Authored by one of our talented interns, Shantanu Datta
Al Maryah Central is a new mall being developed on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi spanning 2.8 million square feet. Upon completion in 2018, the mall seeks to transform the shopping scene in Abu Dhabi and emerge as one of the foremost locations for retail in the UAE. The mall will be connected to the Galleria which hosts luxury brands such as Prada, Gucci, Jimmy Choo etc opened in 2013.
The project is expected to be in a class of its own due to several reasons. Firstly, the mall radiates a feeling of luxury and exclusivity with the Galleria being connected to it and the presence of hotels such as the Four Seasons and Roosewood and an array of fine dining options and unique concepts which will be introduced to the UAE for the first time.
Secondly the mall has a unique line up in terms of brands that have signed leasing agreements – the first Macy’s in the UAE and the second Bloomingdale’s flank both ends of the mall. 50 percent of the mall has been leased as of February 2017.
Thirdly, Al Maryah Central will also offer great entertainment experiences. The mall will have an entire section dedicated to experiences for families featuring an adventure park and outdoor cinema.
One of the most interesting propositions of the project is the ability for retailers and F&B outlets to get a freezone license in a shopping centre. At the moment, no other major mall in the UAE offers this. The licenses will be issued under Abu Dhabi Global Markets and they would allow international brands and retailers to operate without the need of a local partner or franchise arrangement. This would be an attractive option for exclusive restaurant concepts that are not looking to open many outlets or retailers who would like to maintain control over their operations.
Source – Visit Abu Dhabi Website