Opening of Wahat Hili Mall in Al Ain on the horizon

Al Ain's mall building boom is coming to an end, with one of the last in a list of new shopping centres nearing completion.

Mohamad El Sabawi, Wahat Hili Mall's general manager, pictured during the mall's construction last June. Ravindranath K / The National

Al Ain's mall building boom is coming to an end, with one of the last on a list of new shopping centres nearing completion.

Wahat Hili Mall, a neighbourhood shopping centre north of the city, was scheduled to open in the first quarter, but securing approvals took longer than expected. It now plans to launch in June.

"Construction-wise we have passed 95 per cent completion," said the mall's general manager, Mohamad El Sabawi.

"The mall is completed inside when it comes to common areas. We are just at the final stages, working on the external landscaping and the car park and the direction of the signage on the property."

The largest unit has been handed over to tenant Geant Hypermarket, which is in the process of fitting out the premises.

All other tenants will receive their keys next month to give them enough time to fit out the stores ahead of the opening, added Mr El Sabawi.

"As our journey reaches its destination, we have taken careful measures to make sure we continue to tread a straight and steady path," said Mr El Sabawi.

"From our side the mall will be 100 per cent complete by April."

The three-storey mall is the first mixed-use development in the city and includes the five-star 257-room Hili Rayhaan Hotel, managed by Rotana.

The mall is located near Wahat Hili, the largest residential complex in the city, and a short drive from the Al Ain-Dubai motorway.

National Bank of Abu Dhabi's headquarters in Al Ain as well as the first Fitness First health club in the city will be located in the mall.

The tenant list also includes the Landmark brands Babyshop, Shoe Mart and Splash. The mall is in talks to sign two retailers that do not have a presence in Al Ain.

"One is a huge electronics shop which will be coming to Al Ain for the first time, but we have not signed the deal so I cannot disclose the name," said Mr El Sabawi.

"There is another coffee shop, which is expanding aggressively in Dubai and they showed interest in Wahat Hili Mall."

But the mall has yet to reach full occupancy, with about 55 per cent of the 160 units signed.

It is in talks with retailers to lease an additional 15 to 20 per cent of space.

"We receive a lot of requests from potential retailers who want to be tenants of the mall but we are quite selective when it comes to the tenant mix," said Mr El Sabawi. A number of new shopping centres have opened in Al Ain in recent years, including Bawadi Mall and Al Foah Mall.

"The competitive context really has become significantly more challenging, particularly over the last 18 months," said Richard Adams, a director and senior consultant at Acuity Middle East, a Dubai-based market research firm. But a number of factors may aid Wahat Hili, such as its proximity to Al Ain's largest residential complex and the city's relatively high per-capita income.

"Extending the gross leasable area, as long as you're in the right catchment, is not a bad move," he added.