A new BD5 million ($13.2 million) shopping complex will open in November in Malkiya, it was announced on Wednesday.

The Reef Shopping Mall, built on an area of 5.4 hectares, will include a hypermarket, shopping outlets, food court, multipurpose halls and a medical complex among other facilities, said Northern Municipal Council chairman Yousif Al Boori.

’Other than hosting social activities at the multipurpose hall, it will offer a learning centre, games hall and a petrol station,’ he said.

’It will have an outdoor square with a fountain, seating areas and playground, outdoor shops and in the future, the space may be used for national celebrations among other occasions.’

Al Boori said that special care has been taken to create a healthy family environment for all.

’The aim of the mall is to develop the area and create investment and job opportunities for the residents,’ he said during an inspection visit to the mall.

Present were Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry under-secretary Dr Juma Al Ka’abi and other officials.

’The mall includes 38 commercial stores, a hypermarket, six restaurants, two coffee shops, a children’s play area and a building that includes offices for the use of the government, banks or medical clinics.’

The mall will also have a building that can be utilised by an educational institute and another building that can be used as a multipurpose hall.

’There is another multi-storey building that contains nine flats that can be used for residential, office or medical clinic purposes,’ he said.

The mall, which was granted by His Majesty King Hamad to residents in the area, had initially faced delays allegedly due to the lack of co-ordination between the government organisations concerned.

The council had claimed earlier that it faced trouble reaching the government organisation in charge of the project, until the Royal Court intervened.

It said that it had been trying since the project’s completion to have electricity connected, but claims that no one knew who was responsible for it.

The Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Mansoor bin Rajab earlier said that his ministry was assigned responsibility for the project, which was constructed but without the relevant services connected yet, in June last year. - TradeArabia News Service