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Danube Unveils Expansion Plan for Shopping Malls

DUBAI — Construction industry in the UAE is expereincing a difficult time due to the global credit crisis but Danube Building Materials, the UAE-based building materials company, continued its expansion plan as the compnay announced two more concept showrooms in Dubai malls this year and five more within a year.

Part of its nationwide expansion plan for ‘Danube BUILDMART’ concept showrooms across malls in Dubai within the year, Danube is expected to open stores in two leading shopping malls in Dubai - Ibn Battuta Mall and Dubai Festival City, set to be inaugurated by the end of September and December
 2009, respectively.

“We are planning one store in every quarter and expecting four to five more within a year,” Danube Chairman Rizwan Sajan told Khaleej Times on Sunday. Regarding amount of investment on these stores Sajan said, “Each store costs minimum Dh10 to 15 million, but it will also depend on the size as the recent Buildmart in Ras Al Khaimah attracted Dh55 million investmet.”

The move is expected to increase accessibility to Danube’s products by leveraging the excellent location and convenience of popular retail establishments in the emirate, which include shopping centres, regional centres, commercial centres, outlet centres, power centres and single shops.

At present, Dubai ranks first among the rest of the emirates in terms of number of retail developments, recording a total of 57 malls, and an additional 42, which are currently under construction, according to latest
 industry studies.

“The pervasive ‘mall culture’ in Dubai and the rest of the UAE has inspired us to launch this unique concept, which aims to leverage the market’s affinity to retail developments as a preferred retail destination,” said Sajan adding: “By making our products available in leading shopping centres, we hope to bridge the gap between potential customers who are looking for top quality home fixtures within the same location where they do the majority of their shopping.”

abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com