The highly anticipated opening of Reem Mall, a $1.3 billion shopping destination in Abu Dhabi, marks the debut of the city's first indoor snow park. After nearly a decade of development, the mall was inaugurated by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, reflecting a significant milestone in its journey.
Bruce von Kaufmann, the mall director, highlighted the challenges faced during the prolonged construction period, partly attributed to the impact of Covid-19. Despite these obstacles, the mall has successfully opened its doors to the public, with anchor tenants like Carrefour already operational since February 2022.
Spanning an impressive 186,000sqm of gross leasable area, Reem Mall is expected to attract an annual footfall of 16-18 million visitors. The development of the mall was overseen by Al Farwaniya Property Developments, a partnership between Agility Global, United Projects for Aviation Services Company (UPAC), and the National Real Estate Company (NREC).
One of the mall's standout features is the sub-zero Snow Park Abu Dhabi, distinguishing it from over 400 retail units and approximately 80 food and beverage options. Additionally, renowned international brands such as Zara, Nike, Adidas, Eataly, New Shanghai, Bloomingdale’s, and Vox Cinemas, including private rooms, are part of the diverse offering.
Further enhancing the consumer experience, the mall is set to introduce a variety of exciting attractions throughout the year, including a family entertainment centre. As part of the grand inauguration, a summer carnival filled with entertaining activities and live shows is being launched.
Von Kaufmann shared plans for upcoming services, including a cloud space tailored for small companies and startups, as well as the innovative concept of a phygital store that seamlessly integrates digital and physical experiences. By the end of the year, the mall aims to facilitate omni-channel retail through its marketplace, enabling international brands to showcase and trial their products without the need for a physical presence in the region.
With technology at the forefront, a new app equipped with a unique feature to assist visitors in locating their parked cars within the mall's extensive 6,400-space parking facility is set to be introduced next month. Von Kaufmann emphasized the app's convenience in addressing the common dilemma of lost vehicles in parking lots, demonstrating the mall's commitment to enhancing customer convenience and satisfaction.
