Located in the India Court of the mall, Bauhaus becomes the perfect spot for Dubai’s party-goers, because the unique line of sequined, bejewelled and “bling” designs.

Bauhaus owner Samara Punjabi said, “the name was inspired from the revolutionary movement in Germany, where writers, poets and artists got together to form a pool of ideas during the First World War. Bauhaus literally means ‘design’, and the shop aims at encouraging people to explore what fashion is about, checking out new cool things and having fun”.

The store sells everything — from a funky line of clothing to vibrant paintings by local artists — and also has an elite collection of lounge, club and classic rock music. It caters basically to the young and the young at heart, including clothing and accessories for infants. “Bauhaus adds to Dubai’s glamour scene. Dubaiites are into clothing that’s not too flashy, but ideally a dressy crowd” said Samara.

The store occasionally launches new artists in Dubai, and designs custom-made paintings for its customers. First launched in 2005 in Ibn Batutta Mall, it now has two other branches, one in Khalidiya Mall, Abu Dhabi and the other in the Dubai Outlet Mall.

“Dubai has its high end designer stores, but we offer European and American brands that are not commonly found in the Emirate, and at affordable prices,” said Samara.

One of the store’s hottest items are caps designed by Red Monkey. The caps are flashy and have bejewelled skulls designed on them. Other popular brands in the shop are the Japanese denim brand Evisu, AG Jeans and
Antik Denim.

The store also has an impressive line of funky shoes ranging from sports to brightly coloured pumps and
stilettos, for both men and women

Unusual accessories like cuff-links and bag holders are exclusive to Bauhaus. Designed by the European brand Glamnoir, the bag holders come in various colours that can be matched with most dresses.

The shop’s design has been inspired by the ‘Bauhaus’ architectural style with the walls bent at 70 to 80 degree angles and adorned with paintings and bright colours, with the over Dh20, 000 prized bejewelled mirror in the middle of the store.

The shop has a mix of both modern and traditional designs.

“Another exclusive and unusual item in the store are designer brands which have been made from old candy wrappers. Most of the clothing here are very popular with both Emiratis and expatriates,” said Samara.

The clothing line offers everything from casual T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, sneakers and party dresses and are priced between Dh300 for T-shirts to Dh5, 790 for jackets.

The paintings fall between the Dh5000 to Dh2000 price range.

Bauhaus is the perfect place to visit before one decides to hit the nightclubs.

Published by Dhanusha Gokulan on 7 May 2009 on on http://www.khaleejtimes.com

Size wise, this is a mall you won’t get lost in – but it’s still big enough to house a multitude of useful stores from The Foot Locker to H&M. And, with a newly opened Topshop (albeit a tad on the small side), it makes the perfect dash-destination for last-minute buys. Taking a walk around in the day, as we did, it’s still fairly peaceful, save for the ever-latte-ing Starbucks (has anyone ever seen an empty one?). This means that you can wander at leisure, undisturbed by hordes of other shoppers. Some will miss the buzz of busier venues, but we actually prefer to run our errands undisturbed.
But, in the interests of research, we decided to stick around longer to see what happens in the evening. The place does start to come alive after dark, bustling with families – all of which seem to centre around the first-floor food court. You won’t find any Michelin star contenders here, but if you are looking for a healthy fix, there are a couple of options on offer. Jungle Juice is a great find for anyone who is lactose intolerant as it stocks soy milk, while the banana, strawberry and kiwi shake is a great distraction if you’re trying your best to avoid the Baskin-Robbins next door.

If you are determined not to shop for frivolous items (parsimony is so on-trend this season), fear not, for you can have just as much fun in the wonder that is WorldMart. Take a once in a lifetime trip down the biscuit aisle to find hidden treasure in the form of Chocolate Hobnobs, Tunnock’s Caramel wafers and even the classic Penguin. Yep, if you are looking for things you can’t find anywhere else – like pickled onion flavoured Monster Munch crisps (gather round pregnant ladies) – then this is your one-stop destination shop.

Although the Arabian Center is still a work in progress, it somehow manages to not feel that way. There are still plenty shops yet to open, but so far so good. And, despite the shops being bite-sized versions of what the larger malls have to offer, the careful selection of stock doesn’t leave you wishing for more – plus you get to shop in peace.
The Arabian Center is located just off the Al Khawaneej Road, Mirdif. Open Sun-Wed, 9am-10:30pm, Thu-Sat, 9am to midnight. Food Court timings, 9am-midnight. See www.arabiancenter.ae or call 04 284 5555
Five WorldMart items we’re in love with

• Dairylea. Not the squares, mind, but tubs full of the stuff

• Walkers salt and vinegar French Fries (and they do Worcester sauce flavour too!)

• Jam tarts. Enough said – just get thee to the biscuit isle

• Ripe avocados that don’t cost the earth

• A great selection of classic DVDs
(Published on May 7 on http://www.timeoutdubai.com)

Festival Centre won the award on the basis of its exceptional achievements, new initiatives and customer service that has made it one of the finest shopping destinations in the emirate.

‘Given the current economic climate, this acknowledgement serves as a great motivator to us all. We are delighted to have been recognised for providing a superb guest experience for our retailers and shoppers and will use this recognition to reinforce our commitment to our tenants and visitors.’

said Tom Miles, Director - Shopping Centres, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate.

The Retail Middle East award comes close on the heels of Festival Centre winning at the 2009 Silver Maxi Award for marketing in Hollywood, USA last month. Earlier this year Dubai Shopping Festival had presented it the Best Innovation award. The DSF organising committee has also awarded Festival Centre the Best Interior Design - Shopping Centres award in 2008.

