Construction work on the Dh1.4-billion ($381.15 million) City Centre Al Jazira, located between the Airport Road and Al Muroor Road in Abu Dhabi, is set to begin next month (October) and is scheduled for completion in early 2021.

City Centre Al Jazira is a joint venture between Majid Al Futtaim, the Middle East, Africa and Asia’s leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer, and Al Jazira Sports and Cultural Club, a key Abu Dhabi football club.

The centre will include 153 retail stores, a Carrefour Hypermarket, a 15-screen Vox Cinemas, Magic Planet family entertainment destination, a clinic and a fitness centre, as well as indoor and alfresco dining choices. Total leasable area is expected to be 80,500 sq m within a built-up area of 215,000 sq m.

“The Al Jazira Sports and Cultural Club is a renowned and long-time established institution that believes in empowering and developing communities. By joining forces with Majid Al Futtaim, we are thrilled by the opportunity to play a role in the creation of a new lifestyle destination that will bring people together in the heart of the capital, Abu Dhabi,” said Saeed Mohammed bin Batti Al Qubaisi, chairman of Al Jazira for Investment at Al Jazira Sports and Cultural Club.

“As part of Al Jazira Club’s vision to diversify its investments, the new shopping destination is an important addition to other investment projects which ensures the sustainability and diversity of Al Jazira Club’s portfolio,” said Mohammed Haji Khouri, chairman of the joint venture.

“City Centre Al Jazira marks a significant investment from Majid Al Futtaim into the UAE capital, driven by Abu Dhabi’s growing and affluent residential market and world-class infrastructure development projects” said Ghaith Shocair, chief executive officer shopping malls, Majid Al Futtaim Properties. “Bringing the City Centre brand to the capital will open the doors to an integrated shopping, lifestyle and entertainment destination for the community and contribute to Abu Dhabi’s vision that aims to develop a competitive, sustainable and globally open economy.”

Majid Al Futtaim’s announcement of City Centre Al Jazira marks the company’s latest investment into Abu Dhabi’s retail and entertainment landscape and is part of its plans to increase its total investment in the UAE by Dh30 billion ($8.16 billion) by 2026.