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* FESTIVAL CENTRE 0N TRACK FOR SEPTEMBER 2006 OPENING

Dubai Festival City, the Middle East's largest privately-funded, mixed-use development taking shape on the banks of the Dubai Creek, has begun work on the superstructure of its centre piece, Festival Centre - the 2.6 million square feet retail, leisure and entertainment destination.

With 90% of the substructure already finished and building commencing on the second floor, the Festival Centre is 50% complete and is on schedule for opening in September 2006.

"The Festival Centre is really taking shape and the entire framework for this exciting development has been completed," said Phil McArthur, Director, Marketing & Leasing, Dubai Festival City. "The second floor construction is the next major milestone and work is progressing rapidly and efficiently."

Being constructed by Al-Futtaim Carillion, the Festival Centre will feature over 400 shops and 70 restaurants and cafes spread across four themed pavilions - all offering waterfront settings to diners. Over 20 major international brands will have their flagship stores at the development including the 270,000 square foot IKEA 'destination' store and a 175,000 square foot International hypermarket.

The first phase of the Festival Centre - the retail park - which will feature these two big box retailers will open in November of this year.

Meanwhile, work is expected to shortly commence on the Festival Centre's third floor roofing and the construction of the final component, a 12 cinema complex, is due to begin in the first quarter of next year.

Festival Centre, set around the 150-berth Mediterranean-style Festival Marina, heralds a new era of fusion offerings - providing the best of hospitality, retail, entertainment and community facilities and, with some 11,000 car parking spaces, it has the highest parking ratio in the country.

"Festival Centre seamlessly blends the very best facilities into one customer centric experience, accommodating every need of today's cosmopolitan visitor," said McArthur.

(Source:www.dubaiphotomedia.com)