Clueless, 1995.
Emaar has another big (literally) announcement. Shortly after unveiling plans to develop the region’s largest Chinatown within the retail district of the new Dubai Creek Harbor, the property developer announced yesterday that a new mega-mall in Dubai is in the works.
The new shopping center, entitled Dubai Square, is set to exceed the size of Dubai Mall (which currently holds the record for the biggest retail center in the world), and will span 2.6 million square meters of retail, hospitality, and residential space as well as 750,000 square meters of gross retail floor space. To put it into perspective: The Dubai Creek Harbor development will cover an area equivalent to 100 football pitches. The massive three-floor space will house luxury retail and dining in addition to a water park, a boulevard, a Cineplex, and the aforementioned Chinatown. Dubai Square will also feature an art district for creative and art lovers, and it will also serve as a creative hub for young talent.
In a statement, His Excellency Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “Dubai Square disrupts the traditional mall and retail experience. Focused on the aspirations of the new generation of customers, it reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as a global hub and a smart city. Dubai Square will play a pivotal role in further establishing Dubai as the next champion of global retail.”
What the Dubai Square will look like upon completion.
Dubbed the “indoor city,” the new retail metropolis will be equipped with skylights, glazed roofs, parks, and patches of green landscape to completely re-invent the traditional brick-and-mortar shopping experience. Additionally blurring the line between online and in-mall shopping, Dubai Square will be driven by technology in an effort to cater to the tech-savvy, 21st century consumer. Boasting “omnichannel retailing”, the retail space will allow shoppers to purchase items via mobile or desktop, with the stores acting as a showroom. Search and barcode scanning applications, radio-frequency identification technology, mobile payments, and click-and-collect services further aim to simplify the shopping experience.
“With Dubai Square, we are delivering a new destination experience that will bring incredible value to our retail partners. Dubai Square is where technology meets the human touch, and retail meets next-generation entertainment. With its location in Dubai Creek Harbor, and by serving as the closest mega-retail district to millions of passengers passing through the Dubai International Airport, it meets the real need for a new generation lifestyle destination, especially given Dubai’s growth in population and tourist arrivals,” Alabbar added.
While it’s still uncertain when the new Dubai Square will be completed, it most likely won’t be ready in another four to five years — giving us plenty of time to save up for the imminent shopping spree awaiting us.
Now Read: The Middle East’s Biggest Chinatown is Coming to Dubai