Festival Centre which celebrated its second anniversary in March this year, offers more than 400 stores, over 60 restaurants and cafés, a 12-screen cinema complex and parking for more than 10,000 cars and is the focal point for some of the finest community and entertainment events.

The daily events and festivities at Festival Centre have redefined the epitome of shopping, dining and entertainment ensuring the guests and their families are always engaged and rewarded for their visit.

RetailME Awards, presented in association with RetailME magazine, recognise the top performing retail players in the Middle East and sets the benchmark for retail excellence in the region.

(Published on http://www.ameinfo.com on April 30 - 2009)

Mr Nasser Rafi, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Malls Group, said: “The month-long event comes at a perfect time to reach out not only to families in the Gulf region but also visitors from the larger Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Iran and Russia. The festival is timed to offer families an added incentive and invitation to visit the mall during the school holidays.”

Mr Rafi explained: “With 900 retail outlets already open, The Dubai Mall has the highest concentration of the world’s most leading retail brands in a single mall. The festival is therefore unsurpassed globally in terms of retailer participation within a mall environment. Retailers in the mall have extended their full support to the festival, which is organised with the Dubai Shopping Festival Office as the Strategic Partner.”

Leading retailers in The Dubai Mall, several of them operating their flagship stores or having opened their first Middle East outlets, support the Festival, by offering three kinds of shopping deals - Part Sale, Festival Discount and Festival Offers. Mall tenants will display their chosen category of the offers in-store for easy identification by customers. Complementing the retail deals, shoppers also stand to win millions of dirhams in prizes through daily, weekly and grand raffle draws.

Mr. Ramesh Prabhakar, Managing Partner, Rivoli GroupRivoli GroupLoading… LLC, observed that the Festival@The Dubai Mall is a “very positive sign of support from Emaar and the Dubai Shopping Festival Office. We are sure that it will become another key activity in the calendar of Dubai’s retail activities.”

Ms. Colette Shannon, Marketing Manager of the first Waitrose supermarket in the Middle East region in the mall, said the Festival will create top of mind awareness of the mall. “It is a superb mall, and will over time, establish itself as the premium mall destination in Dubai.”

Mr. David Reily, CEO Middle East, RSH, said that all of the company’s stores in the mall will have “cross-store offers” during the Festival with gift vouchers to be presented to customers. The Dubai Mall is an outstanding destination and I have never seen a mall generate more fresh ideas or energy.”

Visitors to the mall can also take part in a unique ‘Bid 2 Win’ auction to bid for a diverse range of products starting off at an easy AED 1. In another opportunity to win big, the festival will feature a Grand Bentley Raffle, where only 5,000 tickets, priced AED 200 each, will be drawn for a luxurious, four-door Bentley Continental Flying Spur. An array of entertainment activities, across the mall will assure non-stop fun for all visitors.

The opening day of the Festival@The Dubai Mall will witness five lucky winners of raffle draws walking away with prizes of AED 10,000 each. Customers only have to shop for an aggregate AED 500 from any of the retail or F&B outlets during the entire month for obtaining the raffle coupons. The weekly draw for AED 100,000 will be held on Saturday with the winner standing to gain another AED 50,000 if present in the mall at the time of the draw. The sale of coupons for the Grand Bentley Draw will also open on Thursday morning at special stands across the mall.

Items for the Bid 2 Win will be displayed prominently at the mall and visitors only have to check the product code and SMS to 4643 after registering for the bid at the same number. The products for auction will range in prize from AED 10,000 to AED 100,000. Bids will start at AED 1 and will continue till 9pm, with bidders being informed of the status of the bid in real-time. Live updates of the auction will also be displayed in the multimedia screens across the mall.

Several entertainment programmes including musicians and jugglers will regale visitors, who can also tour the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and Dubai Ice-Rink for added fun, and watch the testing of The Dubai Fountain, the world’s tallest performing fountain, at the nearby Burj Dubai Lake.

Festival@The Dubai Mall is supported by Dubai Media Inc, Arab Media Group and The Address Hotels + Resorts, a part of the Emaar Hospitality Group. Dubai Shopping Festival Office offers strategic support including executing the various retail and entertainment activities.

(Published on http://www.zawya.com/ on April 29, 2009)

Dubai’s expansive 440,000 sq ft shopping mall, the latest and greatest Oasis of the Arabian peninsula, will be the location of Dell’s first Dell store.

Dell clearly sees a mirage of its high-end future, not as simply another computer maker in the souk, but as a veritable competitor to the pastel toymaker.

So how much gold has Dell had to raid from its Aladdin’s cave to pay for a spot in Dubai Mall’s electronics area? It’s hard to say exactly, but locals in the know reckon space in the mall is being sold at around $150 per sq ft and the Dell store apparently measures 60ft by 40ft (20m by 13m).

Using our rusty INQ calculator, that’s 2,400 sq ft times 150 equals $360,000, but putting finishing touches to it could bring that cost up to at least $500,000, and that’s without hiring the staff to run it.

Let’s add in utilities costs (like electricity) and estimate that Dell will have to cough up at least $600,000 for a shop with any chance of rivaling Apple’s.

Stuck all the way up on the fourth floor and a little out of the way, it will certainly be interesting - in the current arid economic climate - to see if Dell can really turn a profit on such an extravagant investment.

Of course, Dell might also be planning to imitate Apple’s “fleece the locals” strategy for all we know, by abusing its host’s hospitality with horrendous overpricing.

So - again pulling out our rusty INQ calculator - if Dell is planning on making approximately $200 profit per unit, then $600,000 divided by $200 means the firm will need the store to sell about 3,000 units to break even.

Will the direct approach work well enough to shift that much inventory? We dune not know, but we’ll keep an eye on things and keep you posted.

