I knew this was coming...and its big!

MAF to build Mirdiff City Centre
United Arab Emirates: 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
MAF Shopping Malls has unveiled plans to build the $707.2m Mirdiff City Centre. Located on the Emirates Road and Tripoli Street, the 1.8m sqft shopping centre is expected to be completed by Q4 2009. On completion, Mirdiff City Centre will be home to over 430 retail outlets with provision for eight anchor stores - one of which will be supermarket chain Carrefour.

R

MAF Shopping Malls announces AED 2.6 billion project
Mon, 30 Apr 2007 05:14 PM - Dubai Time


MAF Shopping Malls has announced its ambitious plans to build Mirdif City Centre, the UAE’s next super regional centre focussed on lifestyle and community facilities.

Strategically located on Emirates Road and Tripoli Street along Dubai’s Eastern growth corridor, the centre is expected to be completed by fourth quarter of 2009. The super regional shopping mall will stretch across 183,400 square meters (GLA) and cost AED 2.6 billion to build. The project is also expected to generate over 10,000 job opportunities in the UAE.

On completion, Mirdif City Centre will be home to over 430 retail outlets with provision for 8 anchor stores including Carrefour – the world’s second largest retailer. The merchandise mix will include strong representation in key categories such as convenience, service, fashion, home, electronics entertainment and leisure.

Making the announcement, Graham Drevermen, CEO, MAF Shopping Malls said; “This super regional centre is strategically located along Dubai’s Eastern growth corridor (recognized as the fastest growing area of Dubai). This area is earmarked by Dubai Municipality for significant residential development and population growth over the next 5 years. By 2010, the population of the centre’s primary and secondary trade area is estimated to grow to over 530,000 with an anticipated 15.6% per annum growth rate and a corresponding retail spend forecasted at over AED 9 billion.”

“The new Centre is designed to become the community focal point offering a vibrant, active, social hub which will reflect both international trends and community needs. It will be a special place other than work or home, where visitors can relax and build a sense of belonging within the community – a complementary social environment away from the hectic pace of everyday life. The Centre will inspire a sense of ownership in the hearts of every visitor who walks through its doors,” added Dreverman.

Mirdif City Centre’s primary trade area comprises of; Mirdif, Al Warqaa, Al Khawaneej, Nad Al Hamar, Al Muhaisanah, Al Maher and Rashidiya areas. The Centre is expected to achieve a market share in excess of 25% in its primary trade area. “The centre is located just 5 kilometres from the iconic Dubai International Airport and along with the new hotel developments planned for the Eastern Corridor, there are significant opportunities for Mirdif City Centre”

Learning from past experience, developing and managing seven regional shopping centres, Mirdif City Centre is designed to offer unrivalled accessibility. It incorporates multiple entries and exits at different levels of the 7,000 plus car park. Direct access from Emirates Road at interchange 55 and a direct link from Tripoli Street will provide easy access and egress from all directions.

A strategic perimeter road network, including dedicated service vehicle and taxi links from Emirates Road, along with 4 designated loading bay zones, will facilitate the ease of access and exit to and from the centre for all shoppers and service providers.

Inspired by the vibrant lifestyle of the communities surrounding the centre, the entertainment and leisure concept at Mirdif City Centre will provide visitors of all ages with a variety of passive and interactive activities including; a special ‘edutainment’ area for children and a brand new Magic Planet that will encompass the latest in cosmic bowling, video redemption games and ‘soft play’ areas for toddlers. The 14-screen multiplex cinema will complement the recreational proposition of the centre. Visitors to the centre can also dine in over 60 multi-cuisine restaurants and cafes (including 2 food courts).

Mirdif City Centre aims to provide a ‘green oasis’ for residents - especially during the warmer months of the year. It will provide a magnet for residents and visitors to enjoy shopping for their everyday essentials in an engaging, bright, and fresh environment.

R

excellent... they should do as much as possible to ensure residents in different areas of the city have everything they need surrounding them instead of having to cut through the city traffic to reach some existing centres...... altho the deira city centre isn't so difficult to get to from rashidiya area.... or is it? :p

great..but lets hope its different from city centre and mall of the emirates...

cool! I agree with you, GuyinDubai... Hopefuly it wil be completely different from DCC and MoE... Maybe this time they could incorporate an indoor desert? ;)

wait a minute.. didnt we hear from Dubai just a month ago that they were done with large scale shopping malls and that mall of arabia would be the last major shopping mall for a while?

wait a minute.. didnt we hear from Dubai just a month ago that they were done with large scale shopping malls and that mall of arabia would be the last major shopping mall for a while?

its cheaper to sprawl in mirdif maybe

any renders^^

this mall is very very near from my house, only 200-300 meters! :banana: :banana:

wait a minute.. didnt we hear from Dubai just a month ago that they were done with large scale shopping malls and that mall of arabia would be the last major shopping mall for a while?

Well, I guess it's like the res projects in dubailand thing. One day they say "no more res projects", the next day has projects like majan, etc launched

www.emiratestodayonline.com

page 6

Dubai will soon have another giant new shopping centre – and according to MAF Shopping Malls, the new facility in Mirdif will be as big as the retail facilities at the Mall of the Emirates.

Mirdif City Centre – to be completed in 2009 – will stretch across 183,400 square metres and cost Dh2.6 billion to build.The project is expected to generate more than 10,000 jobs.

The new mall will be located on Emirates Road and Tripoli Street along Dubai’s Eastern growth corridor.

On completion, Mirdif City Centre will be home to more than 430 shops with provision for eight anchor stores, including a Carrefour.

According to Graham Drevermen, CEO of MAF Shopping Malls, they are targeting a growing population in Mirdif, Al Warqaa, Al Khawaneej, Nad Al Hamar, Al Muhaisanah, Al Maher and Rashi diya. “This area is earmarked by Dubai Municipality for significant residential development and population growth over the next five years,” he added.

“By 2010, the population of the centre’s primary and secondary trade area is estimated to grow to more than 530,000 with an anticipated 15.6 per cent per annum growth rate and a corresponding retail spend forecast at over Dh9 billion.” The facility will also have parking for about 7,000 cars and a 14-screen multiplex cinema.Visitors to the centre can also dine in more than 60 multi-cuisine restaurants and cafes in two food courts.

cool

Dubai has enough malls! I think they shoul do away with some of the ones the already have!

One thing that i never understand.....no matter how many malls you build, all of them are full...always! How??

Is there a need for another mega mall?!

Mirdiff needs i...and why shuld they have to travel across the city...add to the traffic to do some shopping...we need it!!!!

http://i15.tinypic.com/6bmjlo4.jpg

R

Dubai has enough malls! I think they shoul do away with some of the ones the already have!

One thing that i never understand.....no matter how many malls you build, all of them are full...always! How??

same reason u dont see most lwr/up middle class + rich ppl walking the streets of the city (except in marina or arnd safa park).

its too hot & humid and ppl want to hang out someplace

Majid issues mall tender
CONSTRUCTION UAE
18 May 2007

Companies have been invited to bid by 7 June for a shopping centre planned by Majid al-Futtaim Shopping Malls in the Mirdif district of Dubai.

The prospective bidders are the local Alec, the local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing O’Rourke, and the local/Australian Nasa Multiplex. The local Khansaheb Civil Engineering had been involved in a joint venture with Alec, but has withdrawn from the bidding process.

The project has a budget of AED 2,600 million ($708 million) and will involve the construction of a 500,000-square-metre mall offering 183,400 square metres of gross leasable area and 430 retail outlets with eight anchor stores, a 14-screen cinema and a food court. It will be located on the intersection of Emirates road and Tripoli street. Completion is scheduled for late 2009.

The UK’s Mace International is the project manager (MEED 23:3:07).

R

^^ Mace?? Wow!

Dubai has enough malls! I think they shoul do away with some of the ones the already have!

