International fact-finders receive Ibn Battuta Mall history lesson
Ibn Battuta Mall has received glowing praise from a group of more than 80 international shopping centre professionals who visited the mall as part of fact-finding mission in the Middle East.
The study tour was organised by the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC) and the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) - a non-profit trade association of the shopping centre industry run on behalf of its 54,000 members worldwide - and included visitors from countries such as Saudi Arabia, USA, Canada, Lebanon, India, Belgium and the UAE. The group were in Dubai to attend the Retail Real Estate Forum & Exhibition, held from 11-14 December, and took the opportunity to visit Ibn Battuta Mall to see how shopping centres are created and managed in the Middle East, and to find inspiration for their own projects around the world.
MECSC Host Toni Porteous said: «The tour was organised so that they could learn about Ibn Battuta Mall's position in the community, the challenges it faces, and how it succeeds in meeting the needs of its visitors. It's basically to see how things are done.»
Ibn Battuta Mall's guides, dressed in authentic 14th Century costume, led the group around the mall charting the adventures of the legendary Islamic traveller across the continents and revealing the story behind the architecture of the mall's six courts. The group were particularly interested to hear how the mall has differentiated itself in a crowded marketplace by delivering an original theme based on the legendary Arab traveller's life. Ibn Battuta's 75,000 mile voyage led him on many dangerous and thrilling adventures as he journeyed through Andalusia, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India and China and the main geographical themes of these regions have been reflected in the architecture and the general ambience of the mall's six courts, which are laid out in sequence of the path he took to explore the world.
The guides also explained the historical significance behind the re-created Islamic inventions such as the Elephant Water Clock and the life-size Chinese Junk, which provide an additional attraction at the mall. Throughout the coming months a further 24 new Islamic inventions will be unveiled at Ibn Battuta Mall each with a specific significance to one of the six themed courts.
Tour organiser Kurt Wallin of ICSC in the USA said: «It's looking great; I think when the new inventions are introduced and the educational aspects of the mall really get going it's going to get even better. The six Courts are a great idea; they are the very essence of Ibn Battuta Mall and provide differentiation from rival malls in the area. When the apartments and housing currently being constructed in the area comes on line this mall is really going to take off!»
Robert Sasson, Darev Holdings Inc, Canada, said: «It's wonderful! I'm here to see if I can get any ideas for projects I'm currently working on in Canada.»
Ibn Battuta Mall is expecting continued success because of its strategic location and proximity to key residential and retail projects such as The Palm, Jumeirah; The Palm, Jebel Ali; Jumeirah Lake Towers; Jumeirah Islands; Discovery Gardens; The Gardens; and other surrounding developments. By the end of 2004, the population within a 5-minute driving vicinity from Ibn Battuta Mall was around 150,000 and this is expected to reach 275,000 by 2008. More significantly, by 2008 more than 880,000 people will be living within a 15-minute drive from the mall. Additionally, some 600,000 tourists per annum, who stay in hotels within a 15-minute radius, will visit the Mall as a recreational complex.
Perhaps the last word should go to Mohammad Sadeq Al Madani of the Al Maddahia Group, Saudi Arabia, who was clearly impressed with what he saw: «This is the best mall I have ever seen!» he said.