(Published on http://www.kumaran.biz on April 24th, 2009)

Unfortunately, it’s still a bit of a pain to get to if you’re heading south, as you’ll have to exit at the interchange and go round the back through Al Quoz. On the other hand, there is less traffic in the area at the weekend so you probably won’t encounter queues along the way as you would at many of the bigger malls.

So is it worth the trip? Our first visit was during the week and the mall was fairly quiet, though we’ve heard it has been much busier at the weekends so a fair few people seem to think so. Most of the mall staff are friendly and helpful, which we’re assuming is because the mall just opened up and there are not many customers to keep them as busy as they would be in one of the packed malls. A lot of the stores are still not open, so that cuts down a bit of the variety on offer, but we’re told the entire mall will soon be in full swing.

Unfortunately there is no fine dining yet. The food court has the usual KFC, McDonald’s, Subway and Pizza Hut. More promisingly, there is a branch of Bombay Chowpatty and a few other cuisines such as Baanthai (Thai), Bazerkan (Lebanese), and Canton (Chinese). But anyway, forget about eating. What about the shops?
Splash

Inside Splash, which is on the first floor, there is a section where they sell Japanese brands with quirky slogans on the T-shirts. The walkway is unique and looks like it might be modelled on a mini Tokyo shopping street. An in-store sound system plays catchy trance music, which, depending on your mood, is either a nice touch or a form of aural purgatory. Get yourself a shopping trolleys because Splash is stocked with some killer deals at the moment.
Location: ground and first floor. Ground floor, main entrance, Right or first floor, left from escalator. Tel 04-5154333 or 04-5154335.

E-Max
The other big attraction is E-Max, an electronics shop which claims to be the largest store of its kind in the UAE. This means it’s vast and you’ll find a wide spectrum of products, ranging from audio video, appliances, mobile phones, photography, gaming, IT, CD/DVD, lighting, fitness equipments, toys… we could go on. But what we really like is the PlayStation 3 game Rock Band, which is set up in store. Provided you’re a public exhibitionist, you have the chance to play the drums and guitar and you’ll attract a small audience.
Location: Right of the escalator on the second floor. Third floor near the food court and Rage.

Rage
Skater kids, surf chicks and extreme sports fans will already know about Rage. This branch seems to specialise in bicycles and bike accessories. It’s a relatively small store but what really sets it apart is the soundtrack: Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin were on rotation during our visit, which made our afternoon.
Location: Third floor near the food court and E-max.

Aeropostale
A shop we haven’t seen before is Aeropostale, a store that specialises in teenage clothing. It’s an international brand and this is its first foray into the Dubai market. The prices seem reasonable though whether too-cool-for-school teenagers will buy ‘teenage clothing’ is anybody’s guess.
Location: First floor, right of escalator.

The Home Centre
This was a big draw for the mall’s previous incarnation and it’ll be hoping for the same success with this new and bigger, version. While it doesn’t have quite the variety of Ikea, at least you know your furniture won’t be the same as every other house in Dubai – and the firm assembles it for you, which is a big bonus.

Q Home Décor
Located opposite Home Centre, you’ll find some more higher-end pieces – with bigger price tags to match. It’s good if you need decorative works to finish a room.
Location: Second floor, left of escalator.
Carrefour-Express

Opening shortly, we’re looking forward to seeing what a smaller version of Carrefour will offer. Hopefully it will be the same budget prices without the hassle of walking round such a big store – as anyone who has tried to walk round its City Centre and MOE branches will know.

The Weekend Children’s Festival to be held from 3pm to 9pm on Friday and Saturday is a family leisure attraction that will appeal to the young ones. Featuring entertainers including jugglers, clowns, face painters and stilt walkers as well as game stalls, pony rides and children’s movies, the event further establishes the mall as the must-visit destination for families in the city.

Supported by Emaar Education, the festival will feature an array of stalls, including food and beverage stands. Apart from various activities tailored for children, special kids’ movies will be telecast on the large multimedia screens located at the atrium of the mall.

There will be special previews of KidZania and SEGA Republic, some of the leisure attractions to open at the
mall, shortly. Yousif Al Ali, general manager of The Dubai Mall, said, “The Children’s Festival will complement the successful leisure attractions of the mall such as Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink and The Waterfall. “In the coming months, the mall will unveil newer leisure concepts for children such as KidZania, an edutainment concept for children; SEGA Republic, an indoor themed park; and REEL Cinemas, the 22-screen cineplex.” The Children’s Festival runs parallel to ‘International Village’, a two-week cultural and retail festival at Emaar Boulevard. Featuring 41 pavilions, International Village, which showcases an array of products from nearly 20 countries, began on April 17 and will continue till May 2, from 4pm to 11pm on weekdays and from 4pm to midnight on weekends and holidays.

The festival will have on display products, artifacts and general paraphernalia from countries panning Africa and Europe, and India, China, South Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tunisia, Vietnam, the UAE and several countries in the Middle East. Ahmad Al Matrooshi, managing director — UAE, Emaar Properties, said: “With over 180 nationalities living and working together, Dubai is the cultural hub of the region and Emaar is highlighting that cultural plurality with the International Village at Emaar Boulevard. The event is not only our tribute to the city’s cosmopolitan ethos but also aims to strengthen its tourist appeal while establishing Downtown Burj Dubai as a must-visit destination.”

The International Village will have pavilions set up along the Emaar
Boulevard and will showcase a collection of jewellery, handicrafts and artifacts, clothing and traditional dresses, home accessories, crystals and silverware, perfumes and food items,
among others.

(Published on http://www.khaleejtimes.com on 23 April 2009)

“We have overcome the crisis with the least amount of losses,” Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum, who is also United Arab Emirates prime minister, told Dubai’s first e-press conference.

