Dubai: Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail, and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, is taking another important step towards realising its ambitious vision for City Centre Al Zahia: the newest lifestyle and retail experience to arrive in Sharjah. City Centre Al Zahia is partnering with both American University of Sharjah (AUS) and The University of Sharjah (UOS) to showcase the rich culture and artistic heritage of the emirate. The partnership has been launched to create fulfilling opportunities for students and young people, using art and design to entertain and bring the wider community together.

Set to open its doors to visitors and shoppers in March 2021, City Centre Al Zahia has been envisioned as a super-regional shopping mall that transcends traditional retail destinations. The mall has been designed to serve as a platform for all members of the community to explore, be entertained, and socialise; with art and culture being at the very heart of the unique experiences it offers.

Accordingly, the mall has joined forces with American University of Sharjah and The University of Sharjah to elevate art and design as human endeavours. The partnership will see AUS and UOS students and faculty members offering lectures and workshops on architecture, photography, filmmaking and art. A newly designed art centre will also be unveiled at City Centre Al Zahia, where a range of exhibitions, lectures and seminars will be held all year round. The space will be used by the university students and faculty to exhibit cutting-edge and award-winning projects and experiences.

American University of Sharjah will create and produce movies that will later on be showcased at City Centre Al Zahia in addition to staging theatrical performances and hosting interactive exhibitions. The collaboration will also include an annual photography competition for high school and university students, as well as amateur photographers. The first such competition is expected to be exhibited at City Centre Al Zahia later this year     .

Fuad Sharaf, Managing Director, UAE Shopping Malls, Majid Al Futtaim Properties commented: “At Majid Al Futtaim, we place the people and communities we serve at the heart of everything we do. Understanding what our customers and visitors want is of the utmost importance to us, and — being familiar with the wider Sharjah community — we know just how crucial art and culture has been — and remains — to the development and identity of the Emirate. That is precisely why we have partnered with American University of Sharjah and The University of Sharjah    

He continued: “As the centrepiece of Majid Al Futtaim’s developments in Sharjah, City Centre Al Zahia set to become a focal point and pillar of the community, reflecting the culture and traditions of the Emirate, while offering people a platform to entertain and educate themselves in equal measure. We aim to work as closely as possible with our partners to offer young people across the emirate more steppingstones to success, while spotlighting their considerable talent.”

This collaboration is in line with Sharjah’s agenda to become the link to the economic, cultural, scientific and industrial sectors of society. The emirate has outlined an ambitious plan to offer communities an engaging platform to showcase the exciting creative work that is being created at the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at AUS. This platform will serve to educate and inform the broader public.