Work starts on world's biggest shopping mall

UK civil engineering group Balfour Beatty has started work on a £400m (€574.2m) contract to build the world’s biggest shopping centre, it said today.

Dubai’s Burj Mall retail development will include 1.3 million square metres of shopping space over four floors, the largest-ever gold market and a three-storey aquarium.

Balfour’s jointly-owned construction business in the United Arab Emirates, Dutco Balfour Beatty, started work on the centre in the last few days in a joint partnership with local contractor Al Ghandi/CCC.

The Burj Mall will be part of a major new complex featuring the 700-metre Burj Tower – set to be the world’s tallest building – an artificial lake, an Olympic-size ice rink, a residential development and a hotel.

It is expected to attract 50,000 shoppers at peak time and will be bigger than Canada’s Edmonton Mall, currently the world’s biggest shopping centre, according to Guinness World Records.

Balfour described the complex, which is being developed by Dubai-based Emaar Properties, as the Gulf’s “most prominent urban development to date”.

It is expected to attract some 35 million visitors in its first year, with a continuing annual growth rate of 20% to 30%.

Chief executive Mike Welton said: “Balfour Beatty has been working in Dubai for more than 25 years and we are strongly committed to the Dubai market as part of our growth strategy for the future.”

Balfour has been operating in Dubai since 1977 through Dutco Balfour Beatty and its other joint venture company BK Gulf.

It has completed projects including power stations, roads, bridges, reservoirs, airport infrastructure and port developments.

The centre is due to be completed by the end of 2006.

Shares in Balfour Beatty rose 5p to 276.25p today.