Work on Festival Centre superstructure begins

Dubai Festival City, the Middle East's largest privately-funded mixed-use development, has begun work on the superstructure of the Festival Centre, its 2.6 million square foot centrepiece.

With 90 per cent of the substructure already finished and building commencing on the second floor, the Festival Centre, a retail, leisure and entertainment-oriented space, is 50 per cent complete and is on schedule for opening in September 2006.

Dubai Festival City is located on the banks of Dubai Creek.

"The Festival Centre is really taking shape and the entire framework for this exciting development has been completed," said Phil McArthur, Dubai Festival City's director for marketing and leasing.

"The second floor construction is the next major milestone and work is progressing rapidly and efficiently," McArthur said.

Being constructed by Al-Futtaim Carillion, the Festival Centre will feature more than 400 shops and 70 restaurants and cafes spread across four themed pavilions all offering waterfront settings to diners.

More than 20 major international brands will have their flagship stores at the development, including the 270,000-square-foot IKEA destination store and a 175,000-square-foot International hypermarket, development representatives said.

The first phase of the Festival Centre the retail park, which will feature these two big box retailers will open in November this year.

In addition, work is expected to shortly commence on the Festival Centre's third floor roofing and the construction of the final component, a 12 cinema complex, is due to begin in the first quarter of next year.

The Festival Centre is set around the 150-berth Mediterranean-style Festival Marina. The centre will also offer about 11,000 car parking spaces.