The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has announced the winners of the 2016 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Shopping Centre and Retailer Awards, recognizing the region’s most innovative shopping centers for outstanding achievement in retail, retail store design, design and development, and marketing. ICSC has named Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi an Iconic landmark & favorite shopping destination located in the heart of Abu Dhabi city as a Gold Award winner in the New Media Excellence under the Emerging Technology category and a Silver Award winner in the NOI Enhancement Excellence under the Leasing category.

Commenting on win, Mr. Nauman Mohammad Thakur, General Manager, Al Wahda Mall said, “We are extremely overwhelmed on being recognized Year-on-year for our innovative offerings at the Al Wahda Mall.  The mall is continually on the lookout to offer its visitors with exclusive solutions and at the same time guarantee maximum exposure and visibility for the retailers at the mall.”

 

Adding to this, Mr. Nauman commented on the Gold award, “Recently this year we introduced to our mall goers one of its kind Hitech Virtual Interactive Wayfinding Solution Technology, making us the first mall in the region to offer a directory of this high detail. Al Wahda Mall’s Wayfinding Technology offers visitors an interactive store directory, interactive customer engagement portal, whilst creating opportunities for more advertising revenues at the mall.”

 

“Another of our new addition to the innovative offerings is where Al Wahda Mall identified the introduction of the Sports lounge to be a new avenue for revenue resource whilst strategically converting an inactive lobby area of the lower basement of parking floors, thereby offering to mall goers more than just a shopping experience. The Sports Lounge promotes a healthy community spirit and we are delighted to be recognized with a Silver award for this initiative”, he added.

 

This year, along with one Gold and one Silver Award, Al Wahda Mall, also was shortlisted as a Finalist for Excellence in Traditional Marketing under Public Relations category, Finalist for Excellence in Traditional Marketing under Cause Related Marketing category and Finalist for Excellence in NOI Enhancement under Operations/ Overall-Team category.

 

Al Wahda Mall, being an integral part of the community, recognizes the significant humanitarian efforts made by the UAE and it celebrates the energy, passion and will power of the society, contributing in a major way towards various Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in a way promoting a healthy lifestyle in the UAE.  In 2015, Al Wahda Mall won the Gold Award for Excellence in Traditional Marketing under Cause Related Marketing category.

The 2016 ICSC Middle East and North Africa Shopping Centre and Retailer Awards competition was open to shopping center owners, developers, management companies, architects and designers, and retailers. ICSC announced the winners at an awards ceremony during ICSC RECon Middle East and North Africa in Dubai.

 

All 2016 Gold award recipients receive automatic entry into the 2017 ICSC VIVA Awards, the international program that honors the retail real estate industry’s most cutting-edge properties, innovative solutions, and creative responses to market trends. ICSC will announce the victors of the VIVA Awards during RECon 2017 in Las Vegas.

To learn more about the finalists and winners, visit the ICSC Middle East and North Africa Shopping Centre and Retailer Awards website.

 

 

About ICSC

Founded in 1957, ICSC is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 70,000 members in over 100 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, investors, retailers, brokers, academics, and public officials. The shopping center industry is essential to economic development and opportunity. The industry is a significant job creator, driver of GDP, and critical revenue source for the communities it serves through the generation of sales taxes and the payment of property taxes. These taxes fund important municipal services like firefighters, police officers, school services, and infrastructure like roadways and parks. Shopping centers aren’t only fiscal engines however; they are integral to the social fabric of their communities by providing a central place to congregate with friends and family, discuss community matters, and participate in and encourage philanthropic endeavors. For more information about ICSC visit www.icsc.org and for the latest news from ICSC and the industry go to www.thecenterofshopping.com.

 

About Al Wahda Mall

AL WAHDA MALL is an Iconic landmark & favorite shopping destination located in the heart of Abu Dhabi city offering people the very best of shopping and lifestyle experience. The mall is a one stop solution for all entertainment and leisure hosting and a great combination of a variety to offer in fashion, jewellery, electronics, home decor, with hypermarket, restaurants & food court, catering to the tastes of residents & tourists alike.