Salalah’s first major mall opens

By A Staff Reporter — SALALAH — United Real Estate Company (URC), one of the MENA region’s leading real-estate developers, has officially opened its latest commercial and hospitality development in Oman, Salalah Gardens Mall and Salalah Gardens Residences, in the subtropical city of Salalah. The project was inaugurated by Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, along with Ahmed bin Nasser bin Hamad al Mahrizi, the Minister of Tourism, and Tariq Mohammed AbdulSalam, Chairman of the URC. Omani officials, URC’s CEO Mohammed Ahmed al Saqqaf, URC Board of Directors and the URC Executive Management Team along with other dignitaries were among others present on the occasion.

Salalah Gardens Mall, which is the URC’s first project in Oman, was awarded ‘Best Retail Project — Middle East’ in the Mid-cap category from the 2013 World Finance Construction Awards and ‘Best Retail Development’ for Oman during the 2013 Arabian and African Property Awards.

Salalah Gardens Mall is the first and only mall in Salalah, featuring a wide variety of shopping, dining and entertainment activities. Connected directly to the mall, Salalah Gardens Residences is the hospitality component of the development comprising of 168 keys operated by Safir International Hotel Management Company, a subsidiary of Kuwait Hotels Company. Commenting on the grand opening, Tariq Mohammad AbdulSalam, Chairman of URC, welcomed the Omani government representatives as well as dignitaries and said: “Our prime objective in developing Salalah Gardens Mall was to create components that complement each other to offer an unprecedented experience which combines entertainment, shopping activities and a comfortable hotel experience”.

He added, “Kuwait has a very distinguished relationship with Sultanate of Oman. We would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the Omani authorities and government entities for their continuous efforts in supporting foreign investments in Oman. Under the guidance of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the country has created an attractive investment landscape, which is a key element in attracting strategic investments in Oman.” AbdulSalam also thanked the URC team for leading the development of this project to a successful operational phase. Salalah Gardens Mall will debut popular brands in the Governorate of Dhofar including Carrefour, City Cinema, Red Tag, McDonald’s, Fun Station, Nestle Toll House, The Body Shop in addition to a selection of local, regional, and international brands. The mall is Salalah’s largest mixed-use development with a built up area of 86,074 sqm which includes 30,000 sqm of retail leasable space, a traditional old souq, Salalah’s first three-screen multiplex cinema and parking facilities for over 1,300 vehicles.

Founded in 1973 in Kuwait, today URC is one of the MENA region’s leading real estate development companies with total assets of $ 1.6 billion. The company has investments spanning commercial complexes, hotels, resorts, residential buildings, high-rise office buildings as well as mixed-use developments. URC’s notable operational projects in Kuwait include KIPCO Tower, Marina Mall and Marina Hotel in addition to Saleh Shehab Resort. The company continues to expand regionally with the development of its regional projects including Abdali Mall in Jordan, Aswar Residences in Egypt, Junoot in Oman and Raouche View at 1090 in Lebanon.