Dubai Festival City gears up for five major component openings in 10 month schedule

Dubai Festival City, the ‘city-within-a-city’ being built on the banks of Dubai Creek, will mark five major component openings between July this year and April next, delegates at the Waterfront Dubai 2005 conference heard today.

Addressing the conference, which explored the future of coastline development in the Middle East, Phil McArthur, Director, Leasing & Marketing, Dubai Festival City, said the all-in-one destination will kick-start its opening schedule in July with the launch of the flagship Toyota showroom at the project’s automotive park.

“This lushly landscaped and highly specialised retailing hub will comprise state-of-the-art showrooms for international brands such as Lexus, Honda, Volvo, Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge,” said McArthur. “Together, these iconic showrooms, supported by ample nearby parking, will redefine the vehicle buying experience in Dubai.”

In September, two schools – the British curricula Deira International School and US-curricula Universal American School – will open at Dubai Festival City.

Two months later, the UAE’s largest IKEA will open at Dubai Festival City’s retail park and will shortly be followed by another retailing milestone.

“The IKEA opening will be followed by the launch of a 175,000 square foot hypermarket to be managed by a high profile international chain.

The Festival Centre’s retail offering will span 2.6 million square foot of retail gross leaseable area.

“We’ve had to expand Festival Centre twice from the original concept due to high demand,” explained McArthur.

The Festival Centre will feature more than 450 shops and over 70 restaurants, cafes and bistros, a 12-screen cinema complex, three theme pavilions and will have 11,000 car parking spaces – the highest parking to customer ratio in the Middle East.

And in 2006, Dubai Festival City is planning the launch of the second phase of its Al Badia Residents with some 190 homes, a mix of Mediterranean-style townhouses and luxury apartments all with sweeping views of the championship standard, 18-hole Al Badia golf course.

“Dubai Festival City is a breathtaking vision which is fast-becoming a ground-breaking reality.”

McArthur also told delegates how the major waterfront developments taking place throughout Dubai are reflecting the best of the emirate’s waterfront and trading heritage.

“Today its seems appropriate that Dubai, a city which is envied around the world for its forward thinking and innovative development, continues to reinvent itself by going back to its very roots – the waterfront,” said McArthur.

Dubai Festival City, he said, is a case study in modern-day development which, at the same time, reflects the heritage of Dubai Creek.

“The facilities and offerings emerging from Dubai Festival City make it a true city destination – one which combines all the needs of residents and visitors alike in one centreplace environment.”

See other recent news regarding: Dubai Festival City, Waterfront 2005 Dubai, Dubai