Over 200 leading brands to open business at BCC
Over 200 leading stores from across the world have signed up to open business at the upcoming BD250 million Bahrain City Centre (BCC). The BCC, the region's first integrated entertainment, leisure and retail project, will also create over 4,000 jobs for Bahrainis, top officials at the Majid Al Futtaim Group (the owners and developers of the City Centre) told a Press conference yesterday. The BCC is expected to open its doors for business by June 2008.
Francois de Montaudouin, CEO MAF Group; Graham Drevermen, CEO MAF Shopping Malls; and Maher Al Shaer, GM of BCC, briefed the local media about the developments at the project.
Among the world's top brands who signed up with the BCC are Carrefour Hypermarket, SAKS 5th Avenue, H&M, Aizone, Debenhams, Centre Point, Home Centre, Paris Gallery, Zara, Mango and Massimo Dutti etc.
Graham said: "MAF Shopping Malls announces that 82 per cent of the 150,000 square metres BCC is now leased. With some of the world's most renowned brands and biggest entertainment and leisure offer in the country signed up, this firmly establishes the mall as the Kingdom's premier shopping destination."
"Bahrain City Centre is destined to do for the Kingdom what developments such as Deira City Centre and the Mall of the Emirates have done for Dubai, in establishing the country as a retail destination with appeal across the region and beyond" said Francois de Montaudouin.
"Bahrain City Centres' success is assured as it will cater not only to local demands, but also to those of visitors from other GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. Bahrain's strategic location at the centre of the Gulf makes it an ideal place for such a major shopping and leisure destination" he said.
The shopping centre will also house 54 F&B units extending over 9,700 square metres, the largest in the Kingdom under one roof. These include 11 coffee shops, 13 restaurants, 21 food court units and 9 smaller outlets serving juice, ice cream and other snacks.
Bahrain City Centre will devote almost 25,000 square metres to entertainment and leisure facilities, including a giant indoor/outdoor water park, a bowling centre, a Magic Planet family entertainment centre and Cineco Cinema, the largest cineplex in the region with 20-screens. The facility will also include two hotels, one four-star and the other five-star, with 550 rooms in total. The car park will have the capacity for 5,500 vehicles.
"Shoppers in Bahrain are looking for a 'one-stop-shopping and leisure experience with international brands to meet the needs of everyone in the family," said Bahrain City Centre General Manager Maher Al Shaer.
"This will strengthen Bahrain's position as a regional shopping destination. The entertainment facilities will also give families an exciting leisure and entertainment offer unparalleled in the country. Bahrain City Centre is aiming to attract over 15 million shoppers and visitors a year and is sure to put Bahrain on the map as a major shopping, leisure and entertainment destination for the region,"added Al Shaer.
By Mehmood Rafique Business Correspondent
© Bahrain Tribune 2006
