The Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai. ARCHIVE

Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar has revealed that the property developer plans to expand Dubai Mall. In an Instagram video, Alabbar said that Emaar is “planning to renew Dubai Mall, and expand it, as well as change it.” “We must take care of this mall, as one takes care of their small child,” Alabbar added. The Dubai Mall remains one of the most visited megamalls in Dubai, welcoming over 100 million visitors per year. It opened on November 4, 2008. It is also the biggest mall in the UAE, with a total area of 12 million sqft, the equivalent to 200 football pitches. It houses more than 1,200 retail stores as well as more than 200 restaurants and cafes. The mall is also home to the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and sits next to the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain. Last month, toll gate operator Salik announced that Dubai Mall will switch to paid parking and that it will be managing the mall’s parking operations. According to Salik, mall customers will have ticketless parking and the fee will be automatically charged using vehicle plate recognition. Fees will be deducted from the vehicle owner’s Salik account. The paid parking service is expected to be rolled out by the third quarter of 2024. Salik said that Emaar Malls will decide on the parking fees once it finalizes its mall parking rules. ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page