Dubai Festival City on target to open 'Retail Resort'

Phil McArthur, Director of Leasing & Marketing, Dubai Festival City highlighted the new developments that are shaping the city's all-encompassing 2.6 million square feet retail, hospitality and entertainment focal point, Festival Centre

"The last six months have seen our project's showpiece, Festival Centre, evolve to make it one of the region's most interesting and unique retail destinations," said McArthur. "We have continued to develop the plans to ensure we offer retailers and customers a multitude of experiences in one accessible waterfront environment."

To help create this distinct urban retail resort, Dubai Festival City has rekindled its relationship with original masterplan architects, Jerde Partnership Inc, which brought its flair and vision to the Festival Centre layout.

"In conjunction with Jerde, we have created a retail and entertainment destination infused with water and generous public spaces that will confirm Festival Centre's place as a highly sought after meeting, dining and shopping magnet," said McArthur.

"In addition, special features such our "Sometime Pond" in the heart of the shopping centre can be drained to allow us to put on concerts, product launches and other events, which will add to its appeal."

Festival Centre, to be fully completed in September 2006, will cater for every need by seamlessly integrating a variety of experiences, including 400 shops representing some of the world's leading brands, into the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Four Seasons hotels, creating the ultimate in luxury dining and accommodation.

Festival Centre will also offer one of the most diverse food and beverage collections in the region, boasting over 75 cafés and restaurants and fast food outlets. Carefully designed, each outlet will have a scenic, waterfront setting.

In addition, it will also feature the 150 berth Festival Marina, a Mediterranean style harbour, allowing yacht owners and visitors access to the centre's offerings, whilst contributing to Dubai's reputation as a leading maritime hub.

"Festival Centre's unique fusion concept is ideal in positioning Dubai Festival City as one of the region's most innovative developments," said McArthur.

One of the key factors discussed at the presentation was the need to tackle the emirate's growing problem of traffic congestion.

"Accessibility has also been a key factor in the development of our retail hub with over 13,000 parking spaces being made available, the highest parking ratio in the UAE.

"Further to this, meticulous planning of road networks which dovetail into the Dubai Municipality's masterplan, coupled with direct access into the heart of Dubai Festival City by the new 12 lane Ras Al Khor bridge, will ensure traffic congestion is a thing of the past".

Festival Centre's is rising from the land and the first phase, set for completion towards the end of 2005, will feature retail outlets offering household and convenience goods, including the UAE's largest IKEA store and a leading hypermarket.