Leading property developer Nakheel has officially opened its retail and dining destination - The Golden Mile Galleria - on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, UAE, bringing dozens of new shops, cafés and restaurants to the island.

The 400,000-sq-ft complex was declared open and operational by Nakheel chairman Ali Rashid Lootah at a ceremony to mark the latest milestone in the company’s retail expansion.

The retail and dining destination, which is located beneath the 10-building Golden Mile residential complex, adjacent to Al Ittihad Park, offers everything from bespoke tailoring to beachwear and diamond jewellery to dry cleaning, said Nakheel in a statement.

Its anchor is a 12,000-sq-ft Spinneys supermarket, while the food and beverage (F&B) options include Tim Hortons, Shakespeare & Co, Nando’s, Wagamama, Zaroob, Caffé Nero, Burger Fuel and London Dairy.

Other shops include Aldo, Aldo Accessories, Ascots & Chapels, Athletes & Co, Beyond The Beach, Early Learning Centre, Marina Pharmacy, Loft Fifth Avenue, Magrabi and Tavola, it stated.

There will also be a Fitness First Platinum Club, medical centre and two nurseries, it added.

With 1,600 underground parking spaces, Golden Mile Galleria is one of 10 new large-scale projects in Nakheel’s growing retail portfolio, and one of a range of new Nakheel retail, entertainment and hospitality projects at Palm Jumeirah.

“The Golden Mile Galleria’s diverse range of shops and dining outlets will serve thousands of residents on Palm Jumeirah and provide a new destination for the wider Dubai community,” remarked Lootah.

“Today’s opening represents a major milestone in our ongoing retail expansion, and highlights our commitment to adding more and more attractions, facilities and services to this world-famous island,” he stated.

Others include The Pointe, Nakheel Mall, The Palm Tower, Palm Gateway, Palm Promenade and The Boardwalk, which, between them, will offer hundreds of new retail, dining and leisure facilities.

A number of Nakheel residential projects on the island, including Azure Residences and Palm Views East and West, also feature retail and dining outlets.

Nakheel said its retail portfolio is expected to become the biggest in the UAE, with 10 new large-scale developments and a growing collection of community retail centres on the way.

It has more than 11.5 million-sq-ft of leasable retail space in the pipeline, adding to the 3.4 million already in operation at its Dragon Mart and Ibn Battuta Mall developments.

Projects range from large malls and souk-style complexes that will attract UAE residents and tourists to local centres that provide a focal point for shopping, dining and socialising for the people living at Nakheel communities, the statement added.-TradeArabia News Service