“For us in the United Arab Emirates, I can safely say that we have succeeded in containing the risks of the global financial crisis in record time,” said Sheikh Mohammad.

His answers to journalists’ questions were posted on the website www.uaepm.ae on Saturday.

Sheikh Mohammad put the recovery down to “the additional liquidity that the Abu Dhabi government pumped into the Emirates’ banks” and the bond issuance of 20 billion dollars.

However, Sheikh Mohammad acknowledged that economic growth in the UAE would probably fall to around three percent in 2009, down from 7.4 percent last year. But he ruled out introducing income tax.

On the world crisis, he said: “I think the panic phase is over now, especially after the intervention of governments in many major countries to regulate financial and banking sectors, and the allocation of large sums of money to revitalise their economies.”

As for Dubai itself, Sheikh Mohammad shrugged off comments that “the bubble” had burst on its dazzlingly rapid development.

“I keep hearing the expression of ‘the bubble’ for the past couple of decades. In my opinion, this bubble is found only in the minds of those who often keep repeating it and do not know its meaning,” he said.

Sheikh Mohammad also brushed aside a spate of negative articles in the international media.

“The stereotypes are being brought up. It seems that any successful Arab model in economic development invites such negative treatment in the international media,” he said.

The architect of Dubai’s emergence on the world stage as a regional business, IT and leisure hub defended the emirate’s achievements.

“We are not growing in order to be a model for its highest building in the world, best airport, and most luxurious hotel, and the largest seaport and man-made islands,” he said.

“The Dubai model is beyond that… Dubai is an Arab city with scarce natural resources but with a clear vision of comprehensive development and social needs,” he said.

It has “succeeded through investments in human resources, its unique geographical location and trade expertise.”

(Published on AFP on 18th April 2009)

Suspended 50 meters in the air, Dinner in the Sky will offer an eclectic selection of culinary options ranging from coffee mornings to three-course meals. The 22-seat platform will particularly offer an ideal dining experience for social and business groups.

Strapped into custom designed seats around an unconventional dining table, the participants will be hoisted into the air by a 100 tonne crane. Once in the air, the table is free to rotate 180 degrees while the guests’ feet hang free. Qualified chefs and waiters will also be on hand to pamper the brave with sumptuous cuisine options.

Organized in association with the Dubai- Based Event Horizon and event agency Mindset Media Dubai, Dinner in the Sky will be offered for a limited time from 17 April to 15 May at The Walk at JBR.

Haiyan Mujarkech, CEO of Dubai Retail, said: “The Walk has always endeavored to move away from conventional concepts, as Dubai’s first beachfront promenade. The Covent Garden Market Dubai at The Walk is testimony to this strategy, and many other events such as Winter Sports events, Rock Balancing and Sand Sculpturing. Continuing with our mission to pioneer innovative services, we are pleased to host Dinner in the Sky at The Walk. We are certain the attraction will deliver an experience of a lifetime including breathtaking views amidst a serene environment, complemented by interesting cuisine.

“In the future, we will continue exploring avenues that will enhance our clients’ visit to The Walk. We strongly believe such initiatives serve as a great entertainment platform for the residents living at Jumeirah Beach Residence and around Dubai, while attracting tourists to the outdoor concourse as a must-visit destination in their itineraries.”

Recently, Dinner in the Sky won the SMB Advisor Middle East Award for the most incredibly innovative approach. Forbes Magazine US voted it as one of the 10 most unusual events and restaurants in the world, while PRO7, the largest TV station in Germany, named it one of the top 10 extraordinary restaurants of the world.

Rafael Moreno CEO of Mindset Media, said: “We are proud to present Dinner in the Sky at The Walk @ JBR in Dubai. With Dubai Retail and Event Horizon, we are all geared to provide one of the most memorable and inimitable experiences to thrill-seekers and adventure-lovers. With the horizon spanning endless expanses of water and Dubai’s dramatic skyline, The Walk will set the right mood for those seeking to dine with a difference.”

Haluk Yalinkaya, Partner in Event Horizon LLC said, “It is indeed a privilege to be associated with a unique concept such as Dinner in the Sky and we are delighted to be working together with Mindset Media and Dubai retail in order to bring this breathtaking dining experience to the Walk”.

The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence currently hosts nearly 230 retailers and is soon anticipated to host over 305 outlets. Offering over 770,000 sq ft of retail space, the 1.7km retail promenade incorporates lifestyle shopping experiences through combining a unique selection of boutiques, retail stores, bistros and cafes.

-Ends-

About The Walk
‘The Walk’ at Jumeirah Beach Residence is Dubai’s first & only outdoor shopping concept by the Beach, offering a wide range of shopping, dining and leisure activities. Established in 2008 by Dubai Retail, a subsidiary of Dubai Properties Group and a member of Dubai Holding, The Walk stretches across 1.7 kilometer long avenue overlooking the Arabian Ocean, and boasts over 305 retail shops in both its ground and plaza levels. Designed to meet the needs of over 20,000 residents and visitors in the surrounding towers, The Walk’s mix of retail & hospitality outlets includes Designer Boutiques, Cafes and Restaurants, Supermarkets, Jewellery and Gifts, Home Furnishing, Fashion and Accessories, Health & Beauty, as well as Banks and Money Exchange services.

About Dubai Retail, a subsidiary of Dubai Properties Group and a member of Dubai Holding, is a primary retail development and management solutions company that operates with the express aim of transforming the retail sector in the Middle East by bringing in new concepts and solutions. Established in 2008, Dubai RetailDubai Retail
Dubai Retail already boasts one of the largest retail management portfolios in the emirate. The company operates with a sole objective of increasing stakeholders’ value through innovative solutions and commitment to excellence, while leveraging its in-depth market knowledge and industry experience, thus contributing to the expansion of the retail sector in general.

