UAE-based regional property developer Majid Al Futtaim Investments announced Tuesday that it will introduce the ‘City Centre’ shopping, entertainment and leisure brand to Bahrain, with the island’s biggest retail complex set to open in Manama.
At a ground breaking ceremony attended by Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the kingdom's Minister of Finance, and the Governor of Manama, as well as other dignitaries, final plans were announced and the architectural model unveiled for the 1.5 million square foot mixed-use shopping centre.
The project, which will house the Middle East’s largest 20-screen Cineco Cinema, and more than 350 stores also features a 54,000 square foot family entertainment centre, called Magic Planet and two hotels with a total of 700 hotel rooms combined, which will directly link to the mall itself. The resort will also be home to the largest indoor water park in the Middle East, covering 135,000 square feet and providing a temperature controlled aquatic experience to visitors all year round. Bahrain City Centre will include ten anchor stores and negotiations are already underway with two major international department stores. Other facilities will include 30 international restaurants and Bahrain’s first Carrefour hypermarket, which will span an impressive 172,000 square feet, as well as 6,000 covered car parking spaces.
“Bahrain is a very exciting market and a natural progression for the regional expansion of the ‘City Centre’ brand name,” said Peter Walichnowski, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Investments, “Like all of our malls, Bahrain City Centre will have several ‘firsts’ for the region, both in terms of its sheer size and scope as well as its unique offering of a fully integrated shopping and leisure destination. We are confident that the centre’s innovative and distinctive mix of international and local brands will not only transform the retail environment of Bahrain but also establish a benchmark for the regional market.”
Leasing interest in the property has already been significant, with lease offers for almost 70% of the new centre already, and a target opening date set for early 2007.
