Muscat City Centre constructs flyover for shoppers

Shoppers heading to Muscat City Centre from Muscat, no longer have to go up to the Al Hail flyover or the roundabout but can smoothly be guided into the mall's parking area through the new flyover, which is already well underway and is slated to be complete by June 2007. Once the Phase 2 parking area is operational, the flyover too will be open for public.

This flyover is the first of its sort in Oman to be built by a private enterprise and is worth an investment of RO 2 million, which is part of the RO 22.5 million expansions that Muscat City Centre is currently undergoing. The flyover has been undertaken entirely by Muscat City Centre with necessary permissions from Muscat Municipality.

"The flyover was designed with customer convenience and safety as the prime objective. The design will give customers direct access to Muscat City Centre from Sultan Qaboos Highway. The three level car park and flyover is designed to international standards and is the first of its kind in Oman," says Wayne Scherger, Vice President, Divisional Asset Management, MAF shopping Malls.

With the booming retail industry in Oman, the expansion of Muscat City Centre was a necessary development to bring about more stores and new brands into the sultanate. The expansion is a natural precursor to even more shoppers heading to the mall and this dedicated flyover will then proof to be an absolute boon.

The massive scale of this expansion has generated a lot of interest and enthusiasm among shoppers and has also created over 100 job opportunities for the Omanis. The Phase 1 has recently been opened to the public and is already buzzing with activities and sales. Once the Phase 2 expansion is complete, by the end of summer, the original 33,036 square meters of gross leasable area of Muscat City Centre will expand to a total of 60,484 square meters of gross leasable area. Post expansion, the Centre will boast of 144 outlets and a multi-level parking lot that will accommodate 2,250 cars.

Muscat City Centre, under MAF Shopping Malls, one of Majid Al Futtaim Group companies, maintains its position as a major player in Oman's retail sector. It has recently opened its Phase 1 extension to public and reinstated its position as Oman's ultimate shopping destination. Muscat City Centre now houses over 100 top brands as well as destination stores such as Carrefour hypermarket, Magic Planet, family entertainment centre and 16 food outlets, restaurants and cafes. Muscat City Centre also acts as a town centre and the social hub of the society by participating in community activities and public events.