With the newly opened Galleria Al Maryah Island on one end and Yas Mall on the other, those living in Khalifa City are in between two of Abu Dhabi’s biggest malls. However, both are still more than a 25-minute drive away. Fortunately, residents can expect their own friendly, neighbourhood mall in the form of Forsan Central, which is 65 per cent complete, and predicted to meet its August 2020 opening date. The three-level mall will have 89 stores, 22 restaurants and myriad entertainment options, including a nine-screen cinema, plus a 15,000-square-metre Lulu Hypermarket, a pharmacy, beauty salon, gym and spa, and bank, laundry and tailor services. These will all begin fitting out from January. The venue itself is designed around a bamboo forest theme, in a bid to promote a “garden in the city” ambience, so expect plenty of greenery, natural light and vertical foliage-like facades. Forsan Central Mall will boast the largest skylight in the region, with 70 per cent of the roof covered with glass. While the names of stores and eateries haven’t been announced yet, the team promises a mix of retailers for fashion, handbags, shoes, sports apparel, electronics shops, book stores, school supplies, home decor and cosmetics; and cafes and restaurants serving Indian, Arabic, gourmet burgers, vegan and seafood, plus juice bars and ice cream parlours.
