Massive Dubai Mall to Get Bigger

Posted on by
Reply

Massive Dubai Mall to get bigger

Emaar to add 1m square feet of retail and hospitality space in about five years

    • By Manoj Nair, Associate Editor
    • Published: 00:00 February 14, 2012
    • Gulf News

 

Dubai Mall aquarium

  • Image Credit: Francois Nel /Gulf News archive
  • Visitors view the Dubai Mall aquarium. With the new space and the additional clout the Dubai Mall will build in the next three to five years, Emaar could ask for a higher premium from prospective tenants.

Dubai: The Dubai Mall is to add one million square feet of new retail and hospitality space to its already staggering 12 million square feet as a means to cement its hold as the most-visited shopping destination in the world. The developer, Emaar Properties, has not given a timeframe as to when the expansion will be complete, though industry observers suggest four to five years would be a reasonable guess.

Last year, the mall hosted more than 54 million visitors and has had a good start to this year as well. With yesterday’s expansion announcement, Emaar’s strategy would be to keep the momentum going well into the mid- to long-term.

Details as to where and how the expansion will shape up have not been revealed. According to David Macadam, the Mena head of retail at the real estate consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle, “Given the forecasts being made for tourism numbers in the next few years, it probably works in Emaar’s favour to go ahead with the expansion now. The kind of traffic the mall is attracting on peak trading days, the potential for an expansion is already there.

Top of spectrum

“What the market needs to know how the expansion will be linked to the existing property, the road networks and additional infrastructure that will be required and other details.”

Emaar’s team has been working on the expansion plan for 12 months. The Dubai Mall now has 3.77 million square feet of gross leasable space.

Lease rates at The Dubai Mall currently average Dh450 to Dh500, according to market sources, and easily at the top end of the market spectrum. With the new space and the additional clout the destination will build up in the next three to five years, the developer could conceivably ask for a higher premium from prospective tenants, and what’s more, get it.

Milestone

“I think the new space will fly as soon as it’s made available on the market,” said Ajai Dayal, a retail consultant. “As to whether there will be a premium over the current levels will depend a lot on the state of the market at the time. There’s still a lot of time left for that to happen.”

For Emaar’s future revenue generation, the expansion marks a key milestone. Over the last two years, the cash generation from its retail and hospitality components have come to assume a significant proportion of its gross revenues. In the absence of a major turnaround in the residential space, this will be the state of affairs for the foreseeable future.

The additional space will include new hotel rooms as well as entertainment and lifestyle choices. Currently, the mall has more than 1,200 stores and 160 F&B outlets.

Courtesy: GulfNews

Toy Fair Preview

Posted on by
Reply

Arctic Play Elfit
From the slopes to the schoolyard, this six-piece winter set is a great fit for any sporty Elf Magic Elf or Hanukkah Helper. Sky blue Arctic jacket has a zipper closure and is lined in comfy and soft green polartec fabric. Set also comes with blue waterproof snowboard pants, white snowflake shirt, green polartec mittens, green polartec hat with pompom, and a pair of black boots with velcro closures. Snowboard and skis available for download online.
$20

Funky Chic Elfit
Fashion-forward Elves will love this stylish six-piece set, which comes with black velour leggings, jumper with colorful faux buttons and trim, yellow long-sleeved shirt, zebra print scarf, matching pocketbook, and black suede boots with faux sheepskin trim. Mix and match the different pieces for a one-of-a-kind look!
$19


Aeromax
847.756.4085 • www.aeromaxtoys.com

Jr. Space Explorer
Junior explorers can hop on this inflatable space shuttle and blast off for both indoor or outdoor adventures. Ideal as a floating ride-on, this handsome shuttle boasts genuine looking instrument panels, gauges, a built-in portal view of Earth and the red & white stars & stripes of the U. S. of A. Kids will enjoy incorporating into play the clear window view of Earth and the international space station as seen from outer space. After touring the stars and the moon, move the furniture and make way for a shuttle landing that boasts a 45” wingspan and spreads 43” in length. Designed for a weight limit of 90 pounds.
$34.95 • Ages 3+

