Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi's largest shopping destination, opens

The largest shopping and entertainment destination in Abu Dhabi, Yas Mall, opened to the public today (November 19), a few days ahead of the 2014 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, national security adviser and deputy chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, today inaugurated Yas Mall, situated on Yas Island.

The 2.5 million-sq-ft mall, which was developed by Aldar Properties, provides its visitors with an exciting range of leading local, regional and international retail brands and entertainment attractions with nearly 10,000 covered parking spaces. It includes more than 370 stores, 60 of which are international restaurants.

Spanning three floors, Yas Mall offers 83 unique-concept stores, which further enhance the mall’s retail offer of local and international brands.

Yas Mall was designed to achieve a Two Pearl Estidama rating, Abu Dhabi’s sustainable framework for design, construction and operation. It integrates a series of green strategies that make it a forerunner in the next generation of development in the Middle East. Some of these strategies include the use of regionally sourced and durable materials including modular limestone flooring and wall cladding and the use of shading strategies such as vertical glazing that is protected from direct sun via deep insets, canopies and a brise-soleil system, as well as improved outdoor thermal comfort through landscaping and shading devised over exterior parking and primary pedestrian pathways.

“Estidama”, which means sustainability in Arabic, is Abu Dhabi’s own green building guideline. All buildings in Abu Dhabi must meet a minimum of one Pearl; Yas Mall is a two Pearl Estidama building.

Yas Mall offers a shopping destination for both tourists and residents supported by its easy access from the centre of Abu Dhabi. Yas Mall’s proximity to other exciting attractions such as Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Links, Yas Park and Yas Water World as well as its direct link to Ferrari World, adds further value to the leisure and entertainment offer on Yas Island.

The modern architectural design for Yas Mall combines natural and traditional themes. The exterior façade treatments for the parking structures and the mall buildings reflect a modern interpretation of nature-inspired pattern and colour. Conversely, the mall interior creates a series of urban spaces, with the streets, avenues, boulevards and squares expressed as modern interpretations of traditional urban spaces.

Yas Mall includes 20 Vox screens which bring even more excitement to Abu Dhabi, with the emirate’s first 4Dx technology, as well as a family entertainment zone by Fun Works, with the region’s first 60,000-sq-ft area dedicated to playful learning.

The inauguration ceremony included a tour by Sheikh Hazza and other senior figures around Yas Mall’s spacious avenues, which distinguish Abu Dhabi’s largest shopping and entertainment destination. The ceremony took place at Town Square, in which guests were surrounded by natural scenery and water features.

The ceremony commenced with the UAE national anthem, followed by an interactive video highlighting Yas Island’s present and future. The last performance celebrated the launch of Yas Mall with fireworks, as it showcased an extraordinary art installation of six falcons made from steel representing a symbol of force, courage, grace and pride.

Abubaker Seddiq Al Khoori, chairman of Aldar Properties, said: “We are meeting today under the patronage of the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose vision has paved the way for sustainable growth in business and commerce in Abu Dhabi. The retail sector in particular has grown significantly, and now Abu Dhabi enjoys the largest retail development pipeline across the GCC. We are very pleased to open Yas Mall today which is set to add significant value to Abu Dhabi’s many leisure and entertainment attractions.” - TradeArabia News Service