Majid Al Futtaim – shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia – officially broke ground on what will be its largest mall in Sharjah, the City Centre Al Zahia. Once complete, City Centre Al Zahia will be a valuable addition to Majid Al Futtaim’s City Centre brand portfolio.
Strategically located at the intersection of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and University Road, City Centre Al Zahia is a super-regional mall with 1.46 million sqft of gross leasable area.
The mall will address the shopping and leisure needs of the residents of Sharjah, northern emirates and Al Zahia – an award-winning residential destination with six themed parks, leisure facilities and featuring 2,270 homes ranging from 3, 4 and 5 bedroom villas and townhouses to apartments of various sizes. When it opens in 2020, City Centre Al Zahia will serve a trade area of more than 1.9 million people, while also attracting residents of neighbouring northern emirates.
Offering a diverse mix of over 360 retail brands over two levels City Centre Al Zahia is anchored by a 162,535 sqft Carrefour Hypermarket, complemented by leisure offerings including VOX Cinemas, with 16 screens incorporating the latest theatre technology and a 25,295 sqft Magic Planet family entertainment destination.
With a distinctive lantern-like design, City Centre Al Zahia’s architectural detailing echoes the annual Sharjah Light Festival. In addition, the external food and beverage precinct, located at the mall’s entrance along with covered alfresco seating, will enhance Sharjah’s dining options for residents and tourists.
City Centre Al Zahia will have a contemporary, light-filled aesthetic driven by Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to sustainable, environmentally-sound building practices.
“Sharjah’s robust economic growth and the continued investment in its tourism, manufacturing, culture and transport sectors make it an ideal destination for further development, especially in the retail, food and beverage and entertainment landscapes,” says Ghaith Shocair, CEO for shopping malls at Majid Al Futtaim Properties.
“The scale and long-term vision of the Al Zahia community warrant a retail and entertainment destination of this size and scope, in line with Majid Al Futtaim’s strategy to create malls that meet the current and future needs of the residents and tourists we serve. When complete, City Centre Al Zahia will be the vibrant hub at the heart of this residential destination,” he adds.
City Centre Al Zahia’s ground-breaking comes following Majid Al Futtaim’s recent announcement that will see the company increase its total investment in the UAE by AED30 billion by 2026, taking its total investment in the country to AED48 billion. As part of its strategic development plan, Majid Al Futtaim continues to invest in the redevelopment of its existing assets in the northern emirates.
The expansion plans for City Centre Sharjah and City Centre Ajman are also key elements of Majid Al Futtaim’s overall UAE growth strategy announced in June 2016. City Centre Sharjah is currently undergoing an AED 260 million redevelopment initiative set for completion in the last quarter of 2017. A comprehensive redevelopment of City Centre Ajman will see the mall almost double in size, from 312,153 to 559,723 sqft. With an estimated cost of AED600 million, the mall’s expansion is anticipated to conclude in the third quarter of 2017, followed by additional refurbishment and redemising of the existing mall.
Following the opening of City Centre Me’aisem in September 2015 and City Centre Al Shindagha in 2016, and the successful delivery of Mall of the Emirates’ Evolution 2015 expansion initiative, City Centre Al Zahia is Majid Al Futtaim’s fourth major project to be announced in the UAE within the past 18 months.
Watsons to open 20 new stores in the GCC
In 2020, global health & beauty retailer AS Watson Group signed its
April 29, 2024 | By Rupkatha BAsda and Deliverect Deepen Partnership to Power Rapid Delivery Across Asda Express
SQUATWOLF’s Kuwait Flagship Store Anchors Its Regional Growth Ambitions
Global beauty icon Ulta Beauty to make Riyadh debut at Panorama Mall
/ 
For decades, Haldiram’s built deep recall across the UAE through its packaged
When House of Habanero opened its first physical location at Alserkal Avenue
Union Coop has completed a significant expansion of its Hatta Souq branch,
Saudi Arabia is set to welcome U.S. food exporters this week, as
Majid Al Futtaim has officially entered the discount retail segment with the
As convenience increasingly becomes currency in the region’s grocery landscape, Union Coop
As wellness becomes a lifestyle in the UAE, the grocery aisle is
Grandiose, one of the leading grocery retailers in the UAE with a
With shifting consumer behaviour, rising cost pressures, regulatory changes, and rapid digitization,
Union Coop’s blend of retail expansion, digital innovation, and community focus is
Abu Dhabi-based MAIR Group has marked a pivotal stage in its transformation
In a move that blurs the line between shopping and investing, Apparel
/ 
Why cinemas, wellness sanctuaries and cultural districts are becoming emotional infrastructure for
From bullion to boutiques, investment to immersion, Dubai Gold District marks a
An evening where global retail leadership met Saudi Arabia’s rising influence in
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin
Alandalus Property Company is one of Saudi Arabia’s leading real estate investment
Red Sea Markets Company unveils a transformative evolution to Red Sea Mall,
The Point represents a strategic partnership between the Red Sea Markets For
Azad Properties, a leading real estate developer in Saudi Arabia, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Housing Company (NHC).
NRF Vice President of Education Strategy Susan Reda forecasts 2025’s retail trends
The Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has recorded sales of $1.94 billion up
Previous Article
