Al Futtaim Festival City mega projects
Al Futtaim Group Real Estate mega Festival City projects
During MAPIC, Al Futtaim Group Real Estate (AFGRE), one the leading family-owned business houses in the Gulf, has been presenting their 3 mega projects, Dubai Festival City, Cairo Festival City and Doha Festival City. The United Arab Emirates based Dubai Festival City will highlight the Festival Centre’s growing stature as celebrated home to the world’s finest retail and entertainment brands during its participation in MAPIC 2011. For the first time in its six-year participation at this unique real estate and retail trade show, Festival City brands in Dubai, Cairo and Doha have been featured together on the same platform, further emphasising the expanded geographical offerings for retail and F&B giants.
Doha Festival City is AFGRE’s newest development, a super-regional mixed-use retail, entertainment and hospitality destination, located in Qatar. Just a few months ago the projects ground breaking ceremony took place, and the entire project is set to be finished in 2014. Set to be one of the largest and most advanced mixed used retail, entertainment and hospitality projects in Qatar at 433,000+ sqm with 260,000 sqm gross leasable area, Doha Festival City will showcase for the first time its retail opportunities during MAPIC 2011. Held from the 16th to 18th of November in Cannes, France, MAPIC is considered the most important international retailing event of the year, bringing together retailers, investors and exhibitors from around the world. Marwan Shehadeh, Group Director, Corporate Development at Al Futtaim Group said, “Qatar is experiencing unprecedented growth in almost every aspect of their economy which is leading to a healthy increase in population and tourism. In terms of the retail scene, we believe that malls in Doha are currently undersupplied for the population with a real need for super regional centres that target both locals and tourists alike with easy access and convenient parking facilities. We felt that there was an excellent opportunity for us to bring the Festival City brand and our experience to Doha and to develop, along with our Qatari partners, what is set to be an iconic shopping, entertainment and hospitality destination”. A scale model of the project was unveiled on the stand indicating key zones of the retail shopping area where the interior design is inspired by nature and elements of wind, water, wood and earth. Within the retail loops are four distinct interior zones – Water Concourse, Garden Promenade, Rainforest Boardwalk and Fashion Galleria.
Cairo Festival City is focusing on Festival Centre, Egypt's first indoor-out door retail experience, which is expected to open next year. Festival Centre will host one of Egypt's largest shopping malls in addition to an outdoor retail space Festival Village which will host a range of boutique stores. Cairo Festival City will showcase the vision for the future of Egyptian retail, in the form of Festival Centre, to be Egypt’s premier indoor-outdoor retail experience. Participating in MAPIC, for the sixth consecutive year, Cairo Festival City highlighted the latest developments in their retail district, which will open in Q4 2012. Mohamed Mikawi, Managing Director of Al Futtaim Group Real Estate said “Despite fears at the beginning of the year, that Egypt’s changing political situation would impact the retail industry, it remains strong and continues to grow. In fact a report just released by the Business Monitor International predicts that retail sales in Egypt will grow by over 10 billion US dollars in the next 5 years, highlighting just what an important role Festival Centre will play in the growth of the industry when it opens next year.” Already 75% pre-leased Festival Centre will include a mix of international and local brands with anchors, including IKEA, Marks and Spencer, White House, Renaissance Cinema and Carrefour. Offering 160,000 square metres of gross leasable area, Festival Centre will play a key role in meeting the needs of the growing New Cairo population, which is project to reach 7 million by 2020.
Dubai Festival City is also focused on their Festival Centre, which has been fully functional for several years now. Dubai Festival City is AFGRE’s flagship project and the model that was exported to create both Cairo Festival City and Doha Festival City. Festival Centre adds to its growing list of top brands Hard Rock Café Dubai and Al Fanar Restaurant and Café.Dubai Festival City is developed by Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate’s part of Al-Futtaim group, Festival Centre, Dubai Festival City’s retail precinct, has become the mainstay of Dubai’s premier mixed use community attracting thousands of visitors each week from all over the Middle East region. The award winning Festival Centre opened in 2007 and continues to attract first time brands from The Americas, Asia and Europe such as Brooklyn Diner and fully licensed Jamie’s Italian, le Relais de l’Entrecôte and ChiZen restaurants. It will be the new home for Hard Rock Café Dubai’s to open soon. The much awaited launch of one of the world's most recognisable brands will undoubtedly underscore Festival Centre as the dining and entertainment destination of the UAE. Another integral part of the mall’s offering is Al Fanar Restaurant and Café, the first ever Emirati fine dining establishment in the UAE that revives memories of Dubai in the 1960s. Impressive architecture, décor and lighting reminiscent of the city more than 50 years ago add to the authenticity of the famed Emirati cuisine and hospitality. Marwan Shehadeh, Group Director, Corporate Development, Al-Futtaim group said the retail landmark of 190,000 sqm that forms the epicenter of Dubai Festival City will continue to be acknowledged as one of UAE's most exciting retail, dining and leisure attractions thanks to the multitude of world class stores that have made Festival Centre their first choice destination. Festival Centre is anchored by Marks & Spencer, Toys “R” Us, IKEA, ACE Hardware, Paris Gallery, Plug-Ins and Ferrari store and also has dedicated an area for children and mothers including by Lovely Lace, Bumble Bee, Angels, Marasil, Lapin House, Jacadi Paris and Crocs. Dubai Festival City is a mixed use destination and premier waterfront community interconnecting finest residential, shopping, dining, leisure and entertainment, international hotels, schools, golf course, automotive park and offices. Connected to two 5 stars hotels - InterContinental and Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City, Festival Centre has a stunning 74 berth Festival Marina which overviews the historic Dubai creek. The state-of-the-art marina is the only facility in the UAE with quay wall mooring (as found in the waterside towns of Europe). Visitors to the waterfront can enjoy around 40 food and beverage options at the Canal and the Marina Restaurant Pavilion. Festival Centre has been home to international concerts such as Celine Dion, Amy Winehouse, Kylie Minogue, Carlos Santana and DJ Tiesto and key events like Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises. The shopping mall began winning awards within its first year of opening - Best Retail Development, Five Star at the Arabian Property Awards 2010, Best Retail Destination of the Year at the Retail City Awards 2010, Best in Dubai Award 2010 - Best Music Venue from Ahlan! Magazine, Mall of the Year at Retail City Awards 2010, Silver Maxi for Marketing’ 2009 at ICSC USA, Festival Centre, International Shopping Centre of the Year’ Award RLI 2008, and Retail Destination of the Year at Retail Middle East Award 2008.
Main Entrance Doha Festival City concept
Cairo Festival City
Festival Centre Dubai Festival City
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