On Friday, a new community mall was inaugurated at Damac Hills 1 by property developer Damac Group, which also announced plans to construct approximately six additional shopping centres across the UAE. In an interview with Khaleej Times, Hussain Sajwani, founder and chairman of Damac, stated that the company would concentrate on community malls and avoid competing with larger ones. The second mall, spanning 110,000sqft, offers retail, hospitality, leisure, and entertainment options, and features international and local brands across various categories, including 30 retail stores and 10 F&B outlets. The upcoming six new malls are expected to create hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs in the retail sector. The UAE’s retail sector, along with the real estate, travel, and tourism industries, has substantially recovered in the post-pandemic period. The newly opened mall is expected to record an annual footfall of around 1.3 million visitors. Future expansion plans are currently in the design stage to meet the demand from retailers, tenants, visitors, and community members. The new Damac mall houses a 28,000sqft Spinneys supermarket, Starbucks, Papa John’s, Vietnamese Foodies, American Wax, Al Jaber Opticals, Al Ain Pharmacy, and Lingo Play Area for children. A 9,000sqft gym and a dedicated 8,000sqft medical facility are slated to open soon. Amira Sajwani, managing director for sales and development at Damac Properties, stated that the mall has a carefully curated tenant mix that perfectly aligns with the preferences of the local community.