One thing that I never understand.....no matter how many malls you build, all of them are full...always! How??

When forward planning for occupancy levels of shopping malls one figure used is SQ FT of mall per capita. When you calculate Dubai's current fig it works out at less than Australia. When you add the projected tourist figures then it looks even rosier for the malls. However to include the tourist in the calculation he has to come back for a second and third visit to the country.!!! and Al Bawadi !!!!!Now THAT might be a problem.

Companies line up to build three giant shopping malls
CONSTRUCTION UAE
22 Jun 2007
Firms submit bids for schemes in Mirdif, Dubailand and Deira



Construction work is scheduled to start on three new shopping mall projects in Dubai by the end of 2007. Since late May, bids have been submitted by contractors for schemes in Mirdif, Dubailand and Deira.

At least three groups have submitted bids for the estimated AED 2,600 million ($708 million) contract to build the shopping centre planned by Majid al-Futtaim Shopping Malls in Mirdif. The bidders are Alec, Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises, both local, and the local/Australian Nasa Multiplex. Al-Habtoor was not one of the three original prequalifiers, but was invited to collect tender documents at the end of May.

The project involves the construction of a 500,000-square-metre mall offering 183,400 square metres of gross leasable area and 430 retail outlets with eight anchor stores, a 14-screen cinema and a food court. Completion is scheduled for late 2009. The UK’s Mace International is the project manager (MEED 18:5:07).

Contractors are also bidding for a larger shopping mall in Dubailand. In late May, Alec submitted a price for a much larger shopping mall at City of Arabia in Dubailand. The joint venture of the local Arabtec Construction, the local Lebanese Arabian Construction Company and the local Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construction was selected for the Mall of Arabia contract in September last year but the client, the local I&M Galadari, decided to seek fresh prices (MEED 8:6:07).

Negotiations with contractors are also under way for the contract to expand Al-Ghurair City. The project involves the construction of a hotel, apartments and retail space, which will connect to the existing development in Deira. The total built-up area is 230,000 square metres. US-based Turner Construction International is the project manager. The local Al-Ghurair Group is the client (MEED 4:5:07).

R

Alec wins Mirdif as Kuwait joins race for mega-malls
CONSTRUCTION REGIONAL
17 Aug 2007
The local Alec has won the estimated AED 2,600 million ($708 million) contract to build the Mirdif City Centre shopping mall planned by Majid al-Futtaim Shopping Malls.

The scheme is one of several huge mall projects being planned across the region, with Kuwait the latest to join the race to develop the largest mall.

The Mirdif project involves a 500,000-square-metre mall with 430 shops, including eight anchor stores, on the intersection of Emirates road and Tripoli street. Completion is scheduled for late 2009 (MEED 18:5:07).

The award is expected to rule Alec out of the even larger Mall of Arabia contract in Dubailand (MEED 10:8:07).

In Kuwait City, a 15-floor shopping mall is also being planned for the Salmiya district.

According to Sahud al-Metiri, owner and chief executive officer of Athoob Real Estate, the developer behind the scheme, the KD 70 million ($248 million) Meshari Mall will be built on a 22,000-square-metre plot, with 240,000 square metres available to lease.

Local architect Rakan al-Ajmi is designing the building with two foreign companies, which Al-Metiri declined to name. He says he expects planning permission to be granted in the next three to four months, and that companies will be invited to submit bids for the construction tenders from March 2008.

Athoob bought the plot on 13 August for KD 40 million ($141 million) from a Kuwaiti businesswoman. As part of the development, an existing mall on the plot will be demolished.

The largest shopping mall in the Gulf currently is Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, with 223,000 square metres available to lease.

R

It's huge!

http://www.alec.ae/Uploads/Images//Mirdif%20City%20Centre%20-%20Aerial%20View.jpg

http://www.alec.ae/Uploads/Images//Mirdif%20City%20Centre%20-%20Front%20View.jpg

http://www.alec.ae/Uploads/Images//2007_0829Image0007.JPG
Late August 2007

Thanks krazy, I will try to take more pics this weekend.

22/10/2007

Mirdif city centre, very big plot and too many workers.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3392/44928537wf8.jpg

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6738/32178860ld6.jpg

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1228/84190089ek2.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9089/59115087ub4.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5764/10564537bt6.jpg

WOW, it will have a Carrefour. :eek:



:D ;)

Don't all MAF malls have Carrefours? (another joint MAF venture)

Dont be silly...

Cool. Now I have somewhere local to go to passively smoke.

Dont be silly...

Are you talking to me? Becouse if you did "I have to point that right back at you". :D

16/11/2007

soon we will see it from emirates road.

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/8186/77525710tx5.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7837/15808039dp5.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6483/14456461qx8.jpg

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4144/54134995wv0.jpg

Dubai has enough malls! I think they shoul do away with some of the ones the already have!

One thing that i never understand.....no matter how many malls you build, all of them are full...always! How??Good point :tongue2:

Great Project in a great location

Dubai has tremendous spending power. ;)

friday 23/11/2007

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7052/10rf0.jpg

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/8717/11bb2.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2624/99180169pu9.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/6178/58637005br6.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/5627/36094402uy2.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/408/80175443di1.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/720/56008586tu4.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/194/62397168zi3.jpg

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6125/36523309kh7.jpg

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5522/61650933nr9.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7837/46005530ge0.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3563/12902247bn0.jpg

25/12/2007

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5663/img0755pg3.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/493/62973998bl3.jpg

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1096/76860743ig7.jpg

Friday 8/2/2008

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9906/img1366tr6.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2030/img1367sn8.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/499/img1370fk6.jpg

progress here is unbelievable ...........

friday 11/4/2008

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5472/img1462ws1.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6223/img1463vd0.jpg

Thnx alot dubai26 for shoots...

Dubai 26,
do you know by any chance whom to contact for leasing retail?

Many thanks in advance.

Majid Al Futaim Retail, probably.

Friday 27/6/2008

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8053/27062008013lw1.jpg


http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5319/27062008015cs7.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5407/27062008016ue0.jpg

http://xs128.xs.to/xs128/08265/27062008018454.jpg

Friday 27/6/2008

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8053/27062008013lw1.jpg


http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5319/27062008015cs7.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5407/27062008016ue0.jpg

http://xs128.xs.to/xs128/08265/27062008018454.jpg
please post new photos of the site

I will try this week end.

but please dont quote all the pictures in your post.

Friday 4/7/2008

http://xs229.xs.to/xs229/08275/04072008028238.jpg

http://xs329.xs.to/xs329/08275/04072008029710.jpg

I was looking for info on 'MIRDIF HILLS' by DIRC .Is there a thread here for this new project .If not ,how to start one???????????? :)

Mirdif City plans to adopt eco-friendly techniques

http://business24-7.ae/Articles/2008/8/PublishingImages/8_19_2008/eb24_mirdifcitycentre_19_small.jpg

Mirdif Centre will adopt Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Mirdif City Centre will be one of the first shopping centres in the region to adopt eco-friendly construction techniques, said the developer Majid Al Futtaim (MAF).

The centre will adopt Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) standards; a rating system developed by the US Green Building Council as the methodology to measure 'sustainability'.

In order to achieve this rating, the project has to comply with Leed protocols, both in terms of design tactics – to reduce energy and water demand – and in the construction phase, for sustainable procedures of waste management, recycling and material selection.

Green Technologies has been appointed by MAF as the Leed consultants for the project and will direct the design and building teams through the various stages.

Shahram Shamsaee, Senior Vice-President, Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls, said: "Mirdif City Centre is our flagship pilot scheme aiming to implement the Leed procedures and protocols therefore allowing us to witness the benefits of eco-friendly construction techniques. We have appointed the leaders in this field, Green Technologies, as specialist Leed consultants for the project and they are helping us in directing the design and building teams through the stages."

