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City Centre Al Zahia: A Retail and Community Landmark for Sharjah’s Northern Emirates
City Centre Al Zahia, developed by Majid Al Futtaim, is the largest shopping mall in the Northern Emirates and a centerpiece of Sharjah’s urban growth. In fact, it is both a retail and entertainment destination and a community hub. It also anchors a one-million-square-meter residential district. Delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, it nevertheless redefined what resilient, sustainable retail development can achieve in the region.
The mall has a built-up area of 363,976 m². It hosts over 360 retail units, a 15,100 m² Carrefour hypermarket, VOX cinemas, a dynamic food court, and lifestyle anchors.
Besides, the design reflects the Sharjah Light Festival. A lantern-inspired façade and wave-shaped canopy welcome visitors into a center that blends shopping, culture, and community. Beyond shopping, the University of Sharjah, in collaboration with the American University of Sharjah, developed an art and learning space, The Studio. This positions the mall as a platform for cultural engagement.
K&A guided City Centre Al Zahia from concept through completion. We provided space program development, concept and schematic design, tender documentation, and construction supervision.
Retail Resilience
Launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project faced extraordinary pressures. Global supply chain disruptions delayed long-lead items. At the same time, strict health and safety protocols kept construction moving. On-site, 8,000 workers and 400 subcontractors were coordinated daily in a dense urban setting. In addition, this effort was supported by 16 tower cranes and 43 million labor hours.
Changing tenant needs required real-time design updates. Moreover, ground challenges, including high underground water tables, meant continuous pumping during basement construction.
Engineering and Digital Solutions for Sharjah’s Largest Mall
To deliver Sharjah’s Largest Mall, Al Zahia city Centre, under these constraints, K&A and partners applied innovative design and management strategies:
- Optimized structure: Hollow-core slabs reduced concrete thickness. A lighter steel system supported the canopy’s slender, expressive design.
- Sustainable utilities: Meanwhile, a separate energy center housed chillers, pumps, and cooling towers. Acoustic louvers reduced noise, and advanced BMS controls improved energy savings, leading to LEED Gold certification.
- Water reuse: In addition, an on-site sewage treatment plant recycles greywater for cooling and irrigation. As a result, water use was cut by 40%. Rainwater tanks further support irrigation.
- Digital delivery: For example, BIM coordination resolved clashes and modeled custom architectural features. A mobile snagging app streamlined stakeholder collaboration.
- Safety and circulation: Finally, fire evacuation models went beyond NFPA standards. A smart parking system optimized traffic and visitor flow.
LEED Gold Retail Landmark in the Northern Emirates
City Centre Al Zahia achieved LEED Gold certification and now anchors Sharjah’s urban growth. Moreover, the mall serves as a retail, cultural, and community hub for over 1.9 million residents of Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.
- Achieved LEED Gold certification with a 15.47% energy reduction and 37.81% water saving.
- Delivered during a global pandemic without major delays, despite complex logistics.
- Generated significant socioeconomic impact, supporting Sharjah’s role as a regional hub and contributing to Majid Al Futtaim’s planned AED 78 billion investment in the UAE.
- Recognized as the Best Project in the GCC (2021) for its innovation, scale, and cultural integration.
