The mall opening made history in the world retail sector for the maximum number of store openings at the same time.
Retailers are opening their stores daily, as they continue to complete fit-out operations, and the majority of The Dubai Mall's 1,200 stores will be operational by early 2009 including Galeries Lafayette, one of the mall's two key anchor department stores. Bloomingdale's, they other key anchor will open in 2010. The new stores that have opened in the past month include several flagship stores or unique retailers to the region covering a range of sectors including fashion, accessories and home appliances.
Mr Yousif Al Ali, General Manager, The Dubai Mall, said: "The opening of The Dubai Mall has energised the retail sector in the region with strong sales recorded throughout the mall. In less than a month, about 100 retailers have opened their stores, several of them flagship stores for the region. The continual opening of new stores on a daily basis gives mall visitors a wider choice to complement the upcoming festive season sales."
He added: "In addition to the dynamic array of shopping choices, the mall's leisure attractions such as the Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre and Dubai Ice Rink continue to be key attractions for visitors. The Guinness World Record holding Dubai Aquarium offers a window to the splendours of the marine world with the ‘world's largest acrylic viewing panel', while the Dubai Ice Rink offers a winter escape with its Olympic sized proportions."
Among the stores that have come online since The Dubai Mall opened are fashion and accessories brands Cole Haan, Saccor Brothers, Manolo Blahnik, Karen Millen, Just Cavalli, Diesel, Tru Trussardi, CK, Coach and Burberry. Newly opened children's clothing stores include including Salam Kids and Osh Kosh B'Gosh, and a number of jewellery and watch retailers such as Rivoli, Tiffany, Carl F Boucherer and Richard Mille are also open. The flagship stores Nivea Haus, a concept health and beauty store and the widely popular bookstore from Japan, Kinokuniya have both opened, marking their Middle East debut to the region.
The Dubai Mall will have 1,200 retail outlets in all, and over 160 food & beverage outlets including two food courts. The Level 2 food court, the largest of its kind in Dubai features 40 international dining options ranging from Taco Bell and Hatam, to the newly opened Fatburger, Ribs & Rumps and Johnny Rockets Express. Café Court on the Lower Ground level also offers a fine selection of food and beverage choices including Assia in Wok, Nando's, Mashawii and Zataar w Zeit.
Other attractions that will be completed in the new year include Fashion Avenue, a precinct dedicated to haute couture 70 signature stores; The Grove an indoor-outdoor streetscape with a fully retractable roof; KidZania®, an 80,000 sq ft innovative children's ‘edu-tainment' concept; SEGA Republic®, a 76,000 sq ft high adrenaline indoor theme park; and a 22-screen cineplex, the largest in Dubai.
Located in Downtown Burj Dubai, the mall can be accessed from Sheikh Zayed Road, Financial Centre Road (previously called Doha Street), Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Burj Dubai, the new bridge off Interchange One and a direct access road near Emaar Square off Sheikh Zayed Road. The mall has a total of over 14,000 spaces for parking across three car parks and a car locator ticketing system.