Ibn Battuta Mall experienced record visitor numbers as it remained one of the few attractions in Dubai to stay open during Thursday’s power shortage. Thousands of visitors poured through the doors to take advantage of more than 250 outlets located in the mall’s six stunning themed courts – Andalusia, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India, and China.
Ibn Battuta Mall has been consistently busy since opening in April, however, with few attractions open elsewhere even more shoppers took advantage of the mall’s diverse tenancy mix which includes 50 new shopping brands to the UAE. The wealth of entertainment and leisure facilities, including Grand Megaplex 21 Screens, a Restaurant Court, and a 16-outlet Food Court also kept visitors entertained as temperatures soared to 39C outside. Extensive parking facilities for around 5000 cars were more than equipped to deal with the additional demand.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman Nakheel, said: “Since opening in April, Ibn Battuta Mall has experienced phenomenal success; its spectacular architecture, state-of-the-art 21 screen cinema, and diverse range of shopping outlets have provided an enticing lure for the whole of Dubai and the surrounding region. However, Thursday was an extraordinary day and I am pleased that the mall was able to cope with such demand.
“I sympathise with those who were affected by the power failure throughout the city; we were extremely lucky that this unfortunate occurrence did not affect our mall and we were able to provide a haven from the sweltering heat outside! Some of these visitors may have been visiting for the first time and now that they have experienced Ibn Battuta Mall’s fabulous offerings, I am 100% confident that many of these will return.”
Joseph Grove, a tourist from the UK, said: “Most places in Dubai appear to be closed, but I heard from a friend that Ibn Battuta Mall was still open. I wish the malls looked like this in England; there has certainly been no compromise on the quality of the architecture.”
Indian visitor Divesh Bhagat added: “This is the first time I have visited Ibn Battuta Mall; I’d heard that the architecture was pretty impressive, but I didn’t realise quite how stunning! It definitely adds something totally different to the shopping experience and I’ll definitely be coming back.”
