By Sean Cronin www.thenational.ae
Nakheel has appointed contractors on the Dh600 million (US$163.3m) expansion of Dragon Mart in Dubai.
The move comes as the Palm Island builder switches focus from residential to retail.
The developer yesterday said it was awarding contracts to double the size of the sprawling mall famous for its huge range.
But navigating the vast development may prove a challenge for shoppers with the enlarged mall equivalent in size to 47 international football pitches.
“Dragon Mart is already the world’s biggest trading hub for Chinese products outside mainland China. The phase two expansion will provide many more opportunities for retailers, hoteliers and restaurants to prosper,” said Ali Rashid Lootah, the chairman of Nakheel.
The 177,000 square metre extension of the mall will include a Geant hypermarket, a nine-screen Grand Cinema complex and a three-storey hotel. The project is being delivered on a build-operate-transfer basis, a form of privately financed construction. It is being built by a vehicle called New Mall Limited, said Nakheel. A spokeswoman declined to provide further details. Building contracts are shared by United Engineering Construction and Kele Contracting. More info
