UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim inaugurates food hall at City Centre Deira

UAE retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim launches Food Central – its first culinary experience destination at City Centre Deira.

The food hall concept offers a raft of interactive dining experiences, and forms a part of the mall’s Dhs377m redevelopment project to enhance the shopping experience for visitors.

A live beehive installation reiterates its commitment to authentic, home-grown food, while a herb wall lined with a mix of fresh greens testifies food freshness.

Food Central curates a unique culinary experience with live cooking stations, imaginative activations and authentic food concepts.

Fuad Sharaf, managing director of UAE, Oman and Bahrain Shopping Malls at Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said, “Food Central redefines traditional food and beverage concepts. It was launched to offer shoppers and diners an imaginative and welcoming space to not just eat, but to experience quality cuisine. A novel and wholly unique concept that is new to the region, Food Central will entertain and educate visitors throughout the day, week, and season by creating a passionate food community among our tenants, and hosting a programme of food-related activities that surprise and delight. With Food Central as the focal point of the redevelopment, we are demonstrating our commitment to delivering great experiences for friends, families, and the communities we serve, while providing a platform for home-grown brands to showcase their delicious offerings.”

Tube Dubai, an art installation consisting of flexible nets suspended from the walls and ceiling, will form a floating landscape for visitors to use as a social space.

Food Central will be home to restaurants and outlets such as Asian Wok, as well as feature a range of local favourites such as Pickl, Raju Omlet, Kitchen 35, and Mr. Chaat, among others.

In related company news, Majid Al Futtaim opened what it claims is Dubai’s “first” in-store hydroponic farm at its Carrefour market Al Wasl store earlier this year.

Read: Majid Al Futtaim launches Dubai’s ‘first’ in-store hydroponic farm

The conglomerate has been stepping up its sustainability agenda, and late last year announced that it will eliminate single-use plastic from its operations by 2025.

As part of the decision, Carrefour stores will remove 800 million plastic grocery bags from circulation annually, it stated.

Read: UAE Carrefour stores to soon remove plastic bags as part of Majid Al Futtaim eco-plan