Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping mall and leisure pioneer in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, has unveiled a RO5-million ($13 million) retail expansion plan for City Centre Qurum in Oman.

The additional redevelopment project, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year, will add 3,150 sq m of incremental leasable area to accommodate Centrepoint, the multi-brand retail concept of Landmark Group as well as additional car-parking spaces, said a statement from the UAE-based retail major.  

The project completion will see Centrepoint as a new anchor store, which will include Babyshop, Splash, Lifestyle, and Shoe Mart.

The expansion will be at the ground level of the mall in the existing parking space and a new car park structure is currently being built to accommodate 160 additional vehicles, it stated.

"We are excited to welcome Centrepoint to City Centre Qurum - a fantastic opportunity for us to better serve our loyal shoppers, and to entice more customers to the mall," remarked Watfa Humaid Al Harthy, the senior mall manager at City Centre Qurum.  

"Expanding the mall underscores Majid Al Futtaim's industry leadership and commitment as a positive contributor to the local economy and underlines our company’s vision to creating great moments by providing customers with a truly convenient and enjoyable shopping experience," he added.

In 2014, City Centre Qurum expanded by introducing a family leisure precinct featuring a seven-screen VOX Cinemas (2,140 sq m) and a new Magic Planet family entertainment centre (490 sq m), according to the UAE retail pioneer.

With these additions completed, the retail destination will have approximately 26,500 sq m of gross leasable area (GLA), offering more than 14 diverse dining options, 83 retail destinations and distinct entertainment options, including Magic Planet and VOX Cinemas, it stated.
 
In the past year, Majid Al Futtaim has unveiled a number of developments and expansions in its portfolio, including the recently-opened City Centre Al Shindagha, which is the seventh City Centre mall in the UAE, and the 13th in the wider Middle East region. Last September, it opened City Centre Me’aisem at Dubai’s International Media Production Zone (IMPZ).

In November last year, the group announced the RO35-million ($90 million) expansion of City Centre Muscat, besides a Dh1-billion ($272 million) multi-stage redevelopment of the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

City Centre Qurum is a lifestyle shopping mall and community landmark offering a tailored retail mix focused on mid-market fashion, lifestyle and convenience-oriented stores, including a Carrefour hypermarket, H&M and Mango. The mall, which opened in 2008, is located in the commercial and residential hub of Qurum.-TradeArabia News Service