Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping mall developer, retail and leisure pioneer in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, is set to launch its first shopping mall in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah -  My City Centre Al Dhait - on Tuesday (January 9).

The new shopping mall built at a cost of Dh68.5 million ($18.6 million) in fast-growing community of Al Dhait will bring 30 top lifestyle brands - of which several are set to make their debut in Ras Al Khaimah - besides other dining options closer to residents and providing convenient access to meet their daily shopping needs.

The opening of My City Centre Al Dhait comes at a time when the emirate’s population is expected to increase to 603,000 by 2025. The Sheikh Zayed Housing programme is spearheading the development of sustainable communities in the emirate.

The launch will be held in the presence of Majid Al Futtaim Properties CEO (Shopping Malls) Ghaith Shocair and other senior government officials.

In what is seen as a major boost to the emirate's tourism sector, several new hotels are scheduled to open over the next two years, according to most recent data collected by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.
 
Ras Al Khaimah expects to receive around one million visitors by the end of this year and 2.9 million by 2025, it added.

Also, the northern emirate has opened employment avenues within several new development projects, including Al Marjan Island, said the statement from Majid Al Futtaim.

Amid this jump in visitor numbers and population boom, the new shopping mall will help provide value to customers and contribute to the development of the neighbourhood and lead to further retail, dining and leisure options as it continues to expand to meet the changing needs of shoppers, it stated.

"My City Centre Al Dhait will be instrumental in helping develop the local community: by providing a space for people to meet, connect and have a cultural exchange," said a company spokesman.

"It is not just a place to shop, but a key activity centre in the social fabric of communities. Elevating their purpose beyond simply offering an outlet to buy groceries or pick up some new clothes," he added.-TradeArabia News Service