Cuts ribbon at VIP ceremony

Manama, Bahrain, 14 December 2008:  Bahrain City Centre, the impressive 1.5 million square foot retail and leisure destination in Manama, celebrates its official grand opening today with a spectacular VIP ribbon-cutting event in the morning presided over by HH Sheikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince & Deputy Supreme Commander. A public grand opening extravaganza will begin on the afternoon of 14th December, and run until 29th December.

In addition to the Crown Prince, today's VIP celebration was also attended by government dignitaries, key contractors and suppliers, retailers and media. The ribbon cutting ceremony celebrates the achievements of the Bahrain City Centre since opening its doors in September, with more than 300 shops, restaurants and attractions now trading.

Stefan Kirsten, MAF Group Chief Executive, said, "We are very proud today that the Crown Prince of Bahrain has honoured us by officially opening this impressive and significant development. We are delighted to be able to bring such a world class destination to Manama, which serves both the local residents and visitors from elsewhere. Bahrain City Centre is an important step forward in putting Bahrain on par with Dubai, Paris and London as a shopping and leisure destination."

Derek Rossel, General Manager of the Bahrain City Centre, said, "When we opened our doors earlier this year, we invited the people of Bahrain and visitors to the Kingdom to come explore and watch the mall unfold itself into Bahrain's ultimate destination.

"With a large critical mass of partners now doing a brisk trade, this promise has been achieved and we are so proud to have been embraced by the community. We look forward to continuing to surprise and delight our visitors in the years to come.

"We also want to take a moment to thank all the people who have made today's grand opening possible - the government who has been so supportive of the Bahrain City Centre, all our employees, suppliers, contractors and retailers who have worked so long and hard to make it a reality, and of course the people of Bahrain and its visitors who have embraced us as a fundamental part of their lives," Mr. Rossel concluded.

Grand opening celebrations for the public will include three daily, 30-minute entertainment performances: One for children, and two for family audiences; an impressive array of entertainment that incorporate a mix of water, aerial, dance and light effects in the centre galleria; various interactive promotions for children and families including, face painting, and a variety of decorating workshops; and outside, the Bahrain City Centre will be bathed in special effect lighting, building colour washes, lasers and search lights.

Now open in the Centre are a number of major attractions and shops including Magic Planet, Saks 5th Avenue, The Toy Store, Sun & Sand Sports, Sharaf DG, Wafi Gourmet, Marina Exotic Furniture, The Home Centre, and Bobbi Brown.  In addition, the Bahrain City Centre now boasts eight cafes, 20 food court units, 10 restaurants and four specialty food shops.

Still to come in the New Year are the much-anticipated waterpark, two luxury hotels and a 20-screen Cineco cineplex , the largest of its kind in the region.

In addition, 2009 will see the completion of Magic Planet which will incorporate a 10-pin bowling alley, three additional cafes, five new restaurants and one specialty food outlet.

Once completed the centre is expected to attract many more visitors to the Kingdom from neighbouring countries, making it a major contributor to Bahrain's economic development plans. It is also expected that the completion next year of the huge site will further increase the employment opportunities for local people.

-Ends-

About Majid Al Futtaim Group:
Majid Al Futtaim Group is the region's most prominent property and shopping malls developer. The Group opened its first shopping mall in 1995 and has since created businesses of international significance which have changed the face of shopping, entertainment and leisure in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Over the past decade the Group has taken his groundbreaking concepts into other major cities in the United Arab Emirates and throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

The Group consists of a number of core businesses that complement one another, yet are separately managed. This provides maximum flexibility and potential, enabling the operating divisions to seize their own opportunities yet work together on major projects.

The Group is widely known for its iconic and internationally recognized Mall of Emirates, the largest shopping resort outside North America. Mall of the Emirates is also home to Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski resort in the region. The emphasis on great design, critical tenant mix and customer focus gives the Group an exceptional portfolio of impressive projects.

For more information, please contact:
Nadera Abuali
Asda'a Burson-Marsteller
Tel: +973-17213133;
Fax: +973-17213134
Mobile: +973-36301367
Email: n.abuali@asdaa.com

© Press Release 2008