Expansion plans revealed for Jebel Ali’s Outlet Village

The Outlet Village opened its doors in September in Jebel Ali. Courtesy of Meraas

Just a month and a half after it opened to the public, The Outlet Village, Jebel Ali's new luxury shopping destination, has revealed major expansion plans. By 2018 it expects to be the largest luxury outlet shopping center in the UAE, according to Meraas, the developer behind the property.

We journeyed to The Outlet Village when it first opened, and were impressed with the variety of stores and tempting bargains on offer, not to mention the picturesque Italian-inspired architecture.

Meraas will be adding an additional 3 million square feet to The Outlet Village, which is currently home to 125 retailers, including Lanvin, Coach, Banana Republic and Calvin Klein. When the planned expansion is completed in the first quarter of 2018, the mall is expected to have 350 different stores, housing a total of 450 international luxury brands. Stores set to open later this year include Sephora, Stadium, Nike, New Balance, Diesel and Galleries Lafayette, in addition to Ihop, Starbucks and P.F. Changs.

“With one million shoppers having visited the destination, The Outlet Village is well on its way to achieving its projected footfall of 12 million per annum. Additionally, we have experienced an overwhelming demand and interest from fashion houses from countries around the world, including Italy, France, USA and the UK,” says His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, group chairman of Meraas. “At present, all stores within the first phase of The Outlet Village are all leased and at least 50 per cent of stores within the expansion have been leased.”

Construction on the second phase of The Outlet Village is expected to begin in the next two months.