Work on a new multi-million dollar family shopping and recreation destination in Bahrain is in the final stage, with opening expected in the last quarter of this year, it has emerged.

Located in Zinj on the Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway, Galleria is a project by Dadabhai Group's MD Holding Company, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

According to MD Holding director Shabeer Dadabhai, the open layout mall across a plot area of 30,000 sq m and total built-up area of over 42,000 sq m, also includes a 12,800 sq m hypermarket extending over two floors.

“Galleria will be a refreshing addition to Central Manama, offering modern architecture and open layout design, lush landscapes and tree-lined avenues, as opposed to closed recreational and shopping centres,” he added.

The project's exclusive leasing and management representative is Pegasus Real Estate, whose managing director Aziz Mithaiwala said their research suggested a lack of an all-in-one shopping experience in the area.

“Galleria has been conceived as a boutique mall with multiple stores opening on to wide outdoor spaces for families to gather in a relaxed environment offering a multitude of options for all age groups for their shopping, dining and recreational needs,” Mithaiwala added.

According to him, as much as 12,350 sq m has been set aside for shopping and dining spaces featuring prominent fashion brands and international and new-to-Bahrain food and beverage franchises and eateries.

There are three dedicated floors of parking for more than 580 cars, as well as several outdoor parking spaces, he said.

Pegasus Real Estate retail property development manager Ali Barhoom said a good tenant mix has been planned with 40 per cent of space reserved for retail units, 20 per cent for utility services and 40 per cent for food and beverage outlets.

“There will be high-street fashion labels and traditional boutiques, international coffee shops, casual dining and fast food chains as well as traditional 'qahwas' and 'cafes’,” he said.

Over half the leasable space is already let with space filling up fast, Barhoom added.

The main catchment areas for the mall are Zinj, Mahooz, Adliya, Umm Al Hassam, Tubli and Gudaibiya.

“As it is located directly on the Shaikh Isa bin Salman highway, we expect it will be the first stop for visitors from Saudi Arabia and is a short drive away from Tubli, Janabiya, Jasra, Saar and Hamala,” he said.

“The major attraction will be its clean, minimalist layout which will feature a greater floor space, large temperature cooled walking aisles, in store better and state-of-the-art shelving, all adding up to provide a truly international shopping experience for visitors,” he added. - TradeArabia News Service