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The giant Mall of Arabia is one of the core attractions in the main residential area of Dubailand.

It is estimated that Dubai's retail business is set to double over the next 5 years and will be worth US$50 billion in 2010, a major contributor to the country’s GDP. Projects like ‘City of Arabia’ are driving this phenomenal growth but the expansion also brings increased competition and it is important to give customers a Mall experience which is distinctive. The sheer size of the Mall is of course a part of this, but an ergonomic design coupled with complete family entertainment and leisure activities, including the Restless Planet dinosaur attraction, are what makes the Mall of Arabia leader in this sector.

The Mall of Arabia with a GLA of 10 m sq ft (Inc Phase 1 & 2), will be the largest in the region and one of the largest in the world. The retail areas of the Mall have been carefully planned on a radial grid, to allow customers easy navigation within the Mall whilst the shopping areas are grouped in zones, which will enable customers to shop in the most efficient way. P & T Architects and Engineers who are the lead consultants, and Portland Design, retail design specialists, have come up with this concept with the aim of creating a consumer friendly experience for the entire family. At the same time, the retailers get good visibility on all Mall circulation routes, with a tenant mix that will create synergy between the brands.

The Mall with its 1,000 retail units will offer a wide choice in home appliances, electronics, food, arts & crafts, souvenirs, beauty products, books, music and fashion. Housing over 500 premium fashion brands, the Mall of Arabia is set to become the Middle East’s most dynamic and exciting retail experience. Luxury fashion brands will integrate with high street favourites and the fashion world’s hottest newcomers in an eclectic shopping haven. Women’s, men’s and children’s fashion will share the stage as all tastes and budgets integrate to achieve total fashion coverage. In addition there will be a family entertainment centre; technology areas; clusters of house and home, and sports and lifestyle outlets; a gold souq; over one hundred food & beverage outlets, ranging from top restaurants to cafes and quick snack-bars; a 11-screen cinema complex; bowling alley and a major international hyper-market.

There are several other novel features. A monorail will link the Mall to the residential parts of the City of Arabia: three stations of the Mall will greatly assist visitors in navigating the half-a-square kilometer surface area of the Mall. Furthermore, the Mall will be linked to the waterway in the Wadi Walk: visitors from the residential areas will be able to arrive on electric water-taxis, which will drive to the landing stages inside the North Portal of the Mall. With over a 1,000 shops, comfort and circulation for the visitor are two key priorities. Consumers can access the Mall from the South Portal, which will be the main visitor drop-off point; the Gold Souq; or the North Portal, which is the main drop-off for the Restless Planet. On the roof of the Mall there will be 2 hotels offering visitors the chance to base themselves in the City of Arabia during their visit and explore the Mall at a leisurely pace.

The Restless Planet is the other remarkable attraction at the City of Arabia, it will tell by means of a number of dark rides and exhibits the story of the birth of Planet Earth and the rise and fall of the dinosaurs. Visitors will be able to enter and leave the world of the dinosaurs in the Restless Planet only via level two of the Mall. This way the Mall will be a major shopping resort, and the two attractions will become a joint “must” for tourists and residents of Dubai alike. A staggering 15 million visitors are expected in Dubai by 2010, and the concept of a ‘shopping resort’ is becoming increasingly important as tourism is one of the key drivers of retail growth in the Emirate. Soaring summer temperatures have meant that Malls form part of a lifestyle choice here, providing a one-stop shopping and entertainment destination.

Piling for the mall of Arabia is now complete with work moving onto the construction phase. International specialists, Colliers International ME, have been appointed to handle the leasing of retail space in the Mall and are busy turning the high level of interest from retailers into solid commitment. With completion of the first phase due in early 2009, the City of Arabia project is on its way to becoming a world leader in Mall experiences.

source : Retail City