ALDAR Properties launches Al Raha Beach retail offering at 'Retail City' exhibition

In addition, ALDAR is also inviting visitors to register interest in the retail opportunities for another two of its leading Abu Dhabi developments - The Central Market and Al Jimi Mall.

Retail City runs till June 6, 2006, at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.

The iconic Al Raha Beach Development, which will stand at the gateway to Abu Dhabi city, is available for visitors to see as an impressive scale model on ALDAR's stand.

This unique development will include several kilometers of prime waterfront property, with groups of retailing sites in prominent locations - the total retail footprint, once the development is completed in 2015, will be a substantial 400,000 square metres.

Al Raha will ultimately house over 120,000 people in a self-contained new city designed for quality living, work, education, retail shopping and leisure.

It will consist of eight individual, carefully-designed and landscaped precincts, covering a total area of over 500 hectares. It is also one of the first two nominated investment zones in the Emirate where non-nationals are legally able to purchase property.

ALDAR's Abu Dhabi Central Market features as the company's first major retail offering in Abu Dhabi. This opulent landmark, now under construction with a vibrant mix of contemporary and traditional architecture, will become the undisputed cultural and retail focus for the city of Abu Dhabi.

The Central Market, which will cover over 50 hectares, will offer international brands, national distributors and local stores over 75,000 square metres of gross retail space and a net 55,000 sq. m. - with a total 0f 2,200 spaces.

Opportunities start with The Souq, three stories of tradition brought to life in over 16,000 net square metres of shopping and entertainment. Here will be a heady mix of textiles, jewellery, gold, spices, carpets and restaurants. At the same time, the Gourmet Basement (over 5,000 sq. m. net) will be home to specialist delicatessen foods from all over the world - from cheeses to chocolate, coffee to caviar.

A 'Youth & Sport' focus on fashions, electronics and sporting goods will take up over 14,000 sq. m. on the Ground Floor - with more than 16,000 sq. m. upstairs of the most luxurious 'haute couture', perfumes, watches, jewellery and lifestyle retailing.

ALDAR's third current retail venture is Al Ain's award winning Al Jimi Mall.

Al Jimi Mall has been an outstanding success since its opening four years ago. Lying within an immediate catchment area of over 425,000 people, it attracts more than six million visitors a year, and opened its East Wing expansion in early 2006.

This has added 27,000 square metres of new retail offering over two floors including premium brand fashion, cosmetics, jewellery and perfumes on the ground floor and terraced cafes and restaurants above.

A second, 19,000 square metre expansion has since been under way on the West Wing. This will greatly add to Al Jimi's entertainment offering with a multi screen cinema, children's play area and youth and lifestyle brands.