The green concepts that are being incorporated as core values at Mirdif City Centre include the use of materials, design forms and construction processes that minimise the negative impact on the environment.

This will help conserve natural resources as well as enhance and protect the environment.

Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls is paving the way for green malls in the region with contractors ALEC, project managers Mace and MEP consultants WSP Middle East.

22/aug/2008

Mirdiff City Centre

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3939/imresolt071td1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3889/imresolt074gj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1317/imresolt075kg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2047/imresolt077ma3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ You should have an oscar for best photographer on SCC :cheers:

6 Sep 2008

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2332/50404234uk8.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1446/92645325fy4.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8868/82848942jh6.jpg

C/U Sep 08

http://i36.tinypic.com/2uos0zr.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/e6qds7.jpg

Friday 5 DEC 2008

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/6286/10944893xs8.jpg

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/8352/87189718zl0.jpg

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/2662/18789478xs1.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/8394/51304674or8.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/oumezn.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/vwu23q.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/ejh735.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/2ji91d.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/2cdwcnc.jpg

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/540287-green-shopping

i hope nothing about on hold right here !

8 august 2008

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/0/8/2/1395280.jpg

what are those International-City-like buildings in the pic?

^^ Mirdif gate project.

^^ Freehold?

Any updates on the project.

Friday 7/3/2009

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1117/61854647.jpg

Mirdif complex closer to completion

Published: April 09, 2009, 12:15

By Nadeem Hanif, Staff Reporter

Dubai’s latest landmark is taking shape as work on a Dh2.6-billion mall edges closer to completion.

This is the first glimpse inside the cavernous Mirdif City Centre shopping and leisure complex that developer Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) hopes will become a magnet for people living in the sprawling community nearby and further afield.
Work on the ambitious project began in August 2007 and is due to be completed in around 12 months time.

Despite the gloom surrounding the economic crisis, MAF remains in bullish mood that the scheme will see out the downturn in a strong position.

Richard Reid, senior vice president for development at MAF, said the firm’s other centre’s – Mall of Emirates and Deira City Centre – continued to be hugely successful.

He said: “We have a long-term vision for all our malls. Obviously 2009 is going to be different from 2008.

“We are in the real world with supply and demand and as market leaders that is what counts. We are facing tough competition but that is the kind of situation we want to be in because it raises our game and makes us better at what we do.”

To support his argument, Reid told media during a tour of the site, that the size of the estimated catchment growth would be 718,000 people by next year.

He said: “The corridor from Mirdif into Dubai centre is very important and it’s an area we expect growth over the coming years.

“Our vision is for Mirdif City Centre mall to be the hub for the community.

“That is why we have set aside a large space, which can be hired out to local groups and associations for activities and have included things like medical clinics and gyms.

“If you look at the strategic location we occupy in the north east corridor, we are connected to two major highways – Emirates Road and Tripoli Street.”

The developer showed off floors lined with polished granite imported from Brazil and the large centre court that will be filled with international retailers.

The court will be topped with a glass roof to allow natural light to illuminate the interior.

People living in the nearby suburb will have their own dedicated road linking directly to the centre’s 7,000 plus car parking spaces.

In all, there are 196,000 square metres of shopping space. The majority of this will be leased out to 430 shops.

So far 90 per cent of the places have been taken. Twenty five have already been handed over with the rest to follow by July 30 although a few spaces will be held back.

It will also feature over 60 restaurants, two food courts and food precincts, a 10-screen multiplex cinema and a Carrefour hypermarket.

Other big names that have signed up include Debenhams, Zara and Home Centre.

Families along with young expats and nationals with high disposable incomes are the core customers the developer wants to attract.

As well as the shopping there will be entertainment zones including Soccer Circus, an area where people can try out their football skills in interactive computer games.

People will also be able to experience the sensation of flight by being floated on a cushion of air created by a powerful fan.

Shahram Shamsaee, MAF’s senior vice president for shopping malls, said: “We deliberately decided not to design the mall around a theme because that dates very quickly.

“This is a modern design that will not look dated in a few years.”

http://www.xpress4me.com/news/uae/dubai/20012868.html

http://i39.tinypic.com/25s2wle.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/opbn8h.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2vjzqk2.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/204mj8.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/1ows2q.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/s6oara.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/vwziuq.jpg
http://www.xpress4me.com/photos/gallery.jsp?article=/channels/xpress4me_com/news/uae/dubai/20012868.html&index=1&referer=/channels/xpress4me_com/news/uae/dubai/20012868.html

http://i40.tinypic.com/27wyx6p.jpg

Dubai's first Leed Gold shopping mall

by Gerhard Hope Apr 8, 2009

The new Mirdif City Centre shopping mall, from developer Majid Al Futtaim Properties, will be rated Leed Gold upon completion – the first time a major new shopping mall in Dubai has achieved this recognition.

It will also set a new benchmark for mall development in Dubai by being “100% complete” when it opens at the end of the first quarter in 2010.

“Shoppers are tired of going into a new shopping mall that is effectively still a construction site. We are setting a new standard in construction,” Majid Al Futtaim Properties development senior VP Richard Reid said at a press briefing to update progress on the flagship project today.

Leed Gold is the second-highest rung on the ratings ladder, which measures the environmental friendliness of buildings.

Mirdif City Centre will therefore join an elite new class of top-rated construction projects in Dubai, including the 73-storey Dubai Pearl in New Dubai (http://www.constructionweekonline.com//article/viewArticle/4384) overlooking the Palm Jumeirah, which is also aiming for Leed Gold.

The main contractor on the project is Al Jaber LEGT Engineering & Contracting (ALEC). The MEP consultant is WSP, while the MEP sub-contractor is ETA.

The centre will have its own district cooling plant and sub-station, while the architecture – by RTKL of the UK and Holfords Associates of Dubai – emphasises passive-design elements, like natural light and ventilation and minimal use of glass so as to reduce the heat load. A critical element of the layout will be a strong focus on interior landscaping, said Reid.

Commenting on the timing of launching Mirdif City Centre during a global recession, Reid said the project was nearly fours in the planning stage, while the site itself had been acquired by the Majid Al Futtain Group about 11 years ago.

“We knew the site was located strategically at the base of a major urban growth corridor,” argued Reid. He added that the group’s foresight has been vindicated by the fact that the primary trading area will reach 718,000 people by 2010, up from a projected 530,000 people two years ago.

Mirdif City Centre will have parking space for 7250 cars, spread over three decks on three sides of the mall. It will also incorporate 12 entry and exit points so as to avoid any traffic congestion in the area by integrating the mall seamlessly with the surrounding road network.

Another prominent feature of the project is that it will also be integrated with the surrounding community. “A community-focused super-regional shopping mall might seem a contradiction in terms, but we are aiming for an active social hub like Deira City Centre and The Mall of the Emirates, both examples of how a community can embrace a shopping mall,” commented Reid.

The focus on family activities will be catered for with such unique offerings as Soccer City, comprising indoor interactive football games and skills challenges, edutainment courtesy of La Cite Des Science et de L’Industrie-Paris, and iFly from Sky Venture International. The latter will comprise two identical flight simulation chambers, powered by a jet engine in the basement.

Aquaplay will provide a water-based interactive version of the popular Magic Planet concept. Reid predicted that iFly will become the major ‘destination event’ of Mirdif City Centre, as Ski Dubai is at Mall of the Emirates.

“The mall is 90% let at present, and we expect to reach full occupancy by July this year. A total of 25 retail units have already been handed over for fit-out,” said Reid. Mirdif City Centre will accommodate 430 retailers, with eight anchor stores. “At 196 000 m2, it will be one of the biggest shopping malls in our portfolio, comparable to The Mall of the Emirates,” said Reid.

http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-4866-dubais_first_leed_gold_shopping_mall/

http://i41.tinypic.com/2cork79.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2uxwjgk.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/t5jgoh.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/2h3ze44.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/t71miw.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/35alm4y.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/wbpg1z.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/2dvifix.jpg
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/pics-4867-mirdif_city_centre/0

I think this mall could be successful, cause it offers things like Sky divng, and will also have a Carrefour. And wherever careffour goes, alot of customers also go.

