The Dubai Mall, the city’s newest shopping and entertainment destination, recorded a massive visitor turn-out following its opening with more than 60,000 tickets sold for the Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre in the first five days.

The Dubai Ice Rink also drew over 5,000 skating enthusiasts, said a top official.

Yousif Al Ali, general manager, The Dubai Mall, said: "The impressive visitor turn-out to The Dubai Mall to visit Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre and Dubai Ice Rink in the initial five days confirm the mall’s success as a strong family-oriented shopping and entertainment destination."

"The retail outlets, many of them opening their first shops or flagship stores in the Middle East region, also recorded higher than projected sales," he remarked.

Suresh Bhatia, chief executive officer, Emaar Retail, said  the Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre had truly captured the enthusiasm of the visitors.

"The diverse array of aquatic animals and fish in the aquarium attracts family crowds, with children gaining a unique learning experience at the Discovery Centre, featuring otters and seals among other species."

"The Dubai Ice Rink is also a strong draw with adults and children enjoying its Olympic-size proportions," he noted.

The Dubai Aquarium featuring the world’s largest acrylic viewing panel is a free attraction. The walk-through tunnel and Discovery Centre assures closer appreciation of the marvels of the aquatic world.

The three distinctive themes at the Discovery Centre, Rainforest, Rocky Shore and Living Ocean, are a special draw among children, who also have the opportunity to touch-and-feel several aquatic species.

As part of its opening, the mall has opened several access roads including  from Sheikh Zayed Road, off Financial Street Road (previously Doha Road), Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Burj Dubai and through the newly opened bridge off Interchange One.

One of the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destinations, The Dubai Mall will have 14,000 parking spaces, most of which have already opened.

A ‘car locator’ ticketing system has been installed in the car parks to make it easier for people to remember where they have parked.

With close to 600 retail outlets already open, The Dubai Mall will have over 1,200 retail stores and over 160 F&B outlets.

Other popular attractions at the mall include the sprawling Gold Souk and the Fashion Catwalk atrium, which hosts fashion shows. Several F&B outlets have also opened for the convenience of visitors.

The Dubai Mall attractions include The Grove, with its fully retractable roof, which will bring in an outdoor community feel with tree-lined walkways, a lifestyle retail mix and a mix of casual dining cafés and restaurants.

The family entertainment precinct, opening in 2009, includes KidZania, an 80,000 sq ft innovative children’s ‘edu-tainment’ concept, Sega Republic, a 76,000 sq ft high adrenaline indoor theme park and a 22-screen cineplex, the largest in Dubai.-TradeArabia News Service