Gulf Construction Online - Sharjah’s biggest mall to open next year

Real Estate

City Centre Al Zahia is set to become the largest mall in the Northern Emirates.

Sharjah’s biggest mall to open next year

01 June 2020

Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping mall, communities, retail, and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has set March next year for the launch of its new mall in Sharjah – the City Centre Al Zahia.

Majid Al Futtaim’s decision comes in the light of the global disruption in the retail sector due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The additional months will allow all of City Centre Al Zahia’s tenant partners increased time to stabilise and prepare their new stores effectively, to the standards that they and Majid Al Futtaim adhere to, and launch at a time that is more conducive for trading.

Once open, City Centre Al Zahia, which offers 136,200 sq m of gross leasable space, will become the largest mall in the Northern Emirates and the centrepiece of Majid Al Futtaim’s developments in Sharjah.

The upcoming mall will provide a mix of more than 360 new and established brands, all housed within a contemporary retail environment reflecting stunning architecture and comprising of relaxing public spaces.

“When we open the doors of City Centre Al Zahia, our ambition is to offer a compelling retail and entertainment experience to the Northern Emirates community,” remarks Shireen El Khatib, the CEO for Shopping Malls Business Unit. “This ambition is shared by all of our tenants, and as an industry leader, we feel it is our responsibility to support them in any way we can towards achieving this shared goal.”

El Khatib says, the construction of the mall has run to schedule since the ground-breaking ceremony. “However, in light of the global changes that have impacted the retail industry, we have taken the prudent decision to revise the opening date of City Centre Al Zahia in the best interest of our customers and tenants,” she states.

“We remain confident that City Centre Al Zahia will become a landmark destination in the Northern Emirates and a signature addition to the Majid Al Futtaim family,” she adds.

In line with Majid Al Futtaim’s omnichannel strategy, it has also launched two new online shopping platforms for the UAE to enable tenants to reach customers and continue trading.

This includes the ‘Trends At Your Doorstep’ initiative that was recently launched by Mall of The Emirates, and ‘Marketplace’ for other Majid Al Futtaim malls.

City Centre Al Zahia will connect seamlessly to Majid Al Futtaim’s one-million-sq-m residential community, Al Zahia, to place a premium shopping, dining, and entertainment hub on the doorstep of many residents in Sharjah’s emerging urban centre.