THE Fujairah City Centre has crossed key construction, leasing and safety milestones confirming an on-target schedule for opening in early 2012, according to its developers.

The strategically located shopping mall, at the intersection of the new Fujairah-Dubai Highway and the existing Masafi Highway at the entrance to Fujairah City, is being developed by Majid Al Futtaim Properties in partnership with the government-owned Fujairah Investment Establishment.

Khansaheb Civil Engineering is the contractor for the estimated Dh400-million ($109 million) project, on which Mace has been appointed project manager. The project broke ground in April this year.

To-date, with more than one million hours logged across a workforce of 1,100, Fujairah City Centre continues to operate as an accident-free site. Following best-in-class practices, the development is targeting a Gold Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating according to the USGBC green building guidelines and will be the first in the emirate to achieve a Leed rating, says a spokesman for the developers.

“Since the official groundbreaking in April by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, works have progressed ahead of programme,” the spokesman says. “Key construction milestones achieved include the completion of the mall’s roof and external concrete. Similarly, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works are progressing with underground drainage systems installed, and a dedicated electrical substation on programme to enable Federal Electricity and Water Association (Fewa) to energise the mall electrical systems in December as planned.”

Furthermore, Fujairah City Centre has achieved a near-100 per cent fully leased status, with 100 of total 105 retail outlets confirmed to-date. This represents a major milestone for the still-emerging retail landscape in Fujairah. With a gross leasable area (GLA) of 34,000 sq m, the mall’s varied retail mix will cater to the needs and projected growth of the Fujairah community and includes the emirate’s largest Carrefour hypermarket and other anchor tenants Carrefour, Centrepoint, Emax, Paris Gallery and Max Fashion.

With construction works being on schedule, an accelerated tenant fit-out schedule was launched last month – two months ahead of schedule.

“Fujairah City Centre will provide a boost to the underserviced retail landscape in Fujairah by providing a high quality and unique shopping and entertainment experience for the growing community,” says Yousif Al Ali, asset director.

“We are proud of the advancements to the mall’s leasing, construction and overall progress to-date. It’s a positive reflection of Majid Al Futtaim Properties’ commitment to best practices and the industry’s interest in Fujairah as an emerging retail market. Looking forward to 2012, Fujairah City Centre will redefine the shopping and entertainment experience in the emirate,” he says.

Majid Al Futtaim Properties  currently owns and operates 10 world-class shopping malls in the region with three of its flagship projects based in Dubai. 

Link for the Fujairah City Centre - At A Glance: