The Dubai Mall is a giant mall scheduled to be built at 25°11′59.67″N, 55°16′32.96″E in Dubai, UAE, by Emaar properties, as part of the 'New Dubai' project. This mall claims to be the largest mall in the world when completed. It will cover a total area of more than 12 million ft² , with 10 - 15 individual smaller malls built inside it, consisting of 9 million ft² of shopping retail space (comprising of a total of more than 1000 stores). Featured attractions include the world's largest gold souk, the 850,000 ft² Fashion Island; one of the world's largest aquariums; an Olympic-sized ice skating rink; Oasis Fountain Waterfall; WaterFront Atrium; a view of the (soon to be completed) world's tallest building, Burj Dubai. The mall has already won five awards. It won two awards at the Retail Future Project Awards at MAPIC, Cannes, in 2004, for Best Retail Development Scheme (Large), Best Use of Lighting in a Retail Environment. And the Dubai Mall brochure has won three awards at the Summit Creative Awards 2005, in Portland, Oregon; Gold award for Best Art Direction / Graphic Design, Silver award for Best 4-colour B2B Brochure, and Judges Special Recognition award.

The mall is being built by Emaar Properties and was scheduled to be completed in 2006, claiming to be the size of 50 "international-sized soccer pitches". It is now expected to be completed in 2008.

Currently, the largest mall in the world is believed to be the South China Mall in Dongguan, China, spreading over 9.6 million ft²

Labor controversy

The labor practices used in the construction of Dubai Mall has caused controversy. Dubai Mall has been built by vast numbers of poorly paid construction workers, mainly from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. For example, skilled carpenters are paid $7.60 per day, and laborers get $4 per day. Most of these workers are forced to give up their passports upon entering Dubai, making it very difficult to return home.

NPR reports that workers "typically live eight to a room, sending home a portion of their salary to their families, whom they don't see for years at a time." Others report that their salary has been withheld to pay back loans, making them little more than indentured servants. Local newspapers have carried stories of construction workers allegedly not being paid for months on end.

On March 21st of 2006, tensions boiled over at the construction site as workers upset over low wages and poor working conditions rioted, damaging cars, offices, computers, and construction tools. A Dubai Interior Ministry official said the rioters caused approximately one million U.S. dollars in damage. On March 22nd most workers returned to the construction site but refused to work. The work stoppage also caused workers building a new terminal at Dubai International Airport to strike.

Pictures

References

• The Dubai Mall (Official website)