The promoters of the Dh250 million Sharjah Mega Mall said they are acquiring land in Dubai for a similar mall. Work on the Dubai Mega Mall is expected to start by next year on completion of the Sharjah mall. They said almost 90 per cent of space has been leased in the Sharjah Mega Mall. The mall will be highly selective in leasing the remaining 10 per cent.

Prominent brands like Shoe City from Jawad Business Group and Antic's Land have ensured their presence in the mall, said Raffi Ayad, vice-president and general manager. Raffi said on completion of the Sharjah Mega Mall the group would embark on the Dubai Mega Mall. "Currently we are acquiring land in Dubai so that we will be able to begin construction next year," he added.

Shoe City plans to invest Dh5 million in its fourth outlet in the GCC - others being in Doha, Dubai and Bahrain - and Antic's Land's investment will surpass Dh32 million. Dave Rowbotham, general manager of Family Entertainment Centre, holding company for Antic's Land, said the new venture would be the first of its kind.

"This will be a distinctively themed family entertainment centre which will place the visitors in ancient times of the Asian spice route and allow them to travel through time with Antic," Dave said.

Shoe City belongs to one of Europe's largest footwear chains - Brantano. At 9,000 square feet and one of the mall's anchor stores, Shoe City's latest venture is the Sharjah Mega Mall. In the rapidly growing footwear retailing business, Jawad Business Group also plans to open Shoe City stores in Oman and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Speaking on the much-debated prospects of shopping malls in the UAE, Raffi Ayad said that the well-managed shopping malls will never go bust. "It is the lack of proper planning and study that has led to the inevitable closure of several retail outlets in the recent times," he added.