Page 13 - RLI April 2019

MIDDLE EAST NEWS

RETAIL GIANT REVEALS $102M PLANS TO REVAMP OF DUBAI’S SOUK
UPGRADE DUBAI SHOPPING MALL MADINAT JUMEIRAH GETS STARTED VOX CINEMAS PLEDGES $500M
The company has announced the major
investment drive to boost its number of
Retail giant Majid Al Futtaim has embarked on an $102M Dubai Holding has started major renovation screens in Saudi Arabia. The investment will see
redevelopment project at its first flagship mixed-use works at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, its popular it add an average of 150 screens per year in
shopping destination, City Centre Deira. Arabian-inspired shopping and leisure the country until 2023 to reach a total of 600
The plan aims to elevate the customer experience with destination in the heart of the Madinat screens. The concept involves building primarily
new brands to suit their evolving needs and preferences. Jumeirah Resort. family-oriented movie theatres.
The project will complement its recent expansion of Set to be completed over the next three
entertainment and leisure options, including a larger months, the enhancements work, which
VOX Cinemas and the opening of the Aloft Hotel are part of a wider plan for the destination, SOBHA BOSS REVEALS A PLAN
last year. As part of the redevelopment project, which will create a more convenient and seamless The boss of Dubai-based real estate developer
will be completed in the first half of 2020, the mall will visitor experience. Sobha Group has revealed plans to build a
introduce 25 new homeware and fashion brands and 20 Conducted in collaboration with the 60-storey tower on Sheikh Zayed Road. With a
new F&B concepts. Roads and Transport Authority, and to be development value of $190M, the skyscraper will
“City Centre Deira’s transformation project is a result executed without impacting the access to have more than 6,500sq m of office space and
of our customers’ changing habits and preferences,” said the surrounding hotels or to the events 1,850sq m of retail space.
Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, Managing Director for Majid Al taking place at Madinat Jumeirah, the
Futtaim Properties, Shopping Malls.” renovations cover the interior areas and the
main entrance, including the entrance to the MIRAL REACHES A MILESTONE
conference halls. Miral has announced a significant construction
milestone at the Yas Bay Arena development
with the installation of the arena’s longest roof
MAJID AL FUTTAIM TO OPEN truss. The first-of-its-kind indoor arena in Abu
FIRST MALL IN ABU DHABI Dhabi, with a capacity of 18,000, is designed to
accommodate large-scale and private events.
At least 2,000 jobs will be available when Hypermarket, as well as restaurants, cafes and
Dubai retail giant Majid Al Futtaim opens its other dining venues. PORCELANOSA OPENS UNIT
first mall in Abu Dhabi this year. It will add 18,500sq m gross leasable Porcelanosa Dubai has opened an exclusive
The Middle East retail tycoon heavyweight area (GLA) to Abu Dhabi’s existing retail showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai.
announced that work on the My City Centre supply, further widening the options for The store features some trademark products
Masdar, which is being designed to be eco- retail consumers. and designs from the global leader’s basket
friendly, has nearly reached full completion Abu Dhabi has been drawing a lot of of innovative solutions. The new showroom
and go ahead with its planned opening in the interest from investors looking to tap into features luxury tiles and natural stone.
second quarter of this year. the emirate’s growing population. As of the
The Dh300-million community retail first quarter of 2018, the capital’s gross
development is being built at Masdar City, the leasable area stood at 2.15 million square SPAR ADDS NEW QATAR STORE
UAE capital’s hub for clean tech companies. metres distributed in a mix of convenience, Supermarket giant Spar has announced that
DALZIEL & POW RAISES THE RETAIL EXPERIENCE FOR MAX FASHION IN THE UAE. “BEYOND THE EXPECTED” BUILDS ON MAX’S STATUS AS THE MIDDLE EAST’S MUCH-LOVED BRAND FOR Its construction has so far created 1,500 neighbourhood, community, regional and it has opened its third outlet in Doha, Qatar.
FASHION AND VALUE, BECOMING A LIFESTYLE DESTINATION WHERE THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN SPEND TIME AND CONNECT. THE MODERNISED SPACE OF 29,850SQ M WAS DEVELOPED WITH new employment opportunities through super regional retail centres, according
THE BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN MIND, ENCOURAGING THE DISCOVERY OF MAX’S NEW COLLECTIONS AND BRAND POSITIONING. THE NEW CONCEPT AIMS TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER The new store, located in the New Salata
ENGAGEMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY. GOING BEYOND TRANSACTIONS, AN IN-STORE EXPERIENCE ZONE INVITES CUSTOMERS TO DWELL AND EXPLORE. the “build-out phase.” According to the to ValuStrat. Area, occupies an area of 1,030sq m. It will
company, an additional 2,000 new jobs will Majid Al Futtaim, the developer of Dubai’s offer producrs that cater to the needs of local
be created after the opening of the mall. Mall of the Emirates, also seeks to cash in on residents as well as ex-pats, with fresh food one
NEW EXTENSION AT JIMI $1.3M PERFUME SHUMUKH The new retail complex will feature more the growing consumer base in the emirate, of the highlights of the store.
MALL NOW OPEN LANDS IN DUBAI than 70 stores, including a 7,000sq m Carrefour particularly in Masdar.

Abu Dhabi-based Aldar Properties’, Al Jimi Mall in Al Ain has opened Set with 3,571 diamonds, topaz, pearls, Shumukh is the world’s RETAIL GIANT TO
its extension. As part of the grand opening event, a 3D-mapping most expensive unisex perfume
and laser show projected onto the mall’s main façade. The story The Spirit of Dubai Parfums by Nabeel, an ultra-luxury JOIN FESTIVAL PLAZA
of the show depicted Al Jimi Mall’s unique evolution from a fruit fragrance brand from the UAE, has unveiled Shumukh, the world’s
and vegetable market in the 1980s to a diverse and contemporary most expensive unisex perfume valued at $1.3M. Shumukh, which
retail centre. in Arabic translates to “deserving the highest”, unites the art of Festival Plaza, which is planned to open in
The extensive renovation and expansion programme has added jewellery and perfumery to create a one-of-a kind masterpiece. Jebel Ali by the end of 2019, has confirmed
a further 100 stores, including an 8-screen VOX Cinemas and a Set with 3,571 sparkling diamonds (totalling 38.55 carats), Marks & Spencer as its clothing anchor store.
retail park, bringing the total store count to over 200 shops and the topaz, pearls, 2479.26 grams of 18 karat gold and 5892.88 grams M&S, the multinational retailer, will bring its
leasable area to approximately 818,055sq ft. pure silver, Shumukh is the epitome of luxury. It can be exclusively full offering of womenswear, menswear and
The expansion to the north side of the mall, the ‘Retail Park’ seen at The Dubai Mall, Fashion Avenue as part of the mall’s ART+ kidswear to the new store, in addition to its
consists of 10 big box retail units with sizes ranging from 16,145sq ft series. Standing 1.97m tall and taking over three years and 494 popular foodhall and M&S Café.
to 69,965sq ft designed in a flexible way to accommodate different perfume trials to formulate, Shumukh is comprised of the finest Timothy Earnest, Group Director, Retail
retailers’ area requirements, family dining and coffee shops, an event natural ingredients, culminating in a scent with notes of amber, Malls, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate, said:
plaza and a front-door on grade parking for more than a thousand sandalwood, musk, rare pure Indian agarwood, pure Turkish rose, “We are delighted to be welcoming Marks
additional cars. patchouli ylang-ylang and frankincense. & Spencer to our newest community mall at
Festival Plaza.

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