EMAAR Properties announces new retail and leasing team for The Dubai Mall

The nine-member team will co-ordinate the five million square retail space of the nine million square foot Dubai Mall project. The mall itself is equivalent to the size of more than 50 international-class soccer pitches.

In addition to working on The Dubai Mall, the company's team members will also handle retail space opportunities at six of EMAAR's other landmark developments. These include the Dubai Marina, The Meadows, The Springs, The Greens, Emirates Hills and Arabian Ranches.

Commenting on the move, Ibrahim Al Hashimi, Executive Director, Retail and Leasing Department, who will be leading the team, said: "With the expansion in retail opportunities at our developments EMAAR is strengthening its retail and leasing team to co-ordinate all efforts and to ensure that we continue to offer the best service available to our prospective retail partners.

"Of our ten projects The Dubai Mall is the most adventurous with more than nine million square feet. We will offer retail space for more than a thousand stores. Further retail opportunities will also be available within the Burj Dubai, the planned hotel and the old town," he continued.

The increased role of EMAAR's retail and leasing team comes at a time when plans to develop the Dubai's tourism industry abound. With plans by the Government of Dubai to attract some 15 million people by the end of the decade, the role shopping malls play has become increasingly important. More than 40 shopping malls are now operating in Dubai and with the annual Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai is fast transforming itself from shopping capital of the Middle East to shopping capital of the world.

"We have a very important role to play and we are contributing to the vision of the government. This is an exciting time to be in the retail and we are looking forward to the challenge enormously," explained Al Hashimi.

The team lead by Ibrahim Al Hashimi (Executive Director, Retail & Leasing Department) consists of: Shoaib Al Rahimi (Retail Manager), Jill Solwa (Leasing Manager - EMAAR Commercial Property Leasing), Ghada Siam (Executive Secretary - Retail & Leasing Department), Maisoon Thani (Sales Manager - Retail), Fariza Ahmed (Marketing Executive), Yafea Eid Al Faraj (Sales Executive), Taher Badri (Centre Manager - Gold & Diamond Park) and Bader Al Zarei (Assistant Manager- Retail).