Aurora
888.287.6722 • www.auroragift.com

Signature Series
Aurora’s Signature line is broken into three categories; wildlife, jungle and exotics. Wildlife includes white and Bengal tigers, giraffe, cheetah, lion, gorilla, tamarind and monkey. The exotics feature koala, panda, polar bear, lesser panda, meerkat, hedgehog, bush baby, fennec fox and ring-tailed lemur. The wildlife category includes lynx, gray wolf, red fox, raccoon, bison, bald eagle and tawny and barn owls. Signature pieces range from seven to 43 inches.

Dinosaurs
The five new dinosaurs include Triceratops (10”), Pterenodon (10”), Stegosaurus (12”), Brachiosaurus (11”) and T-Rex (12”); MSRP: $14 each. The dinosaurs use plastic eyes and their scales are highlighted with a special reflective material. Three new dinosaur hand puppets include Iguanodon, Parasaurolophus and Oviraptor (10”, MSRP: $11).

Toy Fair Preview, Part 2

January 26, 2012 at 8:10 am | In Guest Post, New Product Ideas, Shows | Comments | Get this via email

Today’s guest post is from Poornima Apte, Editor-in-Chief of GIFT SHOP Magazine andSpecialty Retail Report.

The winter markets are all set to ring in another year of exciting product launches and brisk business. Here is a sneak peek at some of the exciting finds you can expect at the winter 2012 edition of Toy Fair.

HABA
habausa.com

Caterpillar Rina Pull Toy
This colorful pull toy always makes a happy face and will follow baby wherever s/he wanders. Caterpillar wiggles her whole body when pulled. Made from beech wood, the body of this toy measures 12 inches long.
Ages 12 months +

Discovery Puzzle on the Farm
Ideal for a toddler’s first puzzle, four wooden pieces (pig, cow, horse & farmer) can pop in and out of the farm scene. The motifs on the puzzle’s edge are clues for images repeated in the big puzzle. Parents can read aloud the enclosed story as little eyes try to find the farm features.

Beetle Karo Clutching Toy
Grownups can’t help saying ahhhh when they hold this 5½-inch clutch toy packed with sweet surprises. In addition to the soft pastel colors, this little personality has two petal rings that can be moved up, down and away. Listen for the rustling sound and watch baby’s eyes light up! The plush feel comes from a mix of velour and cotton/polyester.
$8.99 • Ages 6 months+

Beetle Kai Clutching Toy
This little beetle is full of delights from his floppy antennae to his rustling ring of petals that slide up, down and off. Give this 6-½ inch guy a shake and hear a little bell. His soft feel comes from a mix of velour and cotton/polyester.
$8.99 • Ages 6 months+

Salad Bowl in Summer Charm
Teddy can get a full day’s serving of vegetables in this tasty bowl of salad ingredients. The shatterproof salad bowl, made of melamine, matches the Summer Charm tableware set. 5 felt veggies make up this tasty appetizer – dark green olive slices, pale green salad leaves, brown mushroom slices, white onion rings and red tomato slices.
$13.49 • Ages 3+

Gary Gouda
Here’s a game of cat and mouse that goes 3D with a fresh and sophisticated game frame. As Gary the Mouse munches his way through the house and gets plumper with every bite, he’s having trouble fitting through the mouse holes. Only the player who recalls the sizes of the various holes faster than Kiki the Cat can make it to the target unscathed. The game features adjustable mouse holes and encourages good memory skills. Fun for the whole family, up to 4 can play at a time.
$31.49 • Ages 4+

Moover Baby Truck
This first toy on wheels is designed for children as young as 12 months, remaining friendly through the preschool years. It appeals to both boys and girls –an obvious choice as the child’s first “ride-on” toy. Kids love to practice simple assembling and construction skills as both the truck body and the crane can be removed. In the driver’s cab there is room for a teddy bear or a doll and other toys can be placed in the “trunk.” It’s a clever mixture of play and learning. Choose red with yellow wheels or natural with red wheels.
$85.49 • Ages 12 months+

Toy Fair Preview, Part 1

January 23, 2012 at 3:19 pm | In Guest Post, New Product Ideas, Shows | Comments | Get this via email

Today’s guest post is from Poornima Apte, Editor-in-Chief of GIFT SHOP Magazine andSpecialty Retail Report.

