Retail International of the UK has been appointed to advise upon the development of a multi-level shopping centre being developed in Oman.

The project, located in the capital Muscat, is being built on three levels comprising some 30,000 sq m and is due for completion by the end of 2001.

Plans include a multiplex cinema and entertainment complex, a major anchor department store of over 2,000 sq m and parking for over 700 cars.

Presently known as Markaz Al Bahja, the centre is likely to be named formally when marketing begins in the next few months.

''From over 250 cross border retail fascias represented in the Gulf only about 40 are so far operational in Oman,'' says Retail International managing Simon Thomson. ''This is not due to lack of interest in the country,'' he continues, ''but due to the limited existing availability of suitable modern shopping centre space. Markaz will therefore provide the opportunity for new retailers to enter the Oman market for the first time.''

This latest instruction for Retail International follows hard on the heels of advising upon the development of a luxury lifestyle shopping centre proposed for Dubai not far from the Jumeirah Beach Resort Complex and new Marina.

''This is modelled along the lines of similar projects and festival malls in Southern California,' says Thomson, and will comprise about 80,000 sq m. It is estimated to cost about $150 million to complete,'' he says.

The value of these latest projects brings the recent total involvement of Retail International in Middle East shopping centres to over $250 million.