Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011
Gulf News
Dubai Billed as the “only” destination mall in the Mediterranean region, the Morocco Mall bordering the Atlantic Ocean is all set to open on the Casablanca Corniche on December 5. Everything about the development is outsized, set as it is on 10 hectares.
It features 250,000 square metres of built space, 30,000 square metres of outdoor space and 14,000 square metres of landscaped gardens overlooking the ocean along a 600-metre seafront. More than 600 brands will be represented in the 350 stores set on 70,000 square metres of commercial space.
Moreover, on opening, it will be ranked among the top five destination malls of the world.
“The culture, the leisure attractions and the public gardens along the seafront all join together to complete the urban landscape and offer the people of Casablanca a new place of life and relaxation in one of the busiest areas of the city: The Corniche,” said Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch, chairman of the Aksal Group.
It has partnered the Al Jedaie Group for the €200 million development.
For many of the brands, including Galeries Lafayette and FNAC, it is a first-time entry into Africa.
The mall owners are forecasting visitor traffic will touch 14 million a year. “We wanted to go that extra mile, to place ourselves in a new league to traditional shopping centres,” said Akhannouch.
It will not just be the shopping amenities that the developers are banking on to project the mall as a year-round attraction. The mall will host the first musical fountain in the region as well as a one million litre cylindrical aquarium crossed by a panoramic lift.
There will also be the first Imax cinema in Morocco as well as an ice-rink with a chalet theme.
“Morocco Mall is the true essence of a destination mall mixing shopping and leisure,” said Akhannouch.
Staff Report
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