square foot Mall of Arabia expects a footfall of 25 million per year especially because of the pulling power of Restless Planet, which will attract 10,000 visitors a day offering them an edutainment experience.

A new concept for the UAE is the outlet mall. Dubai Outlet Mall, which opened in August 2007, is the first of its kind in the Middle East and offers shoppers big savings on premium and top fashion brands all year round. Following the success of its basic retail concept, Dubai Outlet Mall is all set to start construction on its second phase, which will make it three times bigger than its present size.

Abu Dhabi is also set to have crowd-pulling shopping malls in the new developments being built along and off the coast of the city. At present Madinat Zayed Shopping and Gold Centre, Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and Al Ain Mall are some of the shopping destinations in the emirate. Sharjah, famous for its souqs and markets, also has modern shopping malls such as Sharjah City Center, Sahara Centre, Mega Mall and others.

A new gigantic mall being built is the Sharjah Mall overlooking the beautiful Al Khan Lagoon. Sharjah Mall consists of residential and furnished apartments, a hotel and the mall, all combined into one building body on land of 28,145 square metres worth over Dh800 million.

Ajman, a rapidly rising emirate, which already has City Centre and smaller malls, now has a new souq-style shopping mall in the form of NK Mall, which offers an interesting combination of shopping, entertainment and
fine dining.

Ras Al Khaimah, which has the state-of-the-art Manar Mall and other shopping malls, recently opened the doors of Safeer Mall on the Kharran Road. Easily approachable from the existing residential structures and the new ones mushrooming around, Safeer Mall RAK is all set to become the epicentre of a growing population residing in its catchments covering RAK, Um Al Quwain and Ajman.

So wherever you choose to shop – be it in the Mall of the Emirates so you can combine shopping with a spell on the slopes or Souk Bahar for a quick coffee with a friend – the UAE has a mall to suit.