Work progresses on Abu Dhabi’s $1.2bn Reem Mall featuring snowpark

Work is progressing on Abu Dhabi’s upcoming $1.2bn Reem Mall, its developer Al Farwaniya Property announced on Sunday.

The project, which was originally due to open this year, has been pushed back to 2020 after delays.

Construction of the mall began in late 2017, and so far 13 tower cranes have been erected, a statement said.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s $1.2bn Reem Mall moves a step closer after delays

Raft foundation works are underway with over 55,000 m3 of concrete set in place, and over 5,500 tonnes of reinforcement installed.

The superstructure of the project is also now under construction with the first suspended slab’s recently poured and vertical works progressing across the whole site, the statement added.

Spread across 2 million sqft of leasable area in the Najmat District on Reem Island, the new mall will comprise more than 450 retail brands, dining options, and entertainment concepts, including Snow Park Abu Dhabi, a destination snow park attraction.

Shane Eldstrom, CEO of Al Farwaniya Property Developments said: “The cranes are on site, we have nearly completed the substructure and have already completed several sections of floor in the superstructure.”

Al Farwaniya Property Developments also announced that infrastructure works had started with geotechnical investigations required for the project’s elevated roads.

Al Farwaniya Property, a joint venture between Kuwait logistics firm Agility, its United Projects for Aviation Services Company unit and Kuwait’s National Real Estate Company, awarded a Dhs2.3bn ($626.1m) contract to UAE-Italy joint venture Itinera Ghantoot for the project.

The mall is planned to be handed over in a single phase to coincide with other completions on the wider Reem Island development, which aims to have a population of 200,000 people.

When it does open, the mall will face competition from existing centres Yas Mall and Marina Mall and new entrants.

The latter has announced plans for a Dhs3bn ($816.7m) expansion with a waterfront promenade and skate park, with work set to begin this year.

Read: A wakeup call for GCC retail

Just over 2km away from Reem Mall the $1bn Al Maryah Central, featuring 400 retail stores, is also under construction and due to open this year.

Read: Gulf Related secures Dhs 2.3bn financing for Al Maryah Central