Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa, will invest OMR27 million ($70 million) to expand City Centre Muscat, it has announced.
The retail expansion will introduce up to 60 new shopping and dining options, in 10,000 square metres of new retail space.
The project, which will commence later this year, will provide a significant boost to the Sultanate's emerging retail sector in addition to fuelling the Sultanate's economic and tourism aspirations.
"City Centre Muscat is undergoing an exciting transformation and Majid Al Futtaim is pleased to be a positive contributor to the local economy while fostering the growth of the Sultanate's retail and entertainment landscapes," said Dimitri Vazelakis, executive managing director for Shopping Malls at Majid Al Futtaim – Properties.
"City Centre Muscat's expansion and redevelopment will set a new standard of shopping mall excellence with unique retail, modernized surroundings and exciting new leisure options," Vazelakis said.
City Centre Muscat will be expanding its main ground floor into the existing car park space to create a new retail corridor that will connect each end of the shopping mall creating seamless traffic flow and accessibility for visitors. A new car park structure, currently under construction will accommodate 700 vehicles to add to the convenience of shoppers.
The new retail precinct will showcase 60 new stores featuring a diverse collection of lifestyle-oriented brands, including some exciting new flagship stores making their debut in Oman.
City Centre Muscat will also boast a new dining zone, with five new casual-dining restaurants featuring different international cuisines. A general revamp will take place as part of the expansion with key amenities such as toilets, mall public areas and prayer rooms being enhanced.
City Centre Muscat recently completed Phase 1 of its redevelopment at a cost of OMR8.3 million which saw the opening of a 10-screen VOX Cinemas plus enhancements made to Magic Planet and its food court dining area. With City Centre Muscat's new expansion and investments, the local economy and workforce is set to cash in on the benefits with thousands of jobs projected from construction to long-term retail and leisure career opportunities.
Emphasis will be placed on training and development of Omani nationals, giving local residents the opportunity to contribute and be a part of these exciting milestone developments.
Phase 2 of City Centre Muscat's redevelopment is expected to be complete in 2015.
Times of Oman
4 September