Work starts on major BurJuman expansion project

Work has started on a major renovation of BurJuman Shopping Mall which will add a new Carrefour hypermarket and a 14-screen Vox Cinemas multiplex.

BurJuman officials said construction work began on January 1, adding that the new additions were part of an "ongoing commitment to create an ideal community mall experience".

The redevelopment and expansion work means part of the mall will be temporarily closed for about 18 months.

Cadiz International Architects are the lead architects and Hyder Consulting are the engineers managing the design and supervision of the project which will add 200,000 sq ft of retail space to increase the total space to one million sq ft.

As well as the addition of Carrefour and the cinema on the fourth floor, the food court will be doubled in size.

The project will also create a link to connect the new food court to the Pavilion Gardens in the mall's south wing.

One of the mall's main entrances will also be redesigned and an al fresco dining area will be added at the ground level.

Eisa Adam Ibrahim, general manager of BurJuman, said: "The latest redevelopment and expansion phase is expected to further enhance our appeal by offering shoppers greater convenience and access to a full-fledged grocery offering, extended family entertainment options, new F&B outlets and the addition of several new fashion and other brands."

He added that extensive research had gone into the redevelopment project.

"We are very confident that what we have in store will be exactly what our tenants and shoppers in the area have been looking for," he said.

He added that the project had received "great support" from BurJuman's tenants.