Meraas unveils The Outlet Village

Dubai - The Outlet Village will offer discounted high-end brands merchandise all year round in a scenic and charming medieval Italian town setting.

Meraas has announced that its latest retail development, The Outlet Village, the UAE's first upscale outlet mall, will be located adjacent to Dubai Parks and Resorts and within easy reach of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Outlet Village will offer discounted high-end brands merchandise all year round in a scenic and charming medieval Italian town setting. The new addition to Meraas' portfolio of unique destinations is due for completion in the third quarter of 2016 and features 25,000sqm of gross leasable area.
The exquisitely themed indoor mall will gather over 100 retail brands and appeal to fashion lovers and leisure shoppers who want to maximise the effectiveness of their shopping experience. The design of The Outlet Village is inspired by San Gimignano, a breath-taking hilltop town in the Tuscan countryside whose historic centre was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1990 in the interest of preserving its unique medieval tower houses.
Omar Ghalib Al Bustami, director of project management leisure and entertainment at Meraas, said: "We are thrilled to add another remarkable concept to Dubai's thriving retail landscape. The Outlet Village brings together striking aesthetics inspired by a rich past with contemporary lifestyle, inviting visitors to explore the contrast between old and new. We have spared no effort to evoke the charm of San Gimignano and ensure that this distinctive shopping experience includes much-loved and prestigious brands to perfectly match the needs of today's sophisticated customer."
Meraas has brought together renowned architects, designers, consultants and top-tier contractors to ensure that The Outlet Village is shaped into a truly distinctive and enthralling retail destination emulating the ambiance of San Gimignano. Medieval-style towers, arched walkways and bridges, stone fountains, courtyards and a stone wishing well which will pay homage to the famous artistic legacy of the scenic Italian town. The Outlet Village will evoke the atmosphere of the original town through a myriad of intricate details and a realistic imitation of the characteristic masonry.
Aside from hosting some of the world's most coveted luxury and contemporary high street fashion brands, The Outlet Village will retail popular sportswear and equipment as well as furniture and household goods at attractive prices. A variety of food and beverage venues will offer a break from the delights of bargain hunting and further enhance the attraction of The Outlet Village as Dubai's latest must-visit shopping destination.
The UAE retail market is expected to be valued at $53.7 billion in 2016, up seven per cent over 2015, according to data from consultancy Euromonitor International. Dubai has retained its position as the second most important international shopping destination globally in 2015. As the UAE's first upscale outlet mall, The Outlet Village will introduce an upscale must visit Destination that reiterates Meraas' commitment to creating unique integrated shopping and lifestyle destinations. - rohma@khaleejtimes.com