04 June 2006
Dubai: Al Safeer Group today (SUNDAY) unveiled four new mall projects, which are being built in the UAE and Oman and are scheduled for completion over the next two years. The upcoming projects in the UAE include the 850,000 sq. ft. Safeer Mall Fujairah and the 500,000 sq. ft. Safeer Mall Ras Al Khaimah.

In Oman, Al Safeer Group has already commenced work on Safeer Mall Sohar, a 350,000 sq. ft. retail complex with regional architectural influences in its design. Mahesh J. Kalwani Al Safeer Group COO, who unveiled the new projects at Retail City 2006, said that all projects in the pipeline are aimed at translating the Group's aim to become a formidable player in mall retailing in the region. Mr. Kalwani also informed that recently Al Safeer Group signed up Better Homes as official leasing agents for their malls.

The 1.2 million sq. ft. Safeer Mall on Dubai-Sharjah Highway, which opened in February this year, features the largest indoor themed family amusement centre in the UAE. 'Space City' occupies the entire top floor of Safeer Mall, covering an area of 100,000-sq. ft. Phase II of the mall's development will add another 130,000 sq. ft. of built up area to the mall complex.

Once completed, the second phase will add another 60 retail stores across ground level and level 1. Level 2 will completely be taken up by anchor store Home Mart, while the level 3 add-on area will be occupied by the family entertainment centre, Space City. Phase II is expected to be operational towards end of 2006.

Safeer Mall Ras Al Khaimah, which will open late in 2007, will have five anchor stores encompassing fashion wear, children's clothing, footwear, gift ideas and home furnishings, and the largest hypermarket in the region. It will also include 120 open-fronted shops, 12 food and beverage outlets and Jungle Bungle, the Amazon themed amusement facility, which will be laid out over 30,000 sq. ft. With the expectation that Safeer Mall Ras Al Khaimah will become one of the most popular shopping-entertainment venues in the northern emirates, 240,000 sq. ft. has been earmarked for parking, with a capacity to accommodate over 900 vehicles.

Safeer Mall Sohar (Oman) is also due to open by end 2007. With classic Middle Eastern influences reflected in its design, Safeer Mall Sohar will have 75 open-fronted stores, eight food court units, a coffee shop and Jungle Bungle, the family entertainment centre spread over 30,000 sq. ft. Carrefour, spread over 100,000 sq. ft., will, along with five anchor stores, be among the main retailers at the mall. The adjoining 120,000 sq. ft parking facility would be capable of accommodating over 450 vehicles.

In 2008, Safeer Mall Fujairah, sporting a contemporary mall design with a captivating beachfront, will become the biggest mall in the emirate. A 100,000 sq. ft. hypermarket, along with five anchor stores, a multitude of sought after brands, 100 open-fronted shops, 13 food and beverage outlets, and the 22,000 sq. ft. Space City, are the main features of the mall. A covered parking area (200,000 sq. ft.) for 500 vehicles and open space for another 200 is also part of the plan. 

"The GCC retail-real estate sector is one of the most dynamic and will be our key area of investment over the next few years," Mr. Kalwani said.

Dubai's Century Mall (300,000 sq. ft.) and Safeer Mall, Ajman (220,000 sq. ft.) are also managed by Al Safeer Group, a billion dirham conglomerate with diversified interests in real estate, retail, furniture, manufacturing and trading, across the GCC. Also part of the group are over 35 hypermarkets, more than 15 boutique stores in fashion and lifestyle, home furnishings and gift ideas and footwear, and five family entertainment centres, including Space City, the largest in UAE.

-Ends-

About Al Safeer Group
Al Safeer Group, a conglomerate with a team of over 3000 dedicated professionals, celebrates two decades of excellence and service. Apart from retailing, Al Safeer Group's other business interests include furniture, real estate, manufacturing and trading across the GCC.

The retail division is into malls, hypermarkets, boutique stores and family entertainment centers. Al Safeer Group also owns and operates Century Mall, Dubai and Safeer Mall, Ajman. Keeping in line with the retail growth across the Gulf region, the Group has announced its plans to open malls in Ras Al Khaimah and Sohar (Oman) in late 2007, and Fujairah in 2008. Under its Safeer Hypermarkets brand, the Group has over 35 plus outlets spread across the GCC.

Other Group companies include: Al Safeer Furniture, Al  Safeer Real Estate, International Poly Industries/Sleep Ezze,, Show Racks Trading, Boltmaster Trading and Steelracks Factory.

For further information please contact:
Allwyn Francis
Concept PR
T: +9714 3903946/7
F: +9714 3688053
M: +97150 7490278
E: press@cpr.ae

Jose Kunnappally
Corporate Communications Director
Al Safeer Group
T: +9716 5323456
F: +9716 5333144
M: +97150 3782636
E: jose@safeergroup.ae
www.safeergroup.com

© Press Release 2006