Dubai Retail Real Estate
News Officers’s services range from strategy development to retail space management and covers retail leasing, developing and improving retail concepts, management of retail spaces, retail consulting services, offering support to franchise chains, market intelligence services and tenant mix solutions. Dubai Retail currently offers premium retail opportunities at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), and Bay Avenue at Business Bay.

(Published on http://www.zawya.com on 18 April 2009)

The number of visitors to the mall grew in the quarter despite sliding consumer confidence in the UAE and a slowing tourism sector.

This was largely thanks to more apartments in the surrounding area being handed over to their owners, and Ibn Battuta’s relatively large number of affordable brands, a company official said.

“There are a several drivers for this growth – the surrounding Nakheel communities of Discovery Gardens and the Gardens are growing, so Ibn Battuta Mall now has a larger population in its immediate catchment area,” said David Thurling, managing director of Nakheel Retail Shopping Malls.

Discovery Gardens has become one of Dubai’s most affordable neighbourhoods with the completion of several new properties amid a sharp downturn in Dubai’s real estate market.

The cost of renting a studio in the area has fallen by around 50 percent in the last six months.

“In addition, we have seen a number of new stores opening this year - including @ Home, Shoe Mart, New Look, and Borders - which gives an even greater mix of quality retailers across a wide range of price points,” Thurling said.

“We also believe that it is important for a mall to offer more than simply shopping. We have focused on building a family friendly destination offering real value for money dining, leisure and entertainment facilities.”

The company said it measures the number of visitors using a 98 percent accurate technology called Shoppertrak, but did not say whether sales in the period had also risen.

Most Dubai retailers have seen sales decline this year as a result of falling tourist numbers and job losses in the real estate and financial sectors.

Alshaya Co, the largest retailer in the region by number of stores, said in March that sales in the year to date were down by 15 to 20 percent, compared with the corresponding period last year.

Nakheel said last month that it has delayed a $3 billion expansion programme by 12 months as a result of the economic downturn.

The company’s retail division unveiled an ambitious shopping mall development programme across the UAE in April last year and said it would build five new projects, including one on the Palm Jumeirah.

As a result, Australia’s largest department store operator, Myer, said that it would postpone its plans to enter the Dubai market.

But many retailers and mall operators are sticking to their ambitious expansion plans.

The developers of the 10 million sq ft Mall of Arabia have told Arabian Business that the project is going ahead as planned, and Alshaya will be rolling out 200 new stores across its 16 markets this year.

(Published on 17 April 2009 on http://www.arabianbusiness.com)

Commenting on the new restaurant opening, Rafic Fakih, Managing Director, McDonald’s UAE said, ‘At McDonald’s, we believe that convenience to customers goes beyond our operations inside the store, which alters our choice of location in a way that serves them best. Today, our 65 restaurants are suitably located to serve our customers across the Emirates.’

The McDonald’s Oasis restaurant brings the number of branches up to 65, after the opening of 5 other branches in Dubai Marina Mall (Dubai), Safeer Mall (Ras Al Khaimah), Arabian Center (Al Khawaneej -Dubai), Kuwaitat (Al Ain), and Emirates Coop (Al Mizhir 2 - Dubai), since the beginning of 2009.

It is worth mentioning that each new McDonald’s restaurant generates a positive ripple effect on the local community and economy through utilizing the services of local real estate developers, including building materials and labor.

In addition, McDonald’s UAE sources a big percentage of its supplies from local suppliers, including Del Monte and Al Salem Food Industries.

(Published on http://www.ameinfo.com on April 16 - 2009)

Vishal Mahajan, the director of the first outlet mall in the Middle East, said that despite the economic downturn the shopping centre had seen a steady stream of customers, with between 80 per cent and 90 per cent making a purchase.

“We are exploring the possibilities of an extension,” Mr Mahajan said.

“When we do it, we will add a significant amount of space, at least equal to the existing phase.”

Between 12,000 and 15,000 customers visit the 800-store mall, located on the edge of Dubailand, each weekdayhe said.

On the weekends, the numbers rise to between 20,000 and 25,000 customers.

“We have been approached by a lot of retailers that have missed out on phase one to have a significant presence here,” Mr Mahajan said.

“So the thought is based on demand, rather than just ambition.”

The expansion plans come after the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres warned that the UAE had an oversupply of shop space.

Maher al Shaer, the group’s president, said the oversupply was due to peak at the end of this year.

Four malls have opened in Dubai in the past six months, including the enormous Dubai Mall. This month, the developer Nakheel announced it was delaying its US$3 billion (Dh11.01bn) expansion plans across the country.

But Mr Mahajan said his mall’s bargain offering catered to a different customer segment, which grew during tough times.

Each brand in his centre has signed a contract to offer its wares at a minimum of 30 per cent lower than at other stores, with some discounted by as much as 90 per cent.

Mr Mahajan said visitor numbers at the mall had doubled since it opened in August 2007..

He said retailers consistently told him the stores in his mall were the best, or second-best performing store for their brand in the country. “They say Dubai is over-retailed (but) we still have a niche,” Mr Mahajan said.

Laurent-Patrick Gally, a retail and consumer analyst with Shuaa Capital, said consumers were more cost conscious than before.

“I think the kind of surrounding sentiment previously in the region was that there was an economic miracle occurring,” Mr Gally said. “Anything could happen in the world and it would not impact the region negatively.”

The scale of the global downturn has made it clear that the region is vulnerable, he said.

Consumer confidence in the UAE has dropped to the lowest levels in the region, according to the latest quarterly poll by YouGov and the employment website Bayt.com. The only country that saw consumer confidence rise was Algeria, which was up 1.5 points.