RTA: Endorses Construction of Mirdiff City Center-Bound Bridges Costing AED184m

Dubai (United Arab Emirates): The Board of Directors of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), chaired by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board & Executive Director of RTA, endorsed the award of a Contract to construct Mirdiff City Center-Bound Bridges at a cost of Dh184 million to be borne by Majid Al Futtaim Co.
“The Project is meant to provide entry & exit points to Mirdiff City Center from all directions by capitalizing on the existing bridges & slopes in addition to constructing new bridges. The project has been designed with a view to providing direct entry points to the Center from various spots of the multi-level parking lot in the direction of Emirates Road and Tripoli Road” said Al Tayer.
He added: “The Project comprises construction of a three-lane bridge for the traffic bound to the Center from Rashidiya, and another bridge to serve traffic bound to the Center from Tripoli Road”.
It is note-worthy that the total area of “Mirdiff City Center” project is 196,000 square meters providing a space to house 430 outlets. The Center has a unique collection of about 180 new brands and provides ample space for recreational facilities within the complex.
The Center has access points and parking facilities to accommodate 7000 vehicles in a 3-level parking lot which is fitted with 12 entry & exit points at various levels of the car park.
Mirdiff City Center will house special community areas, clinics, SPA, personal care facilities, and a gym. It has unique recreational and fun facilities spanning an area in excess of 20,000 square meters which include a special kids fun learning center, an internal aviation center (I Fly), a 12-lane bowling center, a football circus, kids water games court, and a cinema complex comprising 10 halls constructed at the highest international standards.


http://i43.tinypic.com/1z1wzgj.jpg

(RTA)

Here's a video on how this mall looks from the inside.
http://www.ameinfo.com/199220.html

Client : Majid Al Futtaim Group (MAF)

Actual Value: 650m USD

Contractors: MEP Contractor: WSP Group

Main Contractor: ALEC

Consultants: Main Consultant: Mace Group (Project Manager)

Main Consultant: Holford Associates (Architects Consultant)

Project Type: Shopping Center

Project Duration:

From: Q1 2008 Estimated
To: Q1 2010 Estimated

Status: Construction

Scope: The project calls for construction of Mirdif City Centre located Mirdif. Mirdif City Centre comprises around 300,000 square metre of gross floor area spread over a service basement ground, and 1st floor. The mall contains 450 shops with adjacent 3 level parking for over 7000 cars and is anchored by a Carrefour hypermarket, a Magic Planet Entertainment zone which will contain the fabulous Air Kicks sky diving experience as well as indoor 5-a-side football pitches.

Schedule: MACE group is the project manager. WSP Middle East was awarded the MEP contract. Al Jaber L.E.G.T Engineering & Contracting (ALEC) L.L.C was awarded the main construction contract in 2007. Construction is in progress and expected to be completed in early of 2010.

Mirdif City Centre carpark 90pc ready

Mirdif City Centre, the upcoming flagship shopping mall of Majid Al Futtaim Group, has announced that work on its 272,000 sq m car park which can accomodate 7,000 vehicles, is almost 90 per cent complete.

Strategically located around the mall, parking at the new City Centre has been designed to offer customers superior convenience and unrivalled access to and from Emirates Road and Tripoli Street.

There are 12 entries and exits that lead visitors in and out of different levels of its car parks, said a company statement.

Once inside the car park, provisions have been made for 17 mall entrances to lead shoppers into the mall and the signage is a simple mix of colour coding levels and row numbers to assist in easy recall of where their vehicles are parked.

Yousif Al Ali, vice president of Mirdif City Centre said, 'Our most important consideration when designing a mall car park should be ease of use. The hard work should be in designing and constructing the car park, not using it.'

'To have a great looking structure in place and an eye-catching interior may be desirable, but it’s no good if people can’t find their way around easily,' he noted.

“Simplicity is the answer,” he added. 'We want to make sure that our customers only walk a short distance to get into the mall, that their vehicle is easy to find and that the entrances and exits are clearly marked,' Al Ali noted.

'The welfare of our shoppers has always been our number one priority. We are totally committed to making sure when they come to any Majid Al Futtaim shopping centre they are safe and secure,' he added.

With 430 outlets, Mirdif City Centre is the next super regional shopping mall set to embrace Dubai in the spring of 2010. It is being developed by the Majid Al Futtaim Group, the leading retail and leisure pioneer in the Greater Middle East.

Majid Al Futtaim Leisure to create a splash with Aquaplay

http://www.ameinfo.com/images/news/large/9/86609-Aqua.gif


Majid Al Futtaim Leisure will be combining fun, education and confidence building with their new water-based 'edutainment' recreation facility to open at Mirdif City Centre.

A unique concept designed and developed by the company to push the boundaries of in-mall entertainment, Aquaplay looks set to make a big splash with children of all ages.

But visitors don't need to get wet from head to toe with the roll-your-sleeves-up entertainment, which is also designed for fun in water no deeper than an arm's length.

Aquaplay was conceived to mix learning with pleasure, featuring interactive 'aquatraptions' aimed at 2 to 8 year olds. Silvio Liedtke, General Manager, FEC, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, described the facility as a one-of-a-kind facility.

"We are all extremely proud of Aquaplay. This was a Majid Al Futtaim Leisure project from concept to completion and it has taken a great deal of vision and hard work to bring this together. There has always been the scope to create an environment where children can interact with water without being completely submerged in it and we have taken it upon ourselves to realise that potential. It's the perfect way for children to build confidence around water,"



he added.

Due to open in the first quarter of 2010, Aquaplay features running and still water throughout. It incorporates the marine themes of sandy beaches and palm trees along with an ambient cool blue and sandy beige colour scheme. An offshore sailing feel is provided courtesy of ropes and rigging and the conceptual atmosphere is completed by its own colourful cast of characters, the 'Aquapals,' skippered by the nautical Captain Splash. Pure entertainment attractions include a two-ramp/two-chute indoor flume ride, a tug boat swing ship and a dedicated pool for 12 bumper boats.

But in addition to all the fun to be had, there are also valuable lessons that the facility will impart. The Aquapals emphasise the importance of sea life and also educate children on water awareness. And at the heart of Aquaplay will be region's first Aquatraptions area, where visitors can fully interact with water, experience the dynamics of water or really get going in the Mad Lab while they discover the way the mechanics of the centre work.

To top it all off, Aquaplay will be the host to the region's first gemstone digging facility that encourages inquisitiveness as children look to uncover hidden treasures, take them home and learn about the very essence of the build up of our planet.

http://www.ameinfo.com/210337-large.html

Mirdif City Centre on track for Mar 2010 opening

by Soren Billing on Wednesday, 04 November 2009

Mirdif City Centre, a new shopping mall in Dubai, is on track to open on March 16 next year, developer Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) has said.

Over 90 percent of the mall’s retailers are on schedule to open their stores on the first day of business.

“We are on schedule to have over 350 store fit-outs complete a month before the mall actually opens, along with the surrounding road network scheduled for completion early March,” said Shahram Shamsaee, senior vice president of asset management at Majid Al Futtaim Properties.

Related: IN PICS: Inside Mirdif City Center mall (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index2.php?option=com_gallery&id=572453)

Mirdif City Centre will be the group’s first mall in the north-eastern corridor of Dubai, and its third in the emirate, where it also operates Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre.

Retailcorp chief executive told Arabian Business on Thursday that the company is also targeting north-eastern Dubai, which it believes is underserved by retailers, and said launching a hypermarket on Nakheel’s stalled Palm Deira project was a priority for the firm.

