Gulf Construction Online - Work gathers speed on Mall of Emirates

UAE Focus

Work gathers speed on Mall of Emirates

01 October 2004

Construction work on Dubai’s retail and leisure complex – Mall of the Emirates (MoE)– continues to move forward at an unprecedented rate, and the project looks well poised to be ready by the completion date of next September.

Progress on one of the complex’s key features, the first snow-dome and indoor ski slope in the Middle East, is steady and preparations have been under way to produce snow, which will be utilised at the massive slope, says Peter Walichnowski, chief executive officer, Majid Al Futtaim Investments.
“Even now, the construction site illustrates the sheer scale of the project and the fact we are on schedule is testament to the commitment of the entire team,” he adds.
With over one-third of the slope already built, initial construction of the steelwork for the huge roof and installation of the chairlift has already started and the snow dome is rapidly becoming one of Sheikh Zayed Road’s most recognisable landmarks.
The project will feature over 6,000 tonnes of snow at any given time, and when completed will etch its name in the record books as the third largest indoor snow dome in the world.
“With a 400-m ski run, a 62-m vertical drop, a permanent quarter pipe for stunts and snowboarding, a range of multi-directional slopes having a number of slope gradients, the snow dome has the world’s largest indoor snow play area,” he says.
“The snow dome is unique in many ways as it is first indoor resort in the world with year-round snow,” he says.
It is the first indoor ski dome that has changing terrain, multiple direction slopes and varying slope gradients. Built on the Alpine resort theme, it is enclosed with tall glass partitions, in open view of restaurants and hotels and has a mountain lodge and mountain café terrace, state-of-the-art ticketing system, change areas, cafes, private party rooms and exclusive retail outlets. With a full capacity of 1,500 visitors, the dome offers facilities that include top-of-the-line ski equipment and clothing rental and qualified professional instructors.
The entire area has over 22,500 sq m of snow, a slope structure that is 85 m high and 80 m wide at its widest segment, has five ski runs from a beginner run to a 62 m vertical drop with longest run of 400 m, and a temperature that hovers around the -1 deg to -2 deg C mark.
“No doubt, the snow dome is the focal point for the visitors but the mall holds much more for those who would venture here,” says Walichnowski.
With over 350 shops and 2.4 million sq ft of prime retail and leisure space, the MoE is one of the biggest malls outside North America. Already 90 per cent of the Majid Al Futtaim’s flagship is leased out almost a year before its schedule opening. British retailer Harvey Nichols is among the big names to house its biggest store outside the UK. The 122,000 sq ft, three-level Harvey Nichols store will feature designer brand names that have become synonymous with the store in its nearly 200-year history and made it one of the best-known department stores in the world.
In addition to the new Harvey Nichols department store, the mall will also feature the region’s biggest Debenhams together with many of the world’s top brands from a range of retail sectors.
Major regional retailers including Broadway Trading, Al Shaya Group, Al Tayer Group and Landmark Group have already signed agreements with Majid Al Futtaim Group.
“This is a major success for the MoE and is a reflection of the popularity of the project amongst the international retail community,” says Walichnowski. “It is our retail partners that will ultimately bring success to our project and signs are already good that the new mall will be as successful as our existing shopping centres around the region.”
MoE will have an important role to play as the shopping, leisure and cultural centre for the community and will have several unique attractions that will make it a must-visit mall. It will also house the Dubai International Arts Centre and Community Theatre, a non-profit making project complete with a 500-seat purpose-built theatre.
This three-level centre which has themed precincts reflecting the cultural heritage of the region, forming streets, plazas and town squares, was initially announced under Suq Al Nakheel identity which was later changed into ‘MoE’ to reflect planned expansion with a 6.5 million sq ft gross leasable area of 2.4 million sq ft and parking space for 7,000 besides two international food-courts with 15 to 20 outlets, 15 to 20 licensed restaurants, around 12 impulse food outlets and two hotels attached to the facility offering a total of 860 rooms and suites.