Dubai Sports City to offer over 3.8 million square feet of retail space

In addition to its major retail areas - Arena Mall, North Point and South Point, and Canal Residence West - events, promotion and specialty leasing opportunities will be available within the stadia and public areas.

"As the master developer, Dubai Sports City is taking full advantage of the potential for residential, commercial and retail activity," said U. Balasubramaniam, CEO, Dubai Sports City.

"With careful planning, we are positioning retail centres in prime locations, enabling our residents to easily reach shopping and entertainment areas, which will help to maximise footfall for our retailers," he added.

Arena Mall, the largest retail destination within Dubai Sports City, will be directly linked to the 10,000 seat multi-purpose indoor stadium and occupies a key retail location within the development. Comprising approximately 1.88 million square feet of gross lettable space, the mall will be anchored by a 140,000 square foot hypermarket and will include a family entertainment centre.

The Arena Mall's trade area will encompass a population of approximately 800,000 by 2010 and, with an exciting calendar of international exhibitions, sporting events and concerts in store for the coming years, tenants are in a prime position to benefit from strong brand exposure.

Understanding the critical importance of accessibility for both visitors and tenants, Dubai Sports City has conducted extensive traffic flow studies for the Arena Mall area, which will benefit from 7000 car parks and dedicated thoroughfares from the surrounding road network.

Surrounding the promenade of Dubai Sports City is a vibrant mix of boutique shops and dining venues that is joined between North Point and South Point.

North Point, Dubai Sports City's larger retail and commercial hub, will be the cultural centre of the development and offer visitors a relaxed environment to dine and shop. Situated at the northern end of Dubai Sports City's central waterway, at the heart of a vibrant downtown district, North Point is in close proximity to DSC's business district and sporting facilities.

South Point, Dubai Sports City's second retail and commercial hub, will offer a premium dining and shopping experience. Located in close proximity to the sought-after Victory Heights golf course villa community, and anchored by Dubai Sports City's boutique hotel, South Point will offer a range of premium brands, boutique shops, and first-class restaurants.

Canal Residence West, a range of beautiful buildings presented in Mediterranean, Classic European, Venetian, Arabic and Spanish Andalusian architectural styles set in the heart of Dubai Sports City, offer studio, one, and two bedroom apartments with quick access to the promenade that overlooks the canal, which will offer upscale cafes, restaurants and boutiques as well as sport and leisure activities on an unprecedented scale.

Retail leasing for Dubai Sports City will commence in the third quarter of 2008. Representatives from Dubai Sports City are attending the 2008 Middle East Council of Shopping Centres Annual Convention this week to meet with retailers and discuss the mega project's signature retail developments - all available by 2010.