In a sign that non-retail attractions are increasingly important for Dubai’s shopping malls, Mirdif City Centre will include a 25,000 sq m entertainment area, featuring iFLY Dubai, an indoor sky-diving centre; Soccer Circus, an interactive football attraction; and Aquaplay, a water-based recreation facility.

The mall will have a gross leasable area of 196,000 sq m, which will house 430 stores.

Anchor stores include Carrefour, Cinestar Cinemas, Debenhams, Emax, Centrepoint and Home Centre.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/572439-mirdif-city-center-on-track-for-mar-2010-opening

Ski Dubai creators set up new entertainment brand

by Shane McGinley on Wednesday, 11 November 2009

The creators of Ski Dubai have launched a new leisure umbrella brand in Dubai in a bid to develop more innovative entertainment projects and attract overseas leisure concepts to the region.

Majid Al Futtaim Leisure (MAFL) has created the Playnation brand and its first project will be the 12,000 square metres area at the upcoming Mirdif City Centre mall.

MAFL’s portfolio under the new Playnation umbrella includes Magic Planet, which is in currently in 9 locations around the region and will be expanded to a tenth next year. The Mall of the Emirate’s Ski Dubai, which has already been replicated in Madrid and New York, may also be developed further.

Craig Hart, vice president of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, told Arabian Business that the company was currently evaluating opportunities to expand the Ski Dubai concept around the region.

The anchor attraction at Mirdif City Centre will be iFLY Dubai, an indoor skydiving centre brought to the region from the US.

Other attractions already launched include Soccer Circus, a football skills concept; Cite des Enfants, a French-designed interactive learning experience created in conjunction with one of the most visited science museums in the world; and Aquaplay, a water based interactive centre for children.

The latest brand announced is Yalla! Bowling, a 12 lane cosmic ten pin bowling attraction featuring advanced video simulation and video games.

In terms of future growth, Hart said the MAFL was currently evaluating “a couple” of concepts around the world and was looking at “bringing some exciting products to the region”.

“I’d love to do a theme park but… the heat, climate and environment are very important factors,” he added.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/573147-ski-dubai-creators-set-up-new-entertainment-brand

Dubai's newest mall reaches out to the greater community

* United Arab Emirates: 15 hours, 31 minutes ago
* PRESS RELEASE

Mirdif City Centre, the next super regional shopping mall to embrace Dubai in 2010, will be much more than a shopping, leisure and entertainment destination when it opens its doors in March next year. The newest City Centre is dedicated to the greater community of Dubai with provisions for wide-ranging facilities that include a fitness centre, salon, spas, community room and medical clinics.

To help the community maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle, Mirdif City Centre will have its very own Fitness First, the number one global fitness company, equipped with the state-of-the-art machines, highly trained fitness professionals and an indoor swimming pool.

Arrangements have also been made with top names in salon, spa and nail bar to provide that much needed pampering and TLC for the mall's female clientele. Tilia & Finn and Sisters Beauty Lounge - two distinctive beauty salons, along with Lily Pond - a leading Indonesian nail bar, have come on board to do just that.

The gentlemen will also have their fair share of exclusive facilities with a dedicated grooming lounge by 1847 along with baby changing room facilities for fathers equipped with a changing station, disposable changing mats, wash basin and nappy vending machine.

"The primary focus of Mirdif City Centre is its community and we're going to great lengths to ensure we have a range of amenities to cater to their needs that are beyond shopping and leisure. The fitness centre, salons, and medical clinics are exclusive conveniences that will be seen for the first time in a Majid Al Futtaim Properties mall in the UAE. Mirdif City Centre will be the centre of the greater community in the true sense of the word," said Yousif Al Ali, Vice-President of Mirdif City Centre.

Family and friends can come together for a super enjoyable evening at Playnation, a single dedicated leisure and entertainment destination at the mall that has lined up unique and innovative entertaining concepts. From fans of soccer that will have a chance to hone their skills at the Soccer Circus and a state-of-the-art Yalla! bowling to the adrenaline packed indoor skydiving centre iFLY Dubai, there is something for everyone.

Provisions have also been made for a community room that can be utilised to host community events and activities. Complete with restrooms, storage, office room and kitchen/pantry facilities, the community room of Mirdif City Centre will soon also be the latest and most convenient venue of choice for the community's events.

Mirdif City Centre is in the process of achieving a LEED Gold rating for the building's design and construction. This commitment to the environment will continue as it initiates various green programmes that will engage the community once the mall starts operation.

http://www.ameinfo.com/220070.html

MAF Properties widens the retail canvas

Super-mall Mirdif City Centre set for full-scale launch in March

* Deepthi Nair, Sub Editor
* Published: 00:00 January 1, 2010

http://i48.tinypic.com/2v8jrcz.jpg
* On completion, Mirdif City Centre will boast of 196,000 square metres of retail space

* Image Credit: Supplied

Majid Al Futtaim : Properties sure knows a thing or two about creating a destination. Its Deira City Centre and Mall of the Emirates have been favourites for the resident and the visitor alike right through the Noughties.

It now intends to expand the choice further at the turn of the new decade with the full-scale launch of its Mirdif City Centre in March. Billed as a ‘super-regional mall', the property will play host to 430 retail outlets, of which a sizeable 200 or so are new to the region.

This will take the MAF Group's gross leasable area in Dubai to a massive six million square feet. Capital investments in Mirdif City Centre are estimated at Dh3 billion.

"We are on schedule to have over 350 store fit-outs completed a month before the mall opens on March 6, along with the surrounding road network scheduled for completion early March," informs Shahram Shamsaee, senior vice-president for asset management, MAF Group.

Despite a few retailers cancelling their contracts during March and April last year, the developer managed to re-let much of that space. Around 380 to 400 tenants are preparing their fit-outs now. Non-committal about lease rates, the mall officials suggested that rents of anchor and in-line stores vary, depending on the unit size, location and margins.

With MAF Properties having commenced leasing in 2006, retailers are likely to re-negotiate for lower rentals now. "You get the odd request for reduced rentals, consumer expenditure is down in the entire region," Shamsaee lets on. "However, the number of customers visiting a shopping centre has not significantly shifted, they only spend less money now.

"Competitive sales have been generated from all our centres."

By way of location, Mirdif makes perfect commercial sense. There is an expanding population base, and a slew of mid- to upscale residential projects in and around the vicinity will offer Mirdif City Centre the ideal catchment area.

"There will be no first-line luxury brands in Mirdif, that's more concentrated in the Mall of the Emirates," Shamsaee adds. "The Mirdif City Centre is targeted more at the middle and rich segments."

The mall promoters are pinning their hopes on repeat visits from Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates to boost sales over the weekends.

Competition from the other retail clusters in the neighbourhood such as Arabian Centre and Uptown Mirdif should pose no threat to the newcomer, MAF officials believe.

For one, Mirdif City Centre has scale in its favour with 196,000 square metres dedicated to retail.

Despite a slowing tourism and the dip in the disposable incomes of residents during 2009, MAF officials are bullish on the Mirdif City Centre. "You develop large shopping centres not to cover a one-year cycle, these are long-term assets," emphasises Shamsaee.

"Once we get past 2009 and look forward, the future is very bright. We do significant studies on sales impact, population, trends, disposable income, etc, before we invest and build centres of this size. All the fundamentals for why we built it in this location are still intact."

The Mirdif City Centre is not just for the shopaholics alone. Entertainment and leisure pursuits get their fair due in terms of representation with a combined area of 25,000 square metres. The property will boast the largest indoor entertainment facility in the region and feature a substantial 7,000 parking spaces.

Among privately owned corporate houses in the UAE, the MAF Group can be rated a pioneer in expanding its base across a wide geographical base. Currently operating nine flagship malls in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt, MAF has set its eyes on projects in Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. "Fourteen projects will take our gross leasable space from approximately 750,000 sq metres in 2009 to over 2.2 million by 2015," says Peter Walichnowski, CEO, MAF Group.

