25 restaurants and cafés lining the waterfront; over 130 shops in total
Unique 'island' location on The Old Town Island
Opening in December 2007
Dubai, UAE; September 19, 2007: Emaar Malls Group LLC will infuse added verve and style to Dubai with the opening of Souk Al Bahar in Downtown Burj Dubai. Souk Al Bahar is Dubai's newest shopping, dining and entertainment destination with over 130 stores and an extensive waterfront promenade featuring the best of its 25 restaurants and cafés. Uniquely situated on The Old Town Island overlooking the Burj Dubai Lake, Souk Al Bahar will be a vibrant waterside hotspot for Dubai's socialites and visitors. It will open its doors in December 2007.
Souk Al Bahar is developed and managed by Emaar Malls Group LLC, the shopping mall subsidiary of Emaar. With a gross leasable area of 164,700 sq ft, Souk Al Bahar has an eclectic retail mix that showcases the Arabian heritage through veritable mix of carpet dealers, perfume shops, fashion, furnishings and jewellery. A dynamic mix of restaurants and cafés frames Souk Al Bahar's waterfront perimeter presenting an extraordinary dining experience with views of Burj Dubai, the world's tallest tower.
"Souk Al Bahar will be a lively new shopping and entertainment concept for the city," said Rashid Doleh, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Malls Group. "It will be a perfect lifestyle component that will appeal to all sections of society. Being in the heart of Dubai city, and situated in one of the most prestigious development in the world - Downtown Burj Dubai, Souk Al Bahar celebrates the joy of living in one of the most dynamic cities in the world."
Souk Al Bahar is an ideal complement to Downtown Burj Dubai, where some of the world's most ambitious developments are planned including Emaar Malls Group's flagship project, The Dubai Mall, and Burj Dubai. A direct footbridge connecting Souk Al Bahar and The Dubai Mall will ensure that visitors have convenient access to Dubai's best shopping, dining and entertainment avenues through the evening hours.
"Emaar is undertaking two distinctly different mall developments within Downtown Burj Dubai. While The Dubai Mall will be a premier lifestyle and shopping destination, Souk Al Bahar is a celebration of modern living in Dubai. Residents and visitors will find everything they need in the Downtown Burj Dubai," added Mr Doleh.
Visitors will have a range of amenities at Souk Al Bahar. An adjoining luxury hotel, The Palace, features 242 guest rooms and suites. Parking is generous with 2,200 car park spaces for visitors and guests. The Old Town Island will also have 130,000 sq ft of office space completing the mixed-use development, which includes over 400 residences.
With two other hotels in Downtown Burj Dubai - Al Manzil and Qamardeen - already functional, and many residential projects completed and handed over to owners, Souk Al Bahar will be an energizing addition to Downtown Burj Dubai and a much sought-after social hotspot high on the list of residents and a draw for Dubai's trendy movers and shakers.
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About Emaar Malls Group LLC:
Emaar Malls Group LLC, is the retail and shopping mall subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, a leading property developer based in Dubai, and drives its diversification into shopping malls. This is in line with Emaar's Vision 2010 to become one of the most valuable companies in the world. Emaar has announced investments in shopping malls of over US$4 billion (AED 15 billion) with 12 million sq ft of retail property in operation or under development in the emerging markets of the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and South Asia and is on target to become one of the largest developers of shopping malls in the world.
At the forefront of these developments is the flagship The Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest malls in the heart of the Downtown Burj Dubai. Opening in late 2008, The Dubai Mall will be a premier lifestyle and entertainment destination.
Emaar Malls Group is also developing two other malls in Dubai; Souk Al Bahar, an Arabesque shopping and entertainment development on The Old Town Island set to open in December 2007, and the Dubai Marina Mall, a lifestyle shopping mall for residents of the Dubai Marina community opening in mid-2008.
Recently, Emaar Malls Group unveiled Cairo Gate, Egypt's largest shopping mall and leisure destination at the Cairo-Alexandria project site, a mixed-use development spread over 160 acres.
About Emaar Properties PJSC:
Emaar Properties PJSC is one of the world's largest real estate companies and is rapidly evolving to become a global provider of premier lifestyles. Powered by its Vision 2010 to become one of the most valuable companies in the world, Emaar is charting a new course of growth with a two-pronged strategy of geographical expansion and business segmentation.
Emaar has highlighted its remarkable global growth by debuting on the Financial Times Global 500 ranking, which provides an annual snapshot of the world's largest companies. Emaar has been assigned A- and A3 ratings with stable outlook by Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Services, respectively.
Replicating its successful business model in Dubai, Emaar is extending its expertise in creating master-planned communities to international markets. Emaar is also developing new competencies in malls, hospitality & leisure, education, healthcare and finance, which have evolved from its integrated approach to customer service and property development.
Listed on the Dubai Financial Market, part of the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index and certified to ISO9001:2000 for quality standards, Emaar is developing Burj Dubai, the world's tallest tower, and The Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping and entertainment destinations. In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing the US$26.6 billion King Abdullah Economic City, the region's largest private sector-led project. Emaar's portfolio currently covers the following countries: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Libya, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, the US, the UK, France and Canada.
An award-winning developer, Emaar has strengthened its product sale competencies, market reach and best practices through strategic acquisitions and joint ventures. Emaar acquired John Laing Homes, America's second largest privately held home builder; Hamptons International, UK's premier realtor; and formed a joint venture with US-based Turner International to strengthen execution capabilities.
Emaar has joined hands with Giorgio Armani and Accor Hotels to strengthen its presence in hospitality, and will launch ten luxury Armani Hotels & Resorts world-wide and 100 Formule 1 budget hotels in India. The company is opening educational institutions and healthcare centres in South Asia, Middle East and North Africa and the Subcontinent. Emaar acquired Singapore-based leading education provider, Raffles Campus, to extend expertise to its educational institutions.
Emaar holds 30 per cent equity in Dubai Bank, focused on retail and commercial banking. Emaar is also the largest shareholder in Amlak Finance, UAE's leading Islamic home financing company. For more information, visit www.emaar.com.
For further information, please contact:
Kelly Home / Nivine William
ASDA'A Public Relations
Exclusive Affiliate of Edelman PR Worldwide in Middle East & North Africa
Tel: (+971 4) 335 5969;
Fax: (+971 4) 335 6080
E-mail: k.home@asdaa.com, n.william@asdaa.com
© Press Release 2007