The winter markets are all set to ring in another year of exciting product launches and brisk business. Here is a sneak peek at some of the exciting finds you can expect at the winter 2012 edition of Toy Fair.

Green Toys Inc.
415.839.9971 • greentoys.com

Green Toys Salad Set
Watch healthy eating habits sprout with the fresh and fun Green Toys™ Salad Set! Toss up lettuce and veggies and top with a dash of dressing or salt & pepper for the greenest salad around. In this 20-piece stackable set, each realistic part is made in the USA from food-safe, 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sized for Green Toys kitchen sets and interchangeable with other Green Toys play food products, the Salad Set includes a serving bowl, salad plate, 2 serving utensils, 3 lettuce leaves, 3 sets of cucumbers, 2 tomatoes, 2 red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and fold-your-own oil & vinegar and salt & pepper. No BPA, phthalates, PVC or external coatings. Meets FDA food contact standards. Dishwasher Safe.
For ages 2 +

Green Toys Build-A-Bouquet
With the Green Toys™ Build-a-Bouquet, budding florists can create countless floral arrangements while saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs, this brightly colored 44-piece set includes 4 bases, 16 stem and leaf pieces, and 24 flower pieces. The vibrant lilies, petunias, and daisies stack interchangeably in the assorted stems for limitless fun that blossoms in all seasons. It’s no secret that this garden is as safe as it is fun, with no BPA, phthalates, PVC or external coatings. Packaged using recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks.
For ages 2 +

Green Toys Mini Vehicles – 4 Pack
City streets, busy highways, country roads. Whether it’s the Ambulance, Police Car, Taxi, or Red Fastback, the Green Toys™ Mini Vehicles are sure to stop traffic wherever little imaginations venture. These planet-pleasing automobiles are made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Each pint-sized car sports its own unique details, while the whole fleet features a super-eco design with no metal axles or external coatings. No BPA, phthalates or PVC. Packaged with recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks.
Dimensions: 6″L x 3-1/2″W
For ages 1 +

Green Toys Tool Set – Pink or Blue
No job is too big for the world’s most environmentally friendly tool kit! This awesome 15-piece set includes a tool box, Phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, hammer, saw, wrench, pliers, 2 two-hole connectors, 2 nails, 2 bolts, and 2 nuts. The Green Toys™ Tool Kit turns work into Good Green Fun™!
For ages 2 +

Green Toys Sand Kit – Blue or Pink
Build a castle. Dig for buried treasures. No matter how ambitious the project, the world’s most eco-groovy sand play set always leaves a light footprint. Like all Green Toys™ products, our Sand Play Set is made from advanced environmentally friendly materials, helping to reduce fossil fuel use and C02 emissions, all in the name of Good Green Fun™!
For ages 18 months +
4 Pieces, including: Bucket, Shovel, Rake, Sand Castle Mold

Green Toys Mini Fastbacks – 4 Pack
Nothing gets the green light from Planet Earth like the Mini Fastbacks from Green Toys Inc. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce greenhouse gasses, these four palm-sized cars are perfect for little hands ready to explore and protect their world. The red, blue, green, and yellow two-door coupes are high-design and low-emission, with a classic sloping roofline, racing stripes, and no metal axles. No BPA, phthalates, PVC or external coatings. Packaged with recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks.
Dimensions: 6″L x 3-1/2″W
For ages 1 +