Dubai: Already home to the world’s largest mall, Dubai is cementing that status for the foreseeable future with the launch of the Mall of the World, which on completion will take over the mantle. It will create a staggering 8 million square feet within a wider city-within-a-city expanse of 48 million square feet.
Covered by a dome, which will be opened up to the natural weather during winter, will create a fully-fledged all-year destination that could attract a forecasted 180 million visitors a year. To put that in perspective, The Dubai Mall had 75 million visitors last year.
The Mall of the World’s retail portion will be connected to a hospitality component of 100 hotels and serviced apartments, creating 20,000 new rooms.
Located off Shaikh Zayed Road, the development will be handled by Dubai Holding.
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“The growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai’s tourism infrastructure as soon as possible,” said His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in a statement announcing the launch. “This project complements our plans to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the two billion people living in the region around us; and we are determined to achieve our vision.”
Apart from retail and hospitality, the project will create dedicated clusters for cultural offerings as well as for wellness/health care.
Details of the cost involved and the timeline for completion were not announced on Saturday. But industry sources emphasize that key project milestones should be ready in time for the Expo 2020. A statement issued said that it will be spread over several phases.
The impact on the emirate’s economy and its future growth prospects will not be confined to what happens by 2020, they add.
