The Galleria on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, marking the milestone as “a decade of luxury”.
The mall is home to numerous luxury retailers, from Hermes and Chanel, to Cartier and Louis Vuitton. Many of these were debuting in the capital for the first time, including Aspinal of London, Boucheron, Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga, when they opened at the mall.
Aside from fashion, the venue has also become a dining destination, with Zuma opening in 2014, followed by restaurants such as the Michelin-starred 99 Sushi, Coya and LPM opening within a few months of one another in 2017.
The latest restaurant to launch was Dubai favourite Flamingo Room by tashas last month.
Many of these dining venues are set on a picturesque promenade, which is also home to an Apple store above a water feature.
Families, too, are catered to, with Xtreme Zone, Droplets by Caboodle, Zero Latency and the region's first National Geographic Ultimate Explorer, while book lovers have Kinokuniya; and staycationers and tourists can book a stay at Rosewood or Four Seasons, each a stone's throw from the main mall. Residents can also look forward to Mission: Play! by Mattel family entertainment centre, which is scheduled to open next year.
Becoming a well-rounded destination was always the end game. In 2007, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund Mubadala began the development of Sowwah Island into a metropolis in its own right. The aim was for it to become the central business district of the capital, with a mix of high-end residential and commercial buildings. The first few of these opened in 2011, including what is now called Abu Dhabi Global Market Square.
As the island gained traction, the government decided to rename it Al Maryah in 2012, referring to a historical village in Liwa Oasis abundantly inhabited by purebred Arabian oryx. This marked a new chapter in the island's evolution, as well as signalling the fierce ambitions of the Abu Dhabi wealth fund to transform Al Maryah Island into a bustling pocket of the UAE's rapidly modernising capital.
The Al Maryah Island mall launched with 50 retailers, and has since expanded in phases. Now it has more than 400 outlets, the majority of which are global brands.
A major expansion in 2019 helped to raise its profile. Not only did the 21-screen Vox Cinemas open, but the upgrade also included 270 shops, many of them high street, and 70 restaurants, plus three rooftop parks.
"What resulted was not just a physical transformation, but a complete reimagination of high-street fashion, casual dining and entertainment all in one place," David Robinson, chief executive at Al Maryah Retail Company, tells The National. "Building upon the established Luxury Collection, this opened the destination to wider residential and tourist demographics."
Entertainment-wise, the mall has hosted concerts with artists such as Amr Diab and Myriam Fares; and has put on cultural events from Chinese New Year to an annual Christmas Winter Wonderland.
The launch of The Galleria in 2013, then, was monumental not only for the city's retail scene, but also for Abu Dhabi's ambition to elevate the lifestyle of its residents.
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Match info
Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4 (Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)
Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Abdul Jabar Qahraman was meeting supporters in his campaign office in the southern Afghan province of Helmand when a bomb hidden under a sofa exploded on Wednesday.
The blast in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah killed the Afghan election candidate and at least another three people, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told reporters. Another three were wounded, while three suspects were detained, he said.
The Taliban – which controls much of Helmand and has vowed to disrupt the October 20 parliamentary elections – claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mr Qahraman was at least the 10th candidate killed so far during the campaign season, and the second from Lashkar Gah this month. Another candidate, Saleh Mohammad Asikzai, was among eight people killed in a suicide attack last week. Most of the slain candidates were murdered in targeted assassinations, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, the first Afghan Sikh to run for the lower house of the parliament.
The same week the Taliban warned candidates to withdraw from the elections. On Wednesday the group issued fresh warnings, calling on educational workers to stop schools from being used as polling centres.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
