New Abu Dhabi mall shows damage after huge blaze

Khalifa City Mall is charred but appears to have escaped major damage from Monday's fire

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A new mall to serve one of Abu Dhabi's largest suburbs showed damage on Tuesday after a blaze spread through the under-construction building the previous day.

Khalifa City Mall was charred and blackened but appeared to have escaped any serious structural damage.

Firefighters tackled a blaze on Monday afternoon that sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Witnesses reported a fierce blaze encompassing a corner of a large building site, with smoke reaching high into the construction cranes.

Emergency services had the fire under control by late evening. Police said there were no casualties reported.

The three-level shopping centre will host about 160 shops, a cinema, a Lulu supermarket and parking for 1,700 vehicles.

London-based architects Design International and Lulu Group, which will operate the mall, have been contacted for comment.