Fast-track retail delivery doubles Al Wahda Mall

One of Abu Dhabi's most established shopping centres has completed a major extension, with over 100 new shops and restaurants ready to trade in less than six months.

Al Wahda Mall, developed and managed by Line Investments & Property, part of the EMKE Group, extended to meet demand from retailers seeking exposure to the centre's trading record. Announcing Vindico Retail's appointment as the project's tenant coordination and design review team, Mr Raja Abdul Khada, Director at Line Investments & Property, wrote:

Vindico Retail are one of the most experienced and qualified fitout process management companies in the UAE.
Raja Abdul Khada, Director, Line Investments & Property

The programme was among the tightest across Vindico Retail's twenty-five project openings. Scott Strader, Project Director, explains that the client's strategy was a soft opening inside a shortened programme, to take advantage of the mall's existing footfall — which meant working closely with the client, leasing, construction and tenant teams to run the retail delivery process across 160 units in six months. Over 100 units completed design and fit-out for the soft opening, with another 50 expected ahead of the extension's marketed launch early in the new year.

Marc McQuain, Co-Founder and Director, credits the working relationship built with Line Investments on the opening of RAK Mall as what allowed the team to hit the ground running at Al Wahda.

Vindico's role covered tenant coordination and design review across the 160 extension units. The construction of the extension and the fit-out of each shop sat with the client's contractors and the brands.