Middle East's first eco-friendly mall to open in Oman

The Middle’s East first eco-friendly £127 million luxury mall is set to open in 2018 in Oman, developers announced.

Al Araimi Boulevard, the mall being developed by Al Raid Group, will be located in Al Khoud. The mall will house the largest food court and glass atrium in Oman, and will provide 70,500 sqm of leasable area. 

The development will be spread over 147,000 sqm, set over two floors. Construction has begun on the site, and the project has been slated for completion by September 2018.

The mall has been dubbed as the “Westfield of Oman” by developers Al Raid Group, who were inspired by the London shopping malls created by Australian retail giant Westfield.

“With a strong commitment to using sustainable energy sources, Al Araimi Boulevard’s large glass ceiling makes use of photovoltaic technology, which will generate clean, and free solar power, making it Oman’s first shopping centre to integrate solar panel energy supply,” an official statement said.

Sheikh Fahad Abdullah Al Araimi, Chief Executive Officer for Al Raid Group, said, “We are pleased to announce the international launch of this world-class shopping and entertainment destination that has been carefully designed to completely revolutionise the shopping and leisure experience for the entire family.

“We strongly believe that spending quality time with family and friends is one of life’s great pleasures, and with this philosophy in mind we have created Al Araimi Boulevard as an exceptional lifestyle destination created to bring people together in enjoyment,” Al Araimi added.

Visitors will be able to choose from a combination of high end boutique brands on offer, as well as anchor stores which are located throughout the mall.

A 6,000 sqm entertainment area will be dedicated to family visitors, as there will be a large interactive learning area, alongside space for live shows and performances.

Younger children will enjoy Kid’s Planet, which will be a dedicated children’s play area, and a 10-screen cinema complex will offer the latest releases for the community, complete with 4DX cinema screens.

Al Araimi Boulevard will additionally feature Oman’s largest food court, a 1,200-seat dining hall with 20 food and beverage outlets, as well as 14 outdoor restaurants overlooking the landscaped gardens. A 10,000 sqm hypermarket is also planned for the site.

There will also be a designated food market with stalls selling Omani produce, a first for shopping malls in Oman. The market will provide a platform to showcase and support local food entrepreneurs, inviting them to present, promote and sell their unique food ideas. 

There will also be a gallery space in the premise, which will host community works, including young upcoming Omani artists.

The mall will contain landscaped grounds, and consumers will have direct entrance access from the Sultan Qaboos Road, the Equestrian intersection and Al Salam road. 

“The most spectacular access point is the main entrance, which visitors to the mall can approach via a ramped road bordered on one side by water features and landscaping. The canopied entrance has a 50 ft high wall of glass providing views into the mall, with doors at the base,” an official statement said. 

The entrance will lead into a network of multi-storey pedestrian boulevards that run the length of the mall. On the upper retail level, galleried pedestrian pathways will overlook the boulevard below. 

The destination will be equipped with 3,000 parking spaces, and will make use of a new smartphone app that would allow visitors to secure parking spaces in advance of their trip. The carpark will also include car drop off and valet parking, as well as car wash services.

Al Raid Group has partnered with Design International for the landmark project, as well as the Oman-based Unique Contracting Company, which was awarded the contract to build Al Araimi Boulevard

Source: Timesofoman