“It’s obviously less than western Europe or in North America,” said Mr Gally. “But still, it has felt the impact.”

Mr Mahajan said visitor numbers should continue to grow as the surrounding residential and leisure projects, such as Dubailand Universal Studios, were developed.

When the mall was built, the catchment area within a five to 10-minute drive was forecast to contain between 400,000 and 500,000 people by 2015.

The economic downturn may have an effect on those numbers, but Mr Mahajan is optimistic that it will help as well. “The phenomena has impacted us as these hard times have made people more aware of the services we offer and make more of an effort to get here,” he said.

(Published by Armina Ligaya on http://www.thenational.ae on April 15. 2009)

However, retailers and developers are quite confident the demand for retail space will keep growing in Dubai and as the emirate keeps expanding, there will be no real danger of over-supply of supermarkets here.

Shopping space in the GCC has expanded quite rapidly over the years, with some 7.5 million square metres completed in just nine years. In 2008 alone, Dubai clearly led the boom, adding about 2.5 million square metres of GLA (gross leasable area), the highest in the region.

The prospect that such a speedy growth will continue for years to come isn’t promising because some projects are likely to be put on hold or deferred completely. And industry sources have more reason to believe that even if things get better, the demand for additional retail supply in the Gulf boomtown would ease.

“There is a view beginning to emerge that the worst of the global recession may have been reached and the situation will begin to improve next year. Even when this happens, it seems improbable that the rapid boom will re-emerge, in which case the requirement for mega mall space in Dubai is likely to be much reduced - if any,” Simon Thomson, principal at British consultancy firm Retail International, told Gulf News.

What is likely to happen, Thomson says, is that existing malls will be improved or extended. “There are new malls still in the development stage and these will come on stream.”

Still, more retail spaces, particularly in Dubai, have been put on stream this year. Among the new entrants are the Oasis Centre on Shaikh Zayed Road and Arabian Centre near Mirdif. But this is more the case of finishing what had been started or simply looking ahead.

Thomson explains that shopping malls are large real estate developments that require several years in the planning and several more to construct and deliver. It is inevitable therefore that there will be fluctuations in the market and economy over such a period of time.

“The global economy has had an unprecedented run of boom years which finally ran out of steam in 2008. This was always to happen - it was just a matter of timing. Dubai was the beneficiary of these boom times and now in the downturn is not immune just like every other country. The recent G20 summit in London last week confirmed the unanimity of this point,” Thomson says.

“Thus, if a mall has been under development for some time and has been scheduled to be completed in 2009, there is little one can do other than proceed. It may be necessary to work with the retailers to assist them in the more difficult trading conditions, but most serious retailers and mall developers are in the business for the long term and will be looking beyond the immediate difficult trading conditions,” he adds.

Retail International’s survey shows that so far, some 9.5 million square metres of GLA has been completed in the GCC, up from 7.75 million square metres a year ago. There is an “underlying potential” that the shopping space could further expand to 19.6 million square metres over the next 10 to 15 years, but “timing is now less certain with some projects likely to be either deferred or shelved completely”.

Despite the gloomy outlook, mall developers and retailers remain confident that Dubai’s consumers will continue to accommodate new shopping spaces.

Vipen Sethi, chief executive officer of Landmark Group, which recently opened Oasis Centre, says: “It is true that retailers in Dubai are facing declining sales due to recessionary trends in the market. Consumer spending is at a low as the confidence levels of people are low.

“A number of jobs have been lost and Dubai’s population is expected to fall in the short time. When business in airlines, hotels and residential properties starts to pick up, the current retail space will not be sufficient to meet the growing requirements,” Sethi adds.

“Mall developers and retail operators need to pitch themselves appropriately like in other countries. There are bound to be some malls that work and others that don’t.”

Kamal Vachani, director of Dubai-based retailer Al Maya Group, says there is still room for new shops in Dubai, although things in the retail industry are not looking as bright.

“There has been a little bit decline in consumer spending, where the customers reduced the purchase of luxury items.

“But the sale of other supermarket items has not changed. There’s also some decline in business in the areas where labourers are staying. Due to the recession in the property market, a lot of expat labourers lost their jobs,” Vachani told Gulf News.

“But as Dubai’s areas are expanding and new areas are opening up, I would not see any oversupply of supermarkets,” he adds.

(Published by Cleofe Maceda on http://www.gulfnews.com/ on April 13, 2009)

Highlighted by a rush of mega mall developments in Dubai and seemingly unaffected by the credit crisis, the retail boom has triggered a big surge in retail spending, and the design and shop fitting trade is set to capitalise as more retailers seek expert help to make their stores and their products, stand out.

“Retailers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of investing in professional design and shop fitting, whether it is for a new retail outlet or refurbishment,” said Sinead Bridgett, Exhibition Director of the annual InRetail exhibition, which will be staged for the fourth time in November.

“The new generation of mega malls contain hundreds of shops, cafes and other outlets, and competition for business is fierce. Retailers have to think of new and interesting ways to display their products, and lure shoppers inside, instead of watching them walk by.”

Organised by dmg world media, last year’s InRetail exhibition attracted more than 5,000 industry visitors. This year’s event, taking place over four days from 14-17 November at Dubai International Exhibition Centre and running alongside INDEX, will feature a major line-up of retail manufacturers and suppliers eager to exploit the lucrative regional market.

“According to Retail International, Dubai’s retail spending could cross Dh27.89 billion ($7.6 billion) by the end of 2009,” said Bridgett.