The company is in discussions with landowners in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia to develop mixed-use ventures. A joint venture with Mubadala Development will see the group opening a super-regional shopping centre in the UAE capital.

With the Egyptian market remaining immune to the depressed sentiments, the MAF Group's malls in Alexandria and Maadi are returning double-digit returns, the CEO adds. MAF is now planning a third shopping centre, the Mall of Egypt in Cairo. The project is still in the schematic design phase.

The group is developing the Sohar City Centre in Oman, the Fujairah City Centre, as well as one in Lebanon with a gross leasable area of 60,000 square metres.

The group is also pumping Dh20 million into re-marketing existing assets. The new expansion to Mall of the Emirates will include an additional 40 new stores spread over 10,500 square metres of gross leasable area for retailers. Work is also on to complete a 450-room Pullman Hotel.

http://gulfnews.com/business/property/maf-properties-widens-the-retail-canvas-1.557554

11/03/2010

http://i44.tinypic.com/20ij69x.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2db71g0.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2po1fzq.jpg

It's ready now, they are cleaning the area around the mall.

I'm so glad about this. Even now, far away in England, I have many sleepless nights thinking about how there are not enough shopping malls in Dubai to serve everyone and the plight of those poor people who live a huge 500 yards away from one - and now the blessed residents of Mirdiffshire get their very own. Splendid.

^^ You're just jealous you didn't got the opportunity when you're living there :devil:

Majid Al Futtaim Properties is aiming to attract 20 million visitors a year to its newly opened Mirdif City Center, the CEO of the developer told Arabian Business on Tuesday.

“We would expect to get 20 million people a year through Mirdif City Center,” Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said at the opening of the new AED3bn ($816.8m) mall in Dubai.

The latest addition to Dubai’s shopping landscape has 196,000 sq m of gross leaseable area, more than Mall of the Emirates, another of Majid Al Futtaim Properties’ retail developments.

Around 85 percent of the stores, which include brands such as Debenhams, Fitness First, Pottery Barn, American Eagle, Miss Selfridge, Freedom Furniture, Decathlon and Office Depot, opened on Tuesday and it is expected that 95 percent of the retail outlets will be open within four to six weeks.

Walichnowski said 100 percent of the retail space had deliberately not been sold to keep space aside for future retailers entering the market.

“It is not 100% leased. We have held back units for retailers who are not yet in the region. One of the problems we have in Dubai is once you lease out the store it is very hard to get it back as the tenant has the right to stay as long as they keep paying the rent, even if their lease expires.

“So we have kept back about 20 to 30 shops out of the 430 to give us the flexibility of having space when new retailers come into the market,” he said.

The mall is located off the Emirates Road and the target market and Walichnowski said the target market was the 450,000 residents living in the immediate area.

“It’s targeted towards the residential population. We are not going upmarket in terms of having high a degree of luxury goods. It is very middle market in terms of retail offer and is also got a lifestyle component that is attractive for residents,” he added.

The star attraction will be the iFLY Dubai indoor skydiving centre, which is due to open in a few days. Other facilities include a 15 square metre Carrefour hypermarket, a Cinestar cinema, Soccer Circus, Aquaplay water-based entertainment facility and Yalla! Bowling centre.

The mall generated 16,000 jobs during its development and construction and is due to create 5,500 permanent jobs when it is fully operational.

Walichnowski also added that Majid Al Futtaim Properties are planning to open ten more malls in the Middle East and North Africa region, focusing on the GCC countries, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.

www.arabianbusiness.com%2F583855-new-mirdif-city-centre-eyes-20m-visitors-a-year

20million vistors per year ? keep on dreaming !

20million vistors per year ? keep on dreaming !

easily, ME has a much higher footfall for retail than anywhere on earth

Yeah, and it has a Carrefour. Anything with a Carrefour always brings in alot of customers.

I agree , Al Futtaims have the best malls in Dubai , MOE,Festival City Mall,Deira City Centre , they know the business very well, Emaar should learn from them , Marina Mall still empty and still no cinema..

^^ Personally, i think that this mall is going to do quite well and won't have any trouble achieving or exceeding its targets.

yeah, and if they connect it with the metro than they can easily exceed 25 million.
btw, why haven't the press releases mention Festival City as an Al Futtaim mall?

Just came back from the mall; i have to say that its really nice and somewhat reminiscent of MOE in terms of flooring and internal deco. Glad to see a lot of new brands there as well.

Oh, and from the Rashidiya Metro station, there are dedicated buses just for the mall.

^^ Thats great. I'm going to check it out tomorrow.

I was there too, very nice design and interior and too many people.

^^ First day craze ;)

I really like the whole Play Nation concept; i think its going to become a signature thing in all their future projects.

US brand Gymboree to open first Mideast store

by Joanne Bladd on Tuesday, 16 March 2010

http://i44.tinypic.com/5lyku9.jpg

US children’s clothing brand Gymboree will open its first stores in the newly-launched Mirdif City Center in the third quarter of this year, Arabian Business has learned.

The kids fashion chain will join US brands American Eagle Outfitters and home furnishing store Pottery Barn in opening its first Middle Eastern store in Dubai’s newest mall.

Gymboree last week announced a deal with Lebanese retail giant Azadea Group Holding to franchise its stores across the Middle East, its first entry into the region.

The multi-year deal between the US chain and Azadea G, the fashion arm of Azadea Group, will see the first Gymboree stores open in Dubai later this year, before spreading out across the Gulf.

In a statement, the CEO of Azadea Group Holding, Said Daher, said he was confident the chain would appeal to the local market.

“We are confident that the combination of quality and fashion this renowned brand brings to the children's clothing market will be well received across the region. The wheels are set in motion and, this coming fall, our customers in Dubai will be able to experience the uniqueness of Gymboree products,” he said.

Beirut-based Azadea Group operates 350 stores across the Middle East, with a retail portfolio that spans more than 30 international brands and includes Mango, Pull and Bear, Maxmara and Stradivarius.

Gymboree, which sells clothes and accessories for newborns to 12-year-olds, operates more than 630 retail stores in its primary markets of the US and Canada, as well as more than 600 ‘Play and Music’ centers targeted at babies and children up to the age of five.

>> Arabian Business (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/583800-us-childrens-clothing-brand-gymboree-to-open-first-mideast-store)

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/gallery/mirdiffcitycentre_2_gallery.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/gallery/mirdiffcitycentre_1_gallery.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/gallery/mirdiffcitycentre_3_gallery.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/gallery/mirdiffcitycentre_4_gallery.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/gallery/mirdiffcitycentre_5_gallery.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/gallery/mirdiffcitycentre_6_gallery.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/gallery/mirdiffcitycentre_7_gallery.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/gallery/mirdiffcitycentre_8_gallery.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/portrait/mirdiffcitycentre_9_portrait.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/portrait/mirdiffcitycentre_10_portrait.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/portrait/mirdiffcitycentre_11_portrait.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/portrait/mirdiffcitycentre_12_portrait.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/images/content/mridiff_city_centre/portrait/mirdiffcitycentre_13_portrait.jpg

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/gallery/14147-mirdif-city-center-opens?

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/mirdif-mall-1.598588!image/3834054413.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_475/3834054413.jpg

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/mirdif-mall-1.598591!image/285712845.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_475/285712845.jpg

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/mirdif-mall-1.598597!image/3081480486.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_475/3081480486.jpg

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/mirdif-mall-1.598599!image/744982653.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_475/744982653.jpg

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/mirdif-mall-1.598596!image/1453841181.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_475/1453841181.jpg

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/mirdif-mall-1.598604!image/2922848172.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_475/2922848172.jpg

http://gulfnews.com/business/general/mirdif-city-centre-in-dubai-opens-to-the-public-1.598537

yeah, and if they connect it with the metro than they can easily exceed 25 million.
btw, why haven't the press releases mention Festival City as an Al Futtaim mall?

