Marina Mall Abu Dhabi Dh3bn ambitious expansion
ABU DHABI 4 November 2017: National Investment Corporation is investing Dh3 billion+ in 300,000 square metres expansion of Marina Mall, which is projected to increase footfall up to 35%.
New plans also show a stunning new waterfront promenade and a series of new retail, dining and leisure options for Marina Island.
NIC, the breakwater developer and owner of Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, will commence work on the 300,000 sqm expansion in the second half of 2018, while a series of upgrades to the mall’s current facilities will begin in early 2018.
In addition to the extension, NIC has revealed plans for a new promenade, Marina Walk, offering 546 meters of prime waterfront views and 123,000 sqm of exciting leisure and entertainment experiences aimed at all ages in the community, including Abu Dhabi’s first skate park.
Marina Walk’s 19,500 sqm of Gross Leasable Area (GLA) will also be home to a fabulous new dining precinct, boasting a brand-new restaurant tower that offers the Abu Dhabi community, and the area’s vast tourist population, an even greater overall experience at its unique location overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
Work on the prestigious promenade will also commence in the second half of 2018 and will focus on outdoor experiences, including 15,000 sqm of open park areas for community-led events, multiple water features, three helicopter pads and 900 additional parking spaces.
Rami Chehabeddine, Chief Investment Officer, said: “There is no dispute that Marina Mall’s location is unparalleled in Abu Dhabi as it is one of the iconic sites of the capital and this has been one of the key reasons for our continued success. These new plans will allow us to rejuvenate and heighten the experience we offer our customers for many years to come.
“By adding to the incredible mix of shopping, dining and entertainment options we already offer as well as building an even greater environment for our customers we will reinforce our position as the destination of choice for people and families of all ages.”
The Marina Mall extension will begin with the South Block that will be home to a plethora of globally recognized brands, offering a range of luxury and high-end retail, F&B dining facilities and a brand new residential tower.
While the North Block will further build on the mall’s impressive portfolio of entertainment attractions that already houses a bowling alley, a 9-screen VOX cinema, Magic Planet and Bounce Abu Dhabi, the Middle East’s largest indoor trampoline park.
In addition to the expansion plans, existing features within the current mall will also be upgraded, including introducing LED screens, renovating current store front fixtures to open up the space, as well as enhancing the luxury area and the main entrance.
Already a landmark of the emirate, the expansion project will see Marina Mall play a more prominent role in the government’s drive towards the Abu Dhabi Plan, helping to further strengthen the capital’s core economic sectors, including tourism, hospitality and retail.
NIC announced the expansion at RECon Middle East & North Africa 2017 Conference and Exhibition in Dubai, the largest annual retail industry event in the region, which will run until 31 October.