Reem Mall, Abu Dhabi’s new retail, leisure, dining and entertainment destination, has appointed Cecil Huey as its senior development advisor.

Huey will be responsible for key aspects of development and delivery of the $1 billion project, which is set to become one of the UAE’s largest and most exciting malls.

Huey, one of the retail industry’s most respected developers, has a career spaning 25 years. Before joining Reem Mall, he has been involved in the some of the most iconic shopping centre developments in the Middle East, US and in Europe.

Huey’s projects comprise developments in Western US, Germany, Scotland, Russia and Spain, including Madrid Xanadú, the first European shopping centre with a Snow Park.

Most recently, he served as senior director, development, for the shopping centre division of Majid Al Futtaim Properties in Dubai, with responsibility for the development of regional retail centres in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Previously, Huey has also held senior strategic roles at several international development companies including Ivanhoe Cambridge, an international shopping centre development company based in Canada and TrizecHahn, one of the largest shopping centre developers in North America.  

Huey said: “The Reem Mall will be a truly unique and much needed addition to Reem Island and the wider Abu Dhabi communities and I’m excited to be involved with such an ambitious project.”

“Once completed, Reem Mall will have around 450 stores, including 85 restaurants, and a range of entertainment features across three floors, providing families with the perfect day out,” he added.

Reem Mall, developed by the National Real Estate Company (NREC), in partnership with United Projects for Aviation Services Company (UPAC), is a 2 million sq ft retail, leisure, dining and entertainment destination, located on Reem Island, the new master-developed residential and commercial zone adjacent to Abu Dhabi, which will eventually be home to more than 200,000 people.

Shane Eldstrom, vice president – development for NREC, said: “We are delighted to have Cecil on board and he brings essential experience to the project. Cecil has been involved in major projects in the Middle East and is a fantastic addition to our team. His focus will be on the timely development and progress of the mall.” – TradeArabia News Service