Dubai retail giant Majid Al Futtaim create 2,000 jobs in Abu Dhabi

At least 2,000 jobs will be up for grabs in Abu Dhabi after a new shopping mall opens its doors to the public, it has been confirmed.

Dubai’s retail giant Majid Al Futtaim announced that work on its My City Centre Masdar is nearly reaching full completion and will go on stream in the second quarter of 2019.

The Dh300-million community retail development is being built at Masdar City, the UAE capital’s hub for clean tech companies. Its construction has so far created 1,500 new employment opportunities through the “build-out phase.”

According to the company, an additional 2,000 new jobs will be created after the opening of the mall.

The new retail complex will feature more than 70 stores, including a 7,000-square-metre Carrefour Hypermarket, as well as restaurants, cafes and other dining venues.It will add 18,500 gross leasable area (GLA) to Abu Dhabi’s existing retail supply, further widening the options for retail consumers.

Abu Dhabi has been drawing a lot of interest from investors looking to tap into the emirate’s growing population. As of the first quarter of 2018, the capital’s gross leasable area stood at 2.15 million square metres distributed in a mix of convenience, neighbourhood, community, regional and super-regional retail centres, according to ValuStrat.

Bin Butti International Holding had earlier announced the construction of two community markets in Abu Dhabi, one in Al Nahda and the other at Al Samha, with a total estimated cost of Dh85.5 million.

National Investment Corporation had also announced the construction of Marina Walk, an expansion of Marina Mall, that will span an area of 300,000 square metres and feature high-end retail and fine dining options.

Majid Al Futtaim, the developer of Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre, also seeks to cash in on the growing consumer base in the emirate, particularly in Masdar.

More than 600 companies and thousands of residents have already moved to the hub since its opening.

The community is set to expand further as new offices, homes and leisure facilities are currently under development.

“We expect the number of people living within the city to triple by 2020 in line with our growth plans,” said Mohamed Jaameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar.

UAE's ADNOC unveils a plan to expand homes,Create jobs at Ruwais City

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced major development plans for Ruwais City, a 6.9 sq km community in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region.

The project will see the city’s population nearly double, over the next 15 years, to more than 50,000 people, as well as the creation of thousands of new skilled jobs in parallel with ADNOC’s investment in its downstream operations.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, also unveiled the new Ruwais city brand identity – Where Opportunity Lives.

ADNOC said the Ruwais City development plan complements its decision to invest AED165 billion to develop the world’s largest integrated refining and petrochemicals complex in Ruwais.

It said in a statement that the development of both the industrial complex and the city will see a significant spill-over impact on the local economy, as local contractors and businesses grow in tandem, providing a significant boost for the local economy

Al Jaber said: “Our investment in the further development of Ruwais City is an investment in our people, our most important asset. It is not just about enhancing the city’s infrastructure; it is about improving residents’ quality of life as we continue to build a strong, sustainable community and create greater value for the benefit of the local economy, the region and the nation.

“The AED165 billion investment in our downstream operations, over the next five years, will have a big ripple effect that will create new employment opportunities, establish new businesses and enable existing businesses to grow and prosper. The specific value will also be significant as we expand our operations, introduce new high-value products and grow our downstream market share.”

He said ADNOC is constructing more than 3,000 new residential units bringing the total number of city housing units to more than 10,000, with more to be built as required.

The city’s development will also include a number of projects focused on lifestyle, recreation and community, including new beach facilities, a central park, traditional souq, 18-hole golf course, cricket field, running track and cycling track, as well as the expansion of the public transport network, a range of community and civic centers and a number of health centres.

Counted among Ruwais City’s community offerings are eight schools and universities, three pharmacies, three major markets, three travel agencies, four fitness clubs, two large parks, a major shopping mall and range of other commercial and civic centres.

The announcement follows ADNOC’s Downstream Investment Forum, held in May, where more than 40 global CEOs and over 700 senior industry leaders learned about ADNOC’s plans to become a leading global downstream player.

The strategy is expected to add more than 15,000 jobs by 2025 and contribute an additional 1 per cent to GDP per year.

The investment program will see the entire Ruwais complex upgraded, including the construction of one of the world’s largest mixed feed crackers, and trebling petrochemicals production capacity from 4.5 mtpa to 14.4 mtpa by 2025.