Majid Al Futtaim to build $117m City Centre Sohar
Retail project to start construction in November 2017, and is scheduled to open in 2018
Majid Al Futtaim, the UAE-based shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure developer operating across the Middle East, has announced the launch of a new project in Sohar, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman’s Northern Governorate.
Scheduled to open in 2018, the project, known as City Centre Sohar, is a mall that will have 130 stores, a Carrefour Hypermarket and a nine-screen Vox Cinemas, the developer said in a statement. The project will cost $116.84 million, MAF added.
“As part of Majid Al Futtaim’s growth strategy, we aim to be at the forefront of Oman’s rapid development in the retail industry and bring the best shopping, food & beverage and entertainment experiences to Sohar with this contemporary urban project,” said Ghaith Shocair, Chief Executive Officer Shopping Malls, Majid Al Futtaim Properties.
“By introducing our renowned City Centre brand to Sohar, we will be enhancing the city’s retail landscape with more than 130 diverse stores, an 8,400sqm Carrefour Hypermarket, a nine-screen VOX Cinemas, in addition to an array of dining and entertainment options.
“Majid Al Futtaim’s investment in the city of Sohar underscores our commitment to creating great moments for everyone, every day.”
Located on the Batinah Highway, City Centre Sohar will add 40,000sqm of gross leasable area to the Sultanate’s retail sector. Sohar, a port city and major industrial hub, has seen substantial economic growth in recent years.
The construction contract for City Centre Sohar has been awarded to the Oman-based company Al Turki Enterprise and work will commence in November 2017, the developer added.
City Centre Sohar will target a LEED Gold Status within three months of opening, MAF said. This will include the implementation of sustainable building best practice with enhanced insulation, LED lighting and solar panels that will contribute to the centre’s energy requirements. Furthermore, condensation from air-conditioning and ventilation systems will be used for irrigation.
In addition to City Centre Sohar, Majid Al Futtaim Properties owns and operates the newly upgraded City Centre Qurum, as well as City Centre Muscat, which recently underwent a $70 million expansion.
Community-centred mall My City Centre Sur is also in the pipeline, as is Mall of Oman, set to be the Sultanate’s biggest shopping centre and representing an investment of $714 million.
