Dubai, UAE, June 4, 2009: For the second year in a row, Mall of the Emirates has beaten off stiff competition and been voted the Best Shopping Mall in Dubai by the city's residents.

The accolade is part of the second annual Best in Dubai Awards, which gives the chance to choose winners in several categories including hotels, restaurants, spas, customer service and even radio stations. A record number of votes were received online as thousands of residents visited the www.bestindubai.ae website. Mall of the Emirates competed against 68 malls in the initial rounds and thereafter with four other finalists.

Fuad Sharaf, Vice President, Mall of the Emirates, received the award on behalf of the mall's management and said that this year the award was even more special given that new shopping malls have opened in the city in the last year.

"When an award bestowed on you comes from the people of Dubai, it means a whole lot more. We are grateful to our patrons for this honour and we continue to strive each day to make their every visit to Mall of the Emirates an enjoyable and comfortable experience."

Sarika Aidasani, a regular visitor to the mall, calls it the perfect one-stop shop destination. "Mall of the Emirates has everything a person would need, from daily necessities to luxury. It's easy to walk around, less complicated layout and you don't need to wear trainers to go shopping to this mall. I simply love Mall of the Emirates." 

While for 27-year old Dubai resident Alaa Demachkie it is almost like a second home. "Mall of the Emirates is just the place for us to be whether it's a weekday or weekend, whether it's for movies, a good meal or shopping. There's so much variety and comfort here. I am so familiar with the mall now and I just love being here."

Ever since it first opened its doors in September 2005, Mall of the Emirates has continued to win the admiration of residents and tourists alike. With one of the best retail spreads and entertainment offerings including the region's first indoor ski resort, Ski Dubai, it is no wonder than that the mall has won over 15 international and local industry recognitions and awards in just under four years.

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About Mall of the Emirates:
Mall of the Emirates, the world's first shopping resort, is located in Dubai at interchange four on Sheikh Zayed Road. The two-level shopping centre features 466 international brands including 220,000 sqm of department stores, fashion, lifestyle, sports, electronics and home furnishing outlets, the largest Carrefour in the city and over 60 stores that are unique to the centre. The compelling family leisure offer includes a Magic Planet family entertainment area, a 14-screen multiplex cinema, the world-renowned Ski Dubai - the Middle East's first indoor ski resort and snow park - a five star Kempinski hotel and 70 coffee shops and restaurants. Recently, the mall's 500 seat community theatre and accompanying arts centre - DUCTAC - opened its doors to the public.

The mall is undergoing its largest ever expansion programme with just under half a billion dirhams to be invested in new space and is due to be completed by the late summer of 2010. The project will see the addition of increased facilities for shopping, dining and parking, a direct link for Dubai Metro commuters and increased parking spaces to accommodate 750 vehicles.

For more information, please contact:
Komal Manglani
Polaris Public Relations
P. O. Box 32838, Dubai,
UAE
Tel: +9714-3415555;
Fax: +9714-3415588
Email: k.manglani@polaris-me.com

© Press Release 2009