32,000 sq m store to serve nearly 1.3 million visitors

Swedish furniture retailer Ikea is forging ahead with plans for a mammoth new store on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. The 32,000 sq m flagship store expects to serve nearly 1.3 million visitors in the first year of operations when it opens for business on Yas Island, the major new leisure and entertainment destination under development in Abu Dhabi by Aldar Properties, in early 2011.

The store will have 1,500 parking bays for its visitors who will be served by 35 cash tills at the back of a total sales area of 19,150 sq m. Alongside Market-Hall (6,000 sq m) and Showroom Furniture (6,150 sq m)
areas, there will also be a 550-seat, 2,100 sq m restaurant serving popular Swedish delicacies as well as its healthy and affordable breakfast and lunches.

The Ikea store will form part of Yas Island’s retail centre based around Yas Mall, featuring a wide range of retail categories from individual boutiques to large format value retailers.

The present Ikea store in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall will relocate to Yas Island where it will be a full-fledged concept store. In addition to the Yas Marina Circuit, the host venue for the Formula 1™ Etihad Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Island is also home to seven hotels including the signature Yas Hotel and Yas Marina, a super-yacht marina with capacity for over 140 yachts.

Yas Links Golf, the first links course in the Middle East, will open in the coming months and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Ferrari theme park will open later this year.