Mushrif Mall ready for its roll-out

Mushrif Mall is to open with a line-up likely to appeal to bargain hunters.

Mushrif Mall was originally expected to open in April last year, but the project encountered major construction problems.

Mushrif Mall is due to open next month with a mix of discount and mid-range retailers likely to tempt bargain hunters more than lovers of luxury.

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While the centre was originally marketed as a new premium shopping centre in Abu Dhabi, the retail mix is dominated by value-based stores.

The mall will have three anchor outlets: a 15,000 square metre Lulu Hypermarket; and the electronics retailers Sharaf DG and Emax.

The 56,000 sq metre mall will also open with a 2,100 sq metre Matalan, part of a value chain based in the UK, and Daiso, which is run by a Japanese discount chain.

It will also have a small indoor water park called Sparky's Oceanic, and Abu Dhabi's largest food court with 20 food outlets and nine specialist restaurants.

Wajeb Khoury, the leasing manager for the mall, said it was "fully leased" and would open early next month with more than 200 stores.

Seeking the mid-range to premium-shopper segment, the mall will not open with a department store and boasts few luxury brands.

The developer, Line Investments & Property, part of the Emke Group, had previously indicated the mall could open by the end of last month after several delays.

The mall, built at a cost of at least Dh1.2 billion (US$326.7 million), was originally expected to open in April last year, but the project encountered major construction problems. The shopping centre will cater to residents in the Mushrif area of Abu Dhabi near Airport Road and 25th Street, and Emke Group aims to have 10 million visitors in the first year.

"We were supposed to open earlier, but they have delayed and we are planning to open officially at the end of June," said Arvind Prakash, the operating manager for India Palace, a chain of eight restaurants in the UAE.

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The mall is also expected to be home to the first Frederick's of Hollywood store in the Middle East.

The lingerie brand known for the push-up bra and for clothing models and celebrities such as Pamela Andersonsigned a deal in March with Emirates Associated Business Group , based in Abu Dhabi, to build and operate 10 Frederick's of Hollywood retail stores in six Middle East countries over the next three years.