The Dubai Mall marks retail history

1.Strong visitor turn-out on opening day
2.Affirms customer confidence and strength of Dubai’s retail sector
3.Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre unveiled to public
4.Dubai Ice-Rink public skating; fashion shows at Fashion Catwalk atrium

Thousands of visitors thronged The Dubai Mall on its opening day, setting a new benchmark in retail history with close to 600 retail outlets opening doors on a single day in a shopping mall.

The Dubai Mall, the flagship development by Emaar Malls Group, also publicly unveiled the Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre, a spectacular showcase of marine life diversity, to mall visitors, who were also treated to a live shark feeding demonstration.

A sprawling Arabesque Gold Souk, a glitzy Fashion Catwalk atrium, and the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink were also opening day attractions that appealed to the wide cross-section of visitors who were treated to mall-wide festivities that included fashion shows, exhibits and performers.

Mr Jim Badour, CEO, Emaar Malls Group, said: “The enthusiastic visitor turn-out to The Dubai Mall on its opening day is a reiteration of the customer confidence and the strength of Dubai’s retail sector. This is a once-in-a-lifetime mall development that further establishes Dubai’s credentials as a thriving regional hub.”

He added: “Dubai’s economy is shaped by the forces of strong domestic demand and economies of scale, twin propelling forces that have helped create The Dubai Mall. The sustained inflow of tourists and the diversified growth strategies outlined in the Dubai Strategic Plan will continue to energise the economy, and The Dubai Mall will play a key role in driving forward the retail sector.”

Several global retailers are making their Middle East debut and/opening regional flagship stores at The Dubai Mall. High-profile brands such as Waitrose and Hamleys are now open, with Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s – the anchor department stores in the mall – to open in due course. In total, The Dubai Mall will house over 1,200 stores including 160 food & beverage outlets.

Unveiling the Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre, Mr Yousif Al Ali, General Manager, The Dubai Mall, said: “This is our gift to the people of Dubai. The Dubai Mall is bringing in a truly qualitative difference to shopping by offering a total lifestyle experience. The aquarium with its spectacular display of aquatic animals will appeal to children and adults from all over the world.”

Holding the Guinness World Record for the ‘World’s Largest Acrylic Panel,’ the Dubai Aquarium window is free to view for the public, while a nominal charge of AED 50 applies to visit the educational Discovery Centre and the 270-degree walkthrough Tunnel Experience.

Other attractions include Fashion Avenue, a dedicated haute couture precinct with 70 signature stores; The Grove an indoor-outdoor streetscape with a fully retractable roof; KidZania®, an 80,000 sq ft innovative children’s ‘edu-tainment’ concept; SEGA Republic®, a 76,000 sq ft high adrenaline indoor theme park; and a 22-screen cineplex, the largest in Dubai.

Located in Downtown Burj Dubai, the mall can be accessed from Sheikh Zayed Road, Financial Centre Road (previously called Doha Road), Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Burj Dubai, the newly opened bridge off Interchange One and a direct access road near Emaar Square off Sheikh Zayed Road. The mall has a total of over 14,000 spaces for parking across three car parks, with valet services and a car locator ticketing system.