Massive mall.

(From Gulf Construction)

The mega Mall of the Emirates, which will boast the region's first snow dome, is set to take shopping and entertainment to greater heights when it opens its doors this September

Construction of the Mall of the Emirates (MoE) - among the most exciting retail and leisure complexes in the world - continues to move forward at an unprecedented rate and looks well on track to meet its target completion date of September 2005

The Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) Investments project, which occupies a distinct position in the area dubbed "New Dubai", will house more than 400 shops and include 2.4 million sq ft of prime retail and leisure space, making it one of the biggest malls outside North America. The mixed-use development will incorporate two hotels (one of which will be operated by Kempinski,) a two-level family entertainment centre, indoor ski resort and a 500-seat community theatre

Main contractors include Bu Haleeba Al-Jaber Grinaker, working on the Kempinski hotel, Al Naboodah Laing O'Rourke working on Ski Dubai, and Khansaheb Civil Engineering working on the mall itself and the second hotel

Progress on one of the complex's key features, Ski Dubai - the first snow dome and indoor ski resort in the Middle East - is clearly visible from the Sheikh Zayed Road and work is under way to install machinery for the generation of snow, which will be utilised within. The contractors have 5,000 men on site at any given time, working at optimum capacity. Due to its unique nature, the project has posed interesting design and construction challenges, in terms of the structural steelwork and superstructure required to create various ski experiences and build the "floating" upper section of the slope. Ski Dubai will feature one of the world's longest indoor ski slopes and a play area where children and parents can have a true winter experience with real snow. "This is one of the most ambitious mall projects in the world, certainly outside of North America," says Peter Walichnowski, chief executive officer, Majid Al Futtaim Investments. "Even now the construction site illustrates the sheer scale of the project and the fact we are on schedule is testament to the commitment of the entire team." Mall The Mall of the Emirates will feature key retail brands including the region's largest Harvey Nichols department store, the largest Carrefour hypermarket in Dubai, the region's largest Debenhams, six large furniture retailers, a Virgin Megastore totalling 24,000 sq ft and a 14-screen multiplex cinema, together with two food-courts, 25 restaurants and food outlets and 350 retail stores

The mall will house international brands such as Zara, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Baby Shop, Splash, Shoe Mart, Starbucks, Next, River Island, Laura Ashley, Dorothy Perkins, Mothercare and Promod, helping cement Dubai's reputation as the shopping capital of the Middle East and strengthening its position as one of the leading shopping destinations in the world