|
The concept of shopping malls is fairly new in
Sharjah, although several malls have opened during
2001 and early 2002. Many large showrooms as well
as small centers are dotted around the city selling
various products.
By 2005, Sharjah
is expected to rank third after Dubai and Doha
in terms of shopping center space per capita at
around 13 sq.ft., per person - overtaking even
Abu Dhabi, according to a study by a UK based
organization.
The survey said
Sharjah shopping centers will be creating a total
of about 355,000 square meters of Gross Leaseable
Area within three years.
Sharjah's new shopping
malls include the 500,000 sq. ft. Dh 400 million
Sahara Center, 400,000 sq. ft. Sharjah Mega Mall
and Majid Al Futtaim's City Center. The survey
said however, time will tell whether Sharjah can
sustain occupancy of these malls without having
to attract shoppers from outside the emirate.
The test will be on whether Sharjah malls can
outperform well entrenched malls in Dubai,' the
study said.
|
