Leading developer Nakheel has officially opened a 300,000-sq-ft extension at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai, UAE marking the completion of the first phase of a huge expansion at the world’s largest themed retail complex.

Opened by chairman Ali Rashid Lootah, the extension adds 60 new shops, restaurants, cafes and services to the mall.

With this, the total number of outlets at the mall – which currently welcomes 20 million visitors a year – has reached almost 400.

Among the new stores are Decathlon, United Furniture, Marks & Spencer, Under Armour, Iconic, Superdry, Jashanmal and Paul, as well as expansions to Homes R Us, which now spans two levels, and Paris Gallery.

The expansion is the springboard for a series of subsequent extensions that will transform the existing Ibn Battuta complex into a giant retail, entertainment and leisure destination spanning seven million sq ft.

A two-storey link connecting the mall to Ibn Battuta Metro Station is also due to open in the next few weeks, bringing another 90 outlets including a 24-hour food court, and Ibn Battuta’s first hotel – a 372-room Premier Inn – is scheduled to open later this year.

These will be followed by another 4.7-million-sq-ft development – to be constructed over the next three to five – comprising a mall with a glass-covered courtyard, a new cinema complex, a multi-storey car park and another hotel.

“Today’s opening is a significant milestone for Ibn Battuta Mall and Nakheel’s retail business, which continues to grow in line with our company strategy,” said Lootah.

“This extension, coupled with the soon-to-open Metro link and subsequent expansions at Ibn Battuta, cements the mall’s position as one of Dubai’s biggest, most popular destinations, and reinforces Nakheel’s position as a major force within the Dubai retail sector.”

Set on a 5.6-million-sq-ft site, the 1.2-km long Ibn Battuta Mall is themed around the travels of renowned 14th century Arabian explorer, Ibn Battuta. The mall has six individually-designed zones named after and featuring architecture to reflect the most influential places he visited.  The extension follows the same architectural theme as the original mall.

Celebrations at Ibn Battuta continue until June 4, with weekend family entertainment including an Archaeological Dig featuring an ancient exploration playground; traditional Indian, Persian and Egyptian dance performances; and a Great Mystery Hunt. – TradeArabia News Service