“By then, retail activities in shopping centres is expected to contribute about 50 per cent to Dubai’s gross domestic product. At the same time, Abu Dhabi’s retail spending will reach Dh7.19 billion, while in Sharjah, it will cross Dh2.36 billion. Overall, retail spending in the UAE is expected to touch almost Dh37.44 billion a year by 2009.”

Added Bridgett: “The potential retail market in the Gulf region overall is endless, with an annual growth in consumer spending in the next five years projected at 10-20 per cent.

“Meanwhile, a report on real estate carried out by real estate firm Colliers says that over 70 per cent of forthcoming shopping malls due to enter the Dubai market between now and 2010 have already been let out.

“It means there will be a massive number of new retail outlets requiring design and shop fitting expertise. At City of Arabia in Dubai, Mall of Arabia alone will have more than 1,400 retails outlets, so there’s massive scope for retail design and shop fitting specialists.”

Bringing the full spectrum of retail design, shop fittings, furnishings and retail technology all under one roof, this year’s InRetail exhibition will feature more than 120 exhibitors from over 20 countries around the world, the ‘Innovations in Retail’ seminar programme and for the first time, an official German pavilion.

(Published on http://www.zawya.com on 12th April, 2009)

“I think shoppers in Dubai are now tired of going into projects that are still construction sites,” said Richard Reid, the senior vice president of development for Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) properties, which is building the mall. “We want to set a new benchmark.”

The 196,000 square metre mall in Dubai’s Mirdif area, which will have about 430 shops, was 90 per cent leased, he said. The group aims to have 98 per cent of the Dh2.6 billion (US$707.8 million) shopping centre leased by July.

When it opens in the first quarter of 2010, Mirdif City Centre will be entering a highly competitive market. Four malls have opened in Dubai in the past six months, including the 80,000 sq metre Arabian Centre, also located in Mirdif.

However, Mr Reid is banking on its entertainment offering – 10 per cent of the mall has been allocated to leisure facilities, such as an indoor skydiving chamber – and its location near developing residential areas to draw shoppers. MAF forecasts there will be roughly 718,000 residents in the mall’s catchment area by 2010 – 230,000 of which will be in the mall’s surrounding area.

About 42 per cent of the centre’s stores will be dedicated to fashion and lifestyle brands, including anchor stores H&M and Zara. About 14 per cent will consist of electronics and home stores, such as Home Centre.

The mall’s original opening date was Dec 2009, but it was pushed back because of delays building nearby roads, said Shahram Shamsaee, the senior vice president of retail for Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls. Roughly 6,600 workers are working 24 hours a day to get it ready.

Retailers were responsible for building the stores themselves, but MAF would give the brands early access, he said.

“Traditionally in the UAE, malls open at best with 40 to 50 per cent stores open. We are looking at the high 90s,” said Mr Shamsaee.

Naeem Ghafoor, the chief executive of Skyline Retail Services consultancy in Dubai, said it was difficult to set a hard deadline in this economic climate.

“It is very, very hard to take a date in the future and say you will be open. Because the crisis gets worse.”

The population in the Mirdif area of Dubai was likely to decrease in the wake of the crisis, he added. However, MAF had a strong track record of mall development, he said.

“When recovery comes, I’m sure Mirdif will probably do OK. But I don’t see it in 2010,” he said. “They’re going to have a tough time until the market does recover.”

(Published on http://www.thenational.ae on April 08. 2009)

The pace of construction activity on site progresses swiftly to provide a unique community experience packed in a super regional mall for residents and visitors of Dubai.

Speaking at a media event organised on site, Richard Reid, Senior Vice President-Development, Majid Al Futtaim Properties said, ‘The vision we had for Mirdif City Centre was for it to be the most convenient ’super regional’ community-focused development in Dubai, designed and built with innovation to deliver both social and commercial aspirations and we have been successful in delivering this vision, this promise.’

‘If you look at the strategic location we occupy in the north east corridor, we are connected to two major highways - Emirates Road and Tripoli street. Our primary trade area is expected to grow to over 700,000 when we open in the first quarter of 2010.’

The Centre will offer unrivalled access and parking facilities, with space for 7,000 vehicles spread over three decks on three sides of the mall. It will also incorporate 12 entries and exits at different levels of its car parks.

Mirdif City Centre has been built with the community at its heart. The centre will offer dedicated community areas, medical clinics, spa, personal grooming facilities, fitness centre and over 20,000 square metres of unique leisure concepts including a special children’s ‘edutainment’ centre, an indoor ‘iFly’ sky diving experience, a 12 lane bowling alley, a soccer circus, aqua play area for younger children and a 10 screen state-of-the-art multiplex cinema.

The Centre will be home to 430 world class retailers in an environment that will be as much about lifestyle as it is about shopping. Eight anchor stores will include the world’s second largest retailer, Carrefour along with Debenhams, Centrepoint, Borders, Home Centre, E Max and our unique leisure offerings.

‘The fact that the Majid Al Futtaim Group is continuing with this massive development in the current economic situation is a sign of the Group’s commitment to retail, leisure and entertainment in Dubai. As a mark of retailer confidence in this project, just yesterday we hosted 400 representatives of tenants on a site tour of the mall’

‘At 196,000 square metres, Mirdif City Centre will be one of the biggest shopping malls in our portfolio, about the size of our very successful Mall of the Emirates,’ concluded Reid.

(Published on http://www.ameinfo.com on April 08 - 2009)

With round-the-clock construction work entering a new phase, City of Arabia owners, the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group, commissioned a new range of artist’s impressions which put the project and each of its four main elements perfectly into perspective.

City of Arabia will have a phased opening starting towards the end of 2010, beginning with Mall of Arabia, one of the world’s largest shopping destinations, which will have a gross leasable area (GLA) of 10 million sq ft over two phases.

