MALL OF THE EMIRATES MARKS CONSTRUCTION MILESTONE WITH RAISING OF THE TOP SECTION OF SKI HILL

Construction of the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort at the Majid Al Futtaim Investments project, the Mall of the Emirates saw a major milestone achieved this weekend with the final section of the ski slope raised into place.

Utilising a technique known as ‘strandjacking’, a section of the slope, weighing 3000 tonnes (the equivalent of 500 elephants), was lifted 30m into the air and connected to the main framework of the ski hill structure. The completion of this phase signals a significant landmark in the construction process of the Mall of the Emirates project, which continues on track for opening on 3 September 2005.

The raising of the slope, which was completed over two days, creates space for another 3,000 car park spaces and signals a shift into the final phase of the construction of the project. This phase will focus on internal finishes and retailer shop construction, with several retailers already on-site and many more expected over the coming weeks.

“This is a critical milestone in the Mall of the Emirates project and the finish line is now in sight,” commented Jeff Rossely, Group Vice President, Development, MAFI, “It is a very significant feat of engineering in a scheme that pushes the boundaries of mall design in so many ways. I would like to pay tribute to all involved, especially our specialist contractors, Al Naboodah Laing O’Rourke and Eversendai.”

“The sheer scale of the project and the magnitude of the structure is now visible to everyone passing the Mall of the Emirates at Interchange 4 on Sheikh Zayed Road," says Phil Taylor, Chief Executive, Ski Dubai, “The smooth and successful completion of this major stage of construction is testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team.”

When complete, Ski Dubai will hold over 6000 tonnes of snow at any given time and will take its place in the history books as the third largest indoor snow dome in the world, boasting such features as a 400m ski run, a permanent 3.5m radius quarter pipe for stunts, a snowboarding park, 5 multi-directional slopes with varying slope gradients, including a black run, and the world’s largest indoor snow play area.

Ski Dubai is a component of the Mall of the Emirates, the flagship project of the Majid Al Futtaim Group. Along with Ski Dubai, the project is being promoted as a Retail Resort and will feature over 425 stores, 65 restaurants, a 14-screen Cinestar cinema, the region’s largest Magic Planet Entertainment area, the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre, a Kempinski hotel and the largest Carrefour hypermarket in Dubai. Opening on 3 September 2005 this landmark project will re-define the retail and leisure experience both in the Middle East and worldwide.

© 2005 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)