ABU DHABI: The Galleria at Sowwah Square, the Middle East’s largest collection of luxury retail brands, has successfully opened in Abu Dhabi with seventy-five percent of leasable units commencing trade at centre opening.
Vindico Retail represented the developer, Gulf Related, as the project’s retail delivery managers working alongside the Client’s leasing & construction teams, retail and F&B tenants and local authorities to successfully open 102 units. The opening sets a new benchmark in the delivery of retail real estate in the region, in terms of the proportion of trading units, execution of retail design and technical compliance.
Kevin Ryan, Gulf Related’s Managing Director of Development, said, “The offer is quite sophisticated. We have done a few things to hopefully appeal to the Emirati audience, not just through offering luxury in particular but many of the stores have been custom designed.”
“Vindico Retail has been involved in The Galleria’s retail delivery from foundation to execution,” comments Peter Row, Vindico Founding Director,” and our team has capitalised on Gulf Related’s development approach. We are grateful for the opportunity to succeed, and to demonstrate the value our discipline can add to the delivery of world class retail property.”
The Galleria’s line-up of international luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Prada, Gucci, Bulgari, Dior, Burberry, Balenciaga, and Miu Miu amongst others, has been a global collaboration between the Brands, their local & regional Licensees and their collective design & fitout supply chains. Jonathan Firn-Keightley, Vindico Retail Project Director, explains; “Our priority has been to ensure the local retail groups and international brands have had the best possible support from the Landlord throughout the tenant coordination process.”
“These types of brands will drive the retail design agenda, so the focus shifts to supporting them through the process, particularly in navigating the local authorities & utilities approvals. Our team has had fantastic feedback from a group of very appreciative Tenants, and the proof is in the number and quality of openings we have helped them achieve today.”
Gulf Related is a joint venture between The Related Companies (New York, USA) and Gulf Capital (Abu Dhabi, UAE), who have developed The Galleria in partnership with the master developer for Sowwah Square and Al Maryah Island, Mubadala Hospitality. Vindico Retail is the Middle East’s leading specialist provider of tenant coordination & design review services to shopping centre and airport developers and managers.
