Dubai Holding and Emaar announce Dubai Square

Dubai Holding and Emaar Properties have announced the launch of Dubai Square – a new retail metropolis that pushes the boundaries of modern retail and leisure in Dubai Creek Harbour by drawing on next-generation technology.

Blurring the boundaries of online and in-mall shopping, integrating indoor and outdoor, and delivering a social experience like none other, the all-new Dubai Square is designed for the new era of customers, digital, connected and tech-savvy, setting a benchmark for retail experiences in the 21^st century.

Dubai Square was recently revealed at an exclusive retailers’ event that offered a fully-immersive experience for the participants. Through state-of-the-art 3D projection technologies, they were given an overview of the world of opportunities that await them in partnering with the bold and ambitious development that will transform the retail landscape.

Commenting on Dubai Square, Dubai Holding chairman, Abdulla Al Habbai says, “Dubai is experiencing tremendous tourist inflow and continues to rank highly as a holiday destination for people from many different parts of the world. The city’s appeal is anchored in its strong leisure and entertainment, retail and hospitality industry, the foundations of which Dubai Holding helped build and strengthen over time. The destinations we have delivered, such as Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, JBR, Global Village and Business Bay, are some of the most recognisable urban landmarks of today. Dubai Square is our new retail and leisure destination, and with this we aim to actually redefine the shopping experience by introducing a variety of innovative concepts. This is our latest endeavour to bring the best to Dubai, as part of Dubai Holding’s promise, ‘for the good of tomorrow’.”

Dubai Square is set in the heart of Dubai Creek Harbour, the 6 square kilometre mega-development only 10 minutes from the Dubai International Airport and the iconic Burj Khalifa by Emaar, as well as set by the historic Dubai Creek. Adjacent to Dubai Creek Tower, the astonishing new icon, Dubai Square – in its totality – represents a 30 million sqft retail, hospitality and residential district for the future.

“Dubai Square disrupts the traditional mall and retail experience. Focused on the aspirations of the new generation of customers, it reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as a global hub and a smart city. Dubai Square will play a pivotal role in further establishing Dubai as the next champion of global retail,” adds Mohamed Alabbar, chairman, Emaar Properties.

“With Dubai Square, we are delivering a new destination experience that will bring incredible value to our retail partners. Dubai Square is where technology meets the human touch, and retail meets next-generation entertainment. With its omnichannel offering, it not only drives in-store retail but also the online engagement of brands with customers. With its location in Dubai Creek Harbour, and by serving as the closest mega-retail district to millions of passengers passing through the Dubai International Airport, it meets the real need for a new generation lifestyle destination, especially given Dubai’s growth in population and tourist arrivals,” he states.

Equivalent to the size of more than 100 football pitches – with over 8.07 million sqft of gross floor retail space – Dubai Square pushes the boundaries of design and mall layout. Dubai Square – to be spread across three levels, each presenting a unique set of experiences – will feature an eclectic mixture of styles and references. Skylights, glazed roofs and shopfront windows will be part of the sensory visitor experience. Parks, patches of green and lush landscaping will provide a natural balance to state-of-the-art facilities. Special LED technology is set to drive impactful and interactive backdrops and delight customers throughout their journey.

Technological innovation permeates every aspect of Dubai Square’s function. Championing ‘omnichannel retailing’, it will offer customers a seamless blend of shopping via desktop, mobile or at a retail store. The physical and the digital at Dubai Square co-exist in harmony, with stores acting as showrooms for their online presences.

Digital conveniences will include custom-designed mobile apps, quick checkout solutions, search and barcode scanning applications, radio-frequency identification technology, mobile payments and click-and-collect services.

While visitors to Dubai Square can lose themselves in a choice of global gastronomy, the property’s entertainment repertoire will delight visitors. In addition, Dubai Square will also feature an Art District, serving as a crossroads for artists and art lovers from around the world. What’s more, Dubai Square will be home to the Middle East’s largest of its kind Chinatown, offering a wide range of retail attractions on the league of similar precincts globally.