Dubai: We all know Dubai is nothing like what it used to be just a few decades ago. But if there’s one thing that has remained a constant through its dramatic developments, it is the fact that it has always been a shopper’s paradise. Capturing this reality at its best is an upcoming book titled Souks to Malls.
“It’s a celebration of the retail industry in Dubai and the entire region,” says David Macadam, the man behind the 180-page coffee-table book.
Ask him whether UAE residents will ever get mall-weary he says it is most unlikely. As CEO of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC) and the International Council of Shopping Centres, he perhaps knows best.
With figures at his fingertips, he explains: “We have a total of 121 malls in the UAE today. By 2020, there will be an additional 10 million square feet of retail space. In 2013, retail trade in the country was at $39.6 billion. This is expected to go up to $55.7 billion in just six years.”
So what is it about the UAE that makes it an evergreen shopping destination?
“I’d say a number of things,” says Macadam. “The country’s demographic is very young – 65 per cent of the population is under 25, so they are very good consumers. Second, they have the financial capability and wherewithal to spend, whether it is on shopping or recreation. Third, there is a constant increase in new household formations. As younger people get married and set up homes, they tend to spend more money.”
So is this what Souks to Malls talks about?
“Well, it’s a largely pictorial book which seeks to portray the evolution of retail in the region over the years. The earliest picture we have is that of the Grand Mosque area in Makkah from 1887. In contrast is a 2014 shot from the same vantage point,” said Macadam. “We also have some of the earliest pictures of Dubai like the Deira fish market and the Dubai airport which was a sandy landing strip in the 1950s.”
The book, which features several souqs, demonstrates how they are not a yesteryear story. “The souq culture hasn’t changed over hundreds of years in cities like Cairo. Qatar has rebuilt its souqs but retained their flavour. In the UAE too, there will always be room for the souq-style environment where people come together and socialise,” said Macadam.
According to him, the real shift from souqs to malls lies in the level of sophistication. “Even as recently as 11 years ago, the sophistication and execution of retail in Dubai was below that of say Singapore, Hong Kong, New York or Los Angeles. But today, it is far more advanced, whether we are talking of the quality and finish of shopping centres, presence of brands or the number of people who actually shop.” He said Dubai has the highest number of brands in the world, second only to London.
Souks to Malls ($250) will be released in Dubai on October 12.
