March 18- A Dh3 billion mall project, the Mirdif City Centre, was launched by Majid Al Futtaim Properties in Dubai on Tuesday. This has added nearly 200,000 square metres that is available for lease to the retail sector. Spanning over an area of 196,000-square metres and situated at the corner of Tripoli Street and Emirates Road, the mall has over 350 outlets.

“Mirdif City Centre shows Al Futtaim’s continuing commitment and confidence in Dubai as the leading retail and leisure destination in the Middle East. It has been delivered on schedule, constructed to the highest quality and environmental standards, and is another example of innovation in design and retail planning by the company," said Peter Walichnowski, Chief Executive of Al Futtaim Properties. "Mirdif City Centre is in line with the company's strategy to develop large destination malls in the three most important trade areas of Dubai - Deira City Centre in the heart of Dubai, Mall of the Emirates in the Southern New Dubai area and now Mirdif City Centre to service North Dubai and the Northern Emirates," he added.

There has been a rapid growth in malls and the retail sector in Dubai in the last ten years given the increasing number of tourists coming to the region. Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the UAE, has over 1,200 retail outlets and was opened in 2008.