Lights, camera, action as Nakheel signs Reel Cinemas for Al Khail Avenue mall

New mall at Dubai’s Jumeirah Village draws big names in retail, dining and entertainment

Nakheel has partnered with Reel Cinemas, operated by Emaar Retail, to bring a new movie and entertainment centre to Al Khail Avenue, Nakheel’s new shopping, dining and leisure destination at Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Triangle.

Reel Cinemas, the leading provider of movie experiences in the UAE and the operator of the country’s largest Cineplex, will occupy a two-storey, 76,000 square foot area at Al Khail Avenue.  The cinema complex will have 1,500 seats across 14 theatres, including four Platinum Movie Suites, which have redefined the concept of luxury by offering highly personalised service along with gourmet delicacies delivered to customers’ seats.

Nakheel’s tie-up with Reel Cinemas at Al Khail Avenue comes after the developer confirmed high-end British supermarket chain, Waitrose, as the mall’s first anchor store. Hundreds more retailers, restaurant and café operators and entertainment-related businesses have expressed their interest in the mall, where half of the 1.25 million sq ft of available retail space is now taken.

Omar Khoory, Director, Nakheel Retail, said: “We are delighted to have chosen Reel Cinemas for Al Khail Avenue, which is attracting a host of brand name retailers wanting to stake their claim on this new exciting destination.”

Maitha Al Dossari, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Retail LLC, the operator of Reel Cinemas, said: “The partnership highlights the exceptional value and unbeatable entertainment experiences that Reel Cinemas bring to movie-goers, and the value it adds to the mall development. With a focus on design excellence, technology innovation, ergonomics and personalised service, Reel Cinemas at Al Khail Avenue is envisaged to be the leisure destination of choice for residents and visitors to the area.”

Last month, Nakheel released a tender for enabling works for Al Khail Avenue, while the construction tender is due by end of Q2 2015. The mall is scheduled to open in 2018.

Located alongside Dubai’s Al Khail Road, on the eastern edge of Nakheel’s Jumeirah Village Triangle master community, Al Khail Avenue will have 350 shops including a Waitrose supermarket, department stores and speciality outlets, a Reel Cinemas multi-screen movie complex, entertainment zone and a diverse range of cafes and restaurants including al fresco dining.  There will also be a multi-storey car park spanning nearly two million sq ft, with 4,400 spaces.

Al Khail Avenue, one of 10 large-scale developments in Nakheel’s growing retail portfolio, is a new destination for Dubai’s tourists and residents, and a convenient, on-the-doorstep shopping and leisure hub for people living at Jumeirah Village, Jumeirah Park and other nearby areas.

Nakheel’s retail project pipeline also includes Nakheel Mall, The Pointe and Golden Mile on Palm Jumeirah; Deira Mall and Night Souk at Deira Islands;  The Circle Mall at Jumeirah Village Circle; Warsan Souk at Warsan Village; and major extensions to Ibn Battuta Mall and Dragon Mart – now named Dragon City to reflect Nakheel’s expansion there.

The developer also has six neighbourhood retail centres – either completed or under development – across Dubai.