New mall projects and expansions are a sign of an economy going in the right direction, an industry expert says.
"When malls decide to expand, add on new sections, renovate, it signifies a positive economical growth and at RECon 2015 we will be seeing many new announcements some for extensions and others for brand new malls that will be coming up in the Mena region," said David Macadam, chief executive officer of MECSC.
"These developments not only influence the retail industry, but hugely influence the tourism sector, hospitality and create many new opportunities and jobs, which has a direct impact on the economy of the city in which the mall is located and therefore it's quite exciting to see so much development at the forefront of the retail industry this year."
At RECon 2015, a large number of announcements of new shopping malls and expansions are introduced. RECon, the longest running and most successful conference for the shopping centres and the retail industry in the Mena region, runs from November 1-3 in Dubai.
New developments of shopping malls in Dubai include The City Centre Me'aisem, which recently opened in the International Media Production Zone, the first addition to the City Centre collection of malls in the country in three years. Some other notable mall projects on the way are The Pointe & Palm Mall on Palm Jumeirah; The Avenues by Meeras; Phoenix Mall at International City; Mall of the World at Mohammed bin Rashid City; Dubai Pearl Mall; Nakheel Community Malls; and Jumeirah Beach Village Mall at JBR.
It's not just the brand-new malls that are making headlines; a list of older malls are now getting facelifts and announcing new extension and expansion projects.
Dubai's Mall of the Emirates just opened the 36,000sqm extension this month with a state-of-the-art VOX cinema and a host of new F&B outlets and retail brands. Some of the other mall extensions to open up soon are at BurJuman, Dubai Outlet Mall, Dragon Mart and The Dubai Mall.
RECon 2015's exhibition area and deal-making sessions run concurrently through out the event; there is more time set aside for the exhibition area and enhanced networking opportunities. A gala dinner and awards ceremony will be held on the final day.