Dubai Festival City is owned by Abdullah Al Futtaim and sons, the group that owns the Toyota, Honda, Chrsley, Marks and spenser dealerships, he is Majid Al Futtaims (which owns MAF Malls.....MOE, Deira CC) cousin but do not share any business ties anymore

http://i44.tinypic.com/2z57qc8.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/m92b14.jpg
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-7851-aed3bn-mirdif-city-centre-opens-on-time/

Video: Mirdiff City Center (http://gulfnews.com/gntv/business/mirdiff-city-center-opens-1.598855)

DONE! :D

And DUSTED! :D

Dubai School Children Unveil New Hamleys Store at Mirdif City Centre

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MJP0UXD31gE/S6JMVP7WhwI/AAAAAAAAnoQ/WzC-8cNGgTw/s400/Mirdiff+City+Centre++(4).jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MJP0UXD31gE/S6JMU4Cl-eI/AAAAAAAAnoI/LYSsuTAd_7Y/s400/Mirdiff+City+Centre++(3).jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MJP0UXD31gE/S6JMUn1qlTI/AAAAAAAAnoA/l9agbcAQYjA/s400/Mirdiff+City+Centre++(2).jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MJP0UXD31gE/S6JMUbWg_HI/AAAAAAAAnn4/U5YiQbIaQ4M/s400/Mirdiff+City+Centre+.jpg


Dubai, March 17th, 2010: Hamleys, the world-famous toy retailer, yesterday )March 16th, 2010) announced the opening of its second store in the UAE located at the Mirdif City Centre. Eight winners from a nationwide drawing competition to “draw your favourite toy”, were invited, along with their classmates to participate in the opening parade, with winners each receiving a AED 500 gift voucher to spend within the store as well as seeing their drawings enlarged and framed as a permanent feature within the store.

The official opening began with a parade of children led by the Hamleys bear and band towards the Hamleys store where they were greeted by live radio DJ and Hamleys staff giving out party bags. Within the new interactive store, a replica of a red double-decker London bus was unveiled, as children explored the 22,000 square foot store which features a chrome race track where kids can test the latest remote control cars, a Girls World Doll house and a Disney cinema, as well as all their favourite quality toys, synonymous with Hamleys Stores. The new store also features a Hamleys Party Room, which offers customized birthday parties complete with a play area featuring a bouncy castle and bicycle track.

http://imredubai.blogspot.com/2010/03/dubai-school-children-unveil-new.html

Children's bedroom brand to open second store in Dubai

by Elsa Baxter on Sunday, 21 March 2010

Turkish retailer of custom-made children’s bedroom furniture ÇILEK is opening its second store in Mirdif City Centre next month.

According to a statement on Sunday, the company will open its new store on April 15.

The brand, operated by Alghanim Industries, is already based in Ibn Battuta mall, where it opened an outlet in January.

The firm’s newest bedroom set, called the Bi Turbo Room, based on a garage theme will be available for the first time in Dubai at the new store.

According to the statement, the bed in the shape of a car, has working headlights, mock ceramic brakes and door handles, while the drawers are shaped like a fuel pump.

The brand was first introduced to Kuwait by Alghanim in 2008. The firm plans to open more than 20 stores throughout the Gulf region.

>> ArabianBusiness (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/584200-childrens-bedroom-brand-to-open-second-store-in-dubai)

British chocolate brand launches first UAE store

by Elsa Baxter on Thursday, 25 March 2010

http://i39.tinypic.com/14l7a7r.jpg
STORE FIRST: Hotel Chocolat has announced the launch of its first store in the UAE. (Supplied)

Ethical British cocoa grower Hotel Chocolat has announced the launch of its first store in the UAE at Dubai’s newest mall.

The luxury chocolatier, exclusively distributed in the region by Bahrain-based Jawad Business Group will open a store in Mirdif City Center.

“Chocolate has and, we hope, always will be one source of pleasure that no one can resist. We are delighted to introduce our contemporary, innovative and ethical chocolate to Dubai, said Lynn Cunningham, international partner director.

Hotel Chocolat's cocoa plantation in St Lucia employs local labour under its unique Engaged Ethics programme.

The store will offer the brand’s latest products from its 'Iconic Slabs'and 'Liquid Chocolat' ranges.

>> ArabianBusiness (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/584546-british-chocolate-brand-launches-first-uae-store)

Indoor skydiving facility opens at Mirdif City Centre

The facility uses transparent acrylic tubes powered by two gigantic 400 horsepower fans to allow users to ride a current of air

# Staff Report
# Published: 00:00 April 2, 2010

http://i39.tinypic.com/2noozk.jpg
* iFly Dubai is the first public indoor skydiving facility in the Middle East.

* Image Credit: Supplied Picture

Dubai: iFly Dubai, the region's first public indoor skydiving centre, was opened yesterday at Mirdif City Centre.

iFly Dubai is part of the newly-opened mall's Playnation, a dedicated leisure and entertainment destination that uses innovative wind tunnel technology that allows participants to experience the thrill of free falling without jumping from an aeroplane.

The facility uses transparent acrylic tubes powered by two gigantic 400 horsepower fans to allow users to ride a current of air. Winds in the tunnel could reach up to 200km/h.

Ahmad Esmail, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Ventures, said: "iFly Dubai is unlike anything ever experienced by the UAE public before. This exhilarating and unique attraction from Majid Al Futtaim Leisure is a safe and exciting way to feel human flight and allows all the family to have a go at sky diving without any prior experience.

"With highly-trained instructors on hand to teach participants everything they need to know for the thrill of a lifetime, we are confident that this fantastic leisure attraction will become a much talked about highlight of not just the emirates, but of the region as well. Surpassing expectations and continually raising the bar within mall-based leisure facilities is a key objective for Majid Al Futtaim Leisure and we are delighted to be welcoming customers to iFly Dubai."

The facility is safe for kids, challenging for adults, exciting for teens and realistic for skydivers.

GulfNews (http://gulfnews.com/sport/other-sports/indoor-skydiving-facility-opens-at-mirdif-city-centre-1.606774)

Majid al Futtaim Properties' latest development , has broken customer footfall records with over one million visitors in the first three weeks, and more than 76,000 customers visiting on the first day of trading.

The mall's opening on March 16th attracted crowds of visitors eager to see Mirdif City Center's new stores, leisure and entertainment options on a day that set a new benchmark for shopping mall openings in the region. The excitement hasn't stopped as people have continued to flock to the new destination.

Yousif Al Ali, Vice President of Mirdif City Centre, said: "We always knew that the launch of Mirdif City Centre would be big, but to get over a million customers in the first three weeks is quite exceptional - these numbers are a testament to the excellent retail mix, dining options and never-seen-before leisure attractions that Mirdif City Centre offers."

Mirdif City Centre opened to much anticipation with over 85% of retailers open for business from day one. Amongst these retailers are new to the region Pottery Barn, Miss Selfridge, American Eagle, Decathalon, and Office Depot, as well as anchor tenants such as Debenhams, Homecentre, Forever 21 and an impressive 11,000 sqm Carrefour.

Nicolas Allan, General Manager at Carrefour Mirdif City Centre said: "During the first 5 days alone, more than 200,000 visitors came to the new Carrefour, and there to welcome them was our 700 strong team. Customers were greeted with a range of great promotions and more than 45, 000 regular items."

