Mirdif City Centre in Dubai opens

DUBAI // Mirdif City Centre, a Dh3 billion mall with 430 shops and an indoor sky diving centre, opened today after two years of construction. Operated by Majid al Futtaim Properties, which also runs Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre, the shopping centre is intended to serve Dubai residents as well as patrons coming from the Northern Emirates. Meriel O'Connor, 30, a housewife from Ireland, visited the mall to shop at Carrefour. "It is very bright and airy. I really like it," she said. "We've been watching them finish the mall and its great for us and for everybody living around here. It only takes me two minutes to get here. If I was going to Mall of the Emirates, it would take me at least half an hour to get there," she added. Others were pleased with the size and scope of the mall. Marie Blatchford, a 34-year-old professional window dresser from the UK, found there was a "great range of shops". Ahmed Said from Egypt, said he liked that the Mirdif Centre was close to his home and access was easier. "There are bridges running directly into it so, hopefully, there will be no tailbacks like other places," said the letting agent, 44. "I don't like many of the malls here. The shops are always too expensive in some of the other malls or else they are too far away. I always went to Mall of the Emirates and its good to see a lot of the shops there also here too." eharnan@thenational.ae