More malls to be built in Kuwait

--"The plans are nothing if not ambitious. The group’s five current properties – which include 360 Mall and Al Kout Mall generated KD162m ($540m) of retail sales in 2014, and the target is to roughly quadruple that figure by 2020. Among the projects Tamdeen will be working on are a huge expansion of 360 Mall itself, which will also incorporate the new home of the Kuwait Tennis Federation and a 4,000-seat tennis stadium. The hope is that the site could play host to ATP-ranked tournaments in the future, similar to those already taking place in Dubai and Doha.

More expansion is taking place at the seaside Al Kout Mall, based just to the south of Kuwait City in Fahaheel. A further 72,000 square metres of leasable area is being added to one of the country’s most scenic shopping centres, which already boast two piers jutting out into the sea, traditional meat and fish markets and ‘dancing’ fountains. The 160,000 square metre Mall of Kuwait, which was originally conceived about a decade ago, will be built in Sabahiya, along with three other community shopping centres.

In two projects, however, Tamdeen is also making its first move into residential property. Tamdeen Square, a mixed-use project featuring a mall, commercial space, a mosque and a hotel, will also include high-rise furnished apartments that will overlook the beach at Messilah. While Kuwaitis have historically been drawn to living in standalone villas, Al Marzouq is betting on the fact that skyrocketing house prices, a huge waiting list for government-issued houses and their distance from the city centre means that many will prefer the convenience of apartment life."Story link

Of course we need more malls?! How about something fun and entertaining? How about actually fixing up Entertainment City, the one place people can go and be free from crowds.