M.H. Alshaya Co., one of the Middle East's leading retailers, reinforced the positive reception of consumers to Mirdif City Centre. The company has opened 29 brands within the mall, including the Middle East launch of three iconic American brands, American Eagle, Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids. M.H. Alshaya Co. confirmed that since day one its stores have seen strong trading and reaction to the new brands has been extremely positive.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100406073319/Mirdif%20City%20Centre%20breaks%20records%20with%20over%201%20million%20customers%20in%20first%20three%20weeks

include workers maybe :)

^^
:lol:

Videos of iflydubai :

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vQe_RMVf2L4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vQe_RMVf2L4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YJM1gW8s8Ag&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YJM1gW8s8Ag&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

I wonder if the people in it actually enjoyed it, it looked quite hard to sky-dive.

Published Today - 09:19 GMT

http://www1.albawaba.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_headline_node//sites/default/files/im/Business/business_new/GhoroobMirdif.JPG
Ghoroob Mirdif

Dubai Properties Group, a member of Dubai Holding, today announced the successful completion of Ghoroob, an affordable residential development, in the heart of Mirdif.

The 3.3-million sq ft holistic community, the only upscale apartment complex in Mirdif, will feature a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 956 sq ft to 1,861 sq ft.

A fully furnished model apartment has been designed to allow potential customers to view the layout, fixtures and fit-outs utilised throughout the community. The apartment will be opened for viewing upon the commencement of leasing.

The development's convenient location in the heart of Mirdif with easy access to schools and shopping centers including the new Mirdif City Centre Mall, positions Ghoroob Mirdif as an ideal residence for mid-income families. Its close proximity to Mirdif Rashidiya Metro Station and the Dubai International Airport, as well as the arterial Emirates Road and Al Khail Road, further enhance the community's profile as an accessible and family-friendly enclave.

Khalid Al Malik, Group CEO of DPG, said: "Ghoroob Mirdif is a comprehensive apartment community that will transform the landscape of Mirdif. The completion of this project bears testimony to the diversity of our real estate portfolio, which has been devised to meet the evolving demographics trend in Dubai.

The community has been completed with the support of many organizations throughout Dubai including Dubai Land Department, Dubai Municipality, RTA, DEWA, DU, Dubai Civil Defence, Empower and Tecom Zoning Authority. My deepest gratitude to these dedicated organizations that have played an integral role in the delivery of this remarkable new community."

Mirdif is one of the most sought after neighbourhoods in Dubai with families and business professionals. The family-focused environment and dedicated amenities make it a perfect place to live, work and play.

Dubai Properties Group's diverse communities are located in prime locations across the emirate, including DUBAILAND, Business Bay and Jumeirah. As a sustainable community developer, DPG aims to shape properties that offer an enriching lifestyle that raise the bar on quality and self-contained community living.

© 2010 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

Residents of Mirdif worried as rats overrun the neighbourhood

# By Muby Asger, Staff reporter | Published: 00:00 September 23, 2010 | XPRESS

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/mirdif-1.686144!image/2996822507.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_475/2996822507.jpg
Mirdif residents are increasingly frustrated as rats run riot in the sandy street near the Westzone supermarket.

*Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/XPRESS

Dubai: Falling rents have attracted many new residents to Mirdif, but it has also brought in some uninvited guests: Rodents

Across the road from the construction site on Street 87, nestled in a sandy patch between Westzone supermarket and the mosque, the whole area is rife with rats. Due to a surplus of rotting food from the supermarket and trash dumped by construction workers, rodents are drawn to the lane in hordes. The residents are furious.

Edith Coombs, a secretary who lives on Street 87E, said she has regularly seen rats while walking her dog.

The 32-year-old, who shares her villa with a friend, said she's afraid she'll wake up one morning and see her dog gnawing on one of the rats. Coombs also suffers from allergies and hence is worried about the germs and viruses that rodents may spread.

Bangladeshi house help, Mithun, who works in several villas along the street, said he's seen rats in most houses. "People are scared of them and it is up to me to get rid of them," he said.

Mithun, who has taken to setting up traps in villa gardens, said he's astounded by the growth in the rat population over the last few months. B. Pereira, Operations Manager at Invaders Pest Control, said: "Construction sites are always inviting grounds for rats to breed in. Areas with trash bins left unemptied can also turn into a rat haven."

He said dark, moist places with plenty of lunch leftovers are ideal homes for rats. "That is why construction grounds are often rodents' playgrounds," he added.

According to a Dubai Municipality summary, the number of rat related complaints has gone up from 430 in 2007 to 620 in 2009. Complaints against mice have more than doubled from 202 in 2008 to 534 in 2009. "If people are careless with their trash, there will be an influx of rodents," said Pereira, whose firm, Invaders Pest Control, does pest control for Uptown Primary School.

Online forums have revealed the presence of yet another creature in Mirdif: Bats. A member of Dubai expat group MontyDog said three bats fly in his garden every evening. Another member from Mirdif said, "We have a family of seven bats living on our front porch! It really freaks me out."

Gulf News (http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/mirdif-rattled-by-rodents-1.685991)

United Arab Emirates: 14 hours, 10 minutes ago | PRESS RELEASE

Dubai Properties Group (DPG), a member of Dubai Holding, today announced from Cityscape Global 2010 that phase 1 of the much anticipated apartments at Ghoroob Mirdif are currently available for lease.

http://www.ameinfo.com/images/news/large/6/103656-Ghoroob.jpg
Ghoroob - Model Apartment.

The 3.3 million sq ft development is an upscale apartment community in Mirdif, featuring a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments from 956 sq ft to 1861 sq ft offering a wide spectrum of options to the discerning customer at competitive rates and flexible payment plans.

The family-focused community is currently being offered at discounted rates for a limited time during the launch with annual leases.

An antidote to high-rise living, the new apartments provide residents with the advantages of community lifestyle including wide open spaces in a serene and secure environment in the heart of one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Dubai.

A fully furnished model apartment is now open at the community, which will allow customers to view the unit from 9.00am - 6.00pm, Sunday to Thursday.

Khalid Al Malik, Group CEO, Dubai Properties Group, said: "I am thrilled to announce the launch of the Ghoroob Mirdif community. The completion of this project bears testimony to our commitment to building communities that offer quality and affordability in every corner of Dubai. Ghoroob offers a unique and distinctive choice in Mirdif and reflects the diversity of our real estate portfolio which is designed to meet the market demand."

Ghoroob will transform the landscape of Mirdif by creating the first apartment only community, now increasingly favoured by young professionals. DPG's completion of Ghoroob Mirdif alongside its sister community Shorooq, which was launched in 2009, allows individuals and families with varying income levels to call this desirable neighborhood their home.

Conveniently located adjacent to the Rashidiya Metro station and the Dubai International Airport, Ghoroob Mirdif is easily accessible from arterial highways including Emirates Road and Al Awir Road. The community offers convenient access to schools and shopping centres, including the popular Uptown Mirdif and the new Mirdif City Centre mall.

Dubai Properties Group is also currently leasing residential and commercial units at the Layan community, Shorooq Mirdif, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Cordoba Villas, Al Khail Gate, and Office Park.

DPG's wide range of offerings positions the company as a leading real estate developer that caters to a diversified market. DPG continues to delvelop, manage and serve communities in prominent locations such as Jumeirah Beach, Mirdif, Business Bay and DUBAILAND® and plays a pivotal role in shaping the growth and landscape of Dubai.

http://www.ameinfo.com/244082.html

06/11/10
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/5159009068_7a210e667d_b.jpg
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55679285@N03/5159009068/

http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/15593_1_Mirdif1.jpg

http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/15593_2_Mirdif2.jpg

http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/15593_3_Mirdif3.jpg

http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/15593_4_Mirdif4.jpg
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=15593

more pictures from the mall...

http://dubaiwalla.livejournal.com/115893.html

http://www.dubaichronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Shorooq-Mirdif2.jpg

May 28, 2011

Dubai Properties, a member of Dubai Holding, today announced Phase-2 of Ghoroob Mirdif is ready to be leased out to tenants at special introductory rates.

http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2011/05/28/dubai-properties-releases-new-units-at-ghoroob-mirdif/