With workers onsite casting approximately 60 pile caps per week on the 20 million sq ft site beside the Emirates Road, the mall is rapidly taking shape. Construction work is also moving quickly ahead on Wadi Walk, City of Arabia’s vibrant waterfront community characterised by stylish apartments, outdoor cafes and attractive retail outlets set beside a meandering eight kilometre canal.

And construction work has now commenced on I&M Tower, Metro Tower and Wadi Tower, the first three of the high-rise commercial and residential buildings which will create a dramatic skyline for City of Arabia.

Mall of Arabia will offer more than 1,400 diverse retail outlets, and the first phase is already 89% contracted and reserved. It will also feature a rooftop hotel, waterfront alfresco dining and entertainment for all the family, as well as the remarkable Restless Planet theme park and earth science museum.

Housing the world’s largest and most lifelike collection of animatronic dinosaurs, Restless Planet will make visitors think they’ve wandered onto the set of a Stephen Spielberg Jurassic Park blockbuster. One design team member, Dr. Jack Horner, served as scientific consultant to Spielberg on three “Jurassic Park” movies, and Restless Planet will take visitors 100 million years back in time on a dramatic theme ride into the prehistoric world.

“With each of the four main elements of City of Arabia now reaching important stages, we wanted to give all our stakeholders a detailed picture of what they can expect when the project is completed, and the new images do that perfectly,” said Ilyas Galadari, Chairman of Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group.

Mustafa Galadari, the Group’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, added: “Construction work is continuing to go full steam ahead, and major visible progress is now particularly evident at Mall of Arabia, which is a very exciting development in its own right.”

The Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group also has interests in real estate, agencies for overseas companies, gems and jewellery, automobiles and transport and food distribution, as well as an expanding luxury yacht division, Sunseeker Middle East, which enjoyed a highly successful appearance at the recent Dubai International Boat Show.

City of Arabia, which will become home for 40,000 people, will be a vibrant, self-contained urban community, with business and administrative offices, schools and clinics, supported by luxury apartments, shops, galleries, restaurants and unique attractions.

(Published on http://www.xpress4me.com on April 06, 2009)

The mall was announced a silver winner in the Sales, Promotion and Events category last week for its 2008 Dubai Shopping Festival promotion ‘Make a Fashion Pit-Stop’ which also received the DSF 2008 Innovation Award last year.

The mall’s marketing team chose motor-sports as the promotion’s central theme for all its activities including presenting one lucky shopper with the opportunity to win a pair of ‘His & Hers’ Limited-Edition Corvettes.

Fuad Al Najjar, Vice President of Deira City Centre, said:

‘This is Deira City Centre’s fourth Maxi award and we are incredibly proud of it. We are honored to receive this award as we competed with over 200 entries, in various categories, from 32 countries across the world. It is a testament to all hard work being put into our mall promotions by our marketing team.’

The Maxi Awards Program is an international marketing competition that recognizes excellence in shopping center marketing. Maxi Awards have been given every year since 1972 to those shopping centers and companies that have designed and implemented the most successful marketing programs during the previous year.

(Published on http://www.ameinfo.com on April 06 - 2009)

In a statement, the developer said it had taken the decision to reschedule or cancel a number of supplier contracts as a result of a delay to its $3bn mall expansion programme.

At the end of last month it announced it was putting the design work and site preparation for the programme on hold for 12 months because of the global financial downturn.

Samsung said on Friday its $1bn order from Nakheel to build apartments, shopping malls and other commercial structures in Dubai had been cancelled.

(Published on http://www.arabianbusiness.com on 06 April 2009)

Shoppers trickled into the shopping centre in twos and threes during early afternoon hours two days after its opening on Monday.

Some shoppers gingerly examined the mall’s new spacious interiors while many others excitedly moved from one retail outlet to the next looking for similarities with the old one.

As opposed to Dubai’s undying need to have the biggest of everything, the Oasis Center is a value mall.

The inward-looking interior design of the shopping mall, gives shoppers the opportunity to have a panoramic view of most of the retail outlets from the atrium which is located a few steps away from the entrance.

Vipen Sethi, the CEO of Landmark Group said, “You wouldn’t get tired looking around the mall. The architecture is focused and strategically built.” He added that reopening the mall was like a feather in Landmark Group’s cap. “It was like a dream come true,” said Sethi. “Well, it certainly is bigger than the older Oasis Center,” said Janet Habib, a Palestinian national who was with her two kids.

Dana said that she was in the mall out of curiosity. “It’s spacious, and the placing of the retail stores are strategic,” added Dana.

Most retail outlets including Splash, New Look, Lifestyle, Bossini and Springfield among others are selling their products at discounted rates.

“I did not visit the old Oasis Center, but the new one is really good. Most of the stores are light on the budget except for very few stores,” said Divya N, an Indian national visiting the center.

E-max, the electronics retailer at the Oasis Center is every electronics buff’s dream come true. Spread over 115,000 square feet, E-max is a two-storey electronics jungle.

With over 100,000 consumables in display, ranging from mobile phone accessories, watches, astronomical devices, musical instruments, household appliances and video games among many of the other items in the store.

“You could get lost in E-max, and not in the mall,” said Andrew H who was looking for camera lenses.

“It’s the variety in brands and products that’s really good here. And the mall itself is compact and easy to manoeuvre around,” added Andrew.

Vanity stores like Spaces and Beauty Bay offer a myriad of hair, nail, and other beauty services to men, women and kids. With a few more stores still to open, including an exclusive ladies Fitness First and Starbucks coffee the only thing the center lacks is a bookshop.

In response to that Sethi said, “We would be more than happy to look at anyone who is willing to start a book and music store in the Center.”

(Published by Dhanusha Gokulan on http://www.khaleejtimes.com)