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The Dubai Mall hosts 54 million visitors in 2011

DUBAI: The Dubai Mall achieved a record-smashing year in 2011 to become the world's most-visited shopping and leisure destination, welcoming more than 54 million visitors in 2011. The number of visitors in 2011 is about 15% higher than the 47 million visitors in 2010, according to Emaar Properties ,, developer of the Mall.

The Dubai Mall is centrally located in Downtown Dubai, described as ' The Centre of Now,' and overlooking Burj Khalifa , the world's tallest building.

The number of visitors to The Dubai Mall is more than the number of annual tourists to New York City in 2011, reported at 50.2 million. The visitor numbers exceed the annual visitors to Las Vegas - expected to welcome 39.2 million people in 2011? and Los Angeles at 26.3 million3 and also surpasses the visitor arrivals to all landmark leisure destinations and theme parks in the world including Times Square (39.2 million); Central Park (38 million); and Niagara Falls (22.5 million) among others, Emaar added.

Retail sales across the various outlets in the mall also have reported robust growth at about 35% on average compared with 2010.

" The Dubai Mall 's record-breaking footfall elevates its position as the world's most visited tourism and shopping destination, topping the annual visitor arrivals to all landmark attractions anywhere in the world," Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties PJSC, said.

"This also underlines Dubai's premier position regionally and internationally, reflecting the strength of the strategic vision and development goals for the city outlined by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The visitor numbers to The Dubai Mall are also a strong testament to the growing appeal of Dubai as a preferred tourism destination, and a compelling indicator of the robust performance of the city's retail sector led by this trophy asset of Emaar .

He added: "The visitor footfall is matched by the increase in retail sales, highlighting the contribution of The Dubai Mall to Dubai's retail sector. The mall's varied choice of retail outlets - with the world's leading brands operating their flagship stores or marking their Middle East debut at The Dubai Mall - underlines its premier position as the must-visit destination for the booming consumer segment not just in the Middle East but across the region, spanning South Asia, Africa, CIS countries and Europe."Driving the growth of The Dubai Mall was the creation of the US$20 billion Downtown Dubai, described as ' The Centre of Now.' The flagship development of Emaar Properties features Burj Khalifa , the world's tallest building, seven world-class hotels, thousands of residential apartments, modern offices and The Dubai Fountain, among other attractions. "The various components of Downtown Dubai have positioned this flagship development of Emaar as a premier lifestyle destination boosting the growth of the city's tourism, hospitality, retail and other economic sectors," added Mr Alabbar.

Offering the full breadth of retail choices, the mall's spread of 1,200 outlets meets all shopping requirements of visitors - from fashion wear to accessories, electronic appliances to home furnishing, the latest communication gadgets to audio-visual choices, books, jewellery and much more.

Significantly, the mall's retail spread includes flagship stores of the world's top-notch brands across all the different sectors making The Dubai Mall the first choice for discerning customers. The upmarket fashion brands, located within a dedicated Fashion Avenue, reiterate the position of Dubai as the region's fashion capital.

The mall also has over 160 food and beverage outlets - providing a choice for any taste. Several F&B outlets at the mall are new and exclusive, further asserting The Dubai Mall 's choice as the must-visit destination for dining out with friends and family.

Adding further to the appeal of the mall to visitors from across the world are its spectacular leisure attractions such as Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, which holds the Guinness World Record for the largest acrylic viewing panel; the Olympic sized Dubai Ice Rink; the region's first SEGA Republic - the largest of its kind indoor theme park; KidZania , the only one of its kind children's edutainment centre in the entire Middle East region; and the 22-screen Reel Cinemas, one of the region's largest megaplexes that can seat over 2,800 people.

The spectacular Dubai Fountain in the waterfront promenade of the mall attracts thousands of visitors every day, and the mall also hosted several thousand visitors who attended the New Year's Celebrations 2012 organised by Emaar in Downtown Dubai.

© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2012.