United Real Estate Company (URC), a leading real estate development company in the region, has announced the opening of McDonald’s at Salalah Gardens Mall, one of URC's major projects under development in Oman.

McDonald’s is the first of Salalah Gardens Mall's anchor tenants to begin operations, and is the first branch to open in the city of Salalah in Oman, a statement from URC said.

Over 65 VIPs attended the event which was organised under the joint patronage of Salim Bin Ofait Bin Abdullah Al Shanfari, head of Dhofar Municipality, and Khalid Musallam Al Rawas, general director of tourism Dhofar region, head of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Dhofar, head of manpower Dhofar Municipality, and head of ROP.

During the celebrations, McDonald’s entertained the crowd with numerous activities, including a children’s magic show, face painting, Arabian music show, a vibrant light show projected on the side of mall building, and a traditional Dhofar musical show.

Renimah Ali Al-Mattar, executive vice president of URC, said: “The opening of the first McDonald’s in Salalah is  the start of the much anticipated opening of the mall, bringing a  new shopping and leisure experience to the people of the city. As part of its commitment to becoming a community brand in Salalah, McDonald’s will also facilitate children’s activities in its branch, such as face painting and birthday parties. We are very pleased that they are also exploring additional services and offerings, such as a car-hop service and a McCafé to the mall.”

“URC is proud to present a mall that will introduce a number of brands for the first time in Salalah,” said Ali Hassan Moosa, general manager of URC Oman. “The company’s expertise and record in successfully developing high-quality projects such as Salalah Gardens Mall will mark a new era in retail and entertainment for Salalah and its people.”

Salalah Gardens Mall is the first fully integrated shopping mall in Salalah and is a mixed-use development. The mall covers a total built-up area of 86,074 sqm (excluding parking) and features a wide variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options, the statement said.

McDonald’s will serve its customers through a separate entrance in Al Robat Street. Many other world-famous brands will be shortly joining McDonald’s in the mall, including Carrefour, City Cinema, Nestle Tollhouse, The Body Shop, as well as a selection of major regional and local brands, offering visitors and residents of Salalah a completely new mall experience.

The development, which is designed along traditional Omani architectural lines with modern facilities, will also include a 168-key hotel. Salalah Mall Residences will be operated by Safir International Hotel Management Company, an affiliate of URC Kuwait.

Facilities of the hotel include an outdoor pool, lounges, children’s play area, cafes and a restaurant. The opening of the hotel is scheduled for May 2013. – TradeArabia News Services