𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐢 & 𝐀𝐛𝐮 𝐃𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫

We were glad to join the ACROSS Magazine - 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 delegates at Mall of the Emirates on Friday, November 28, 2025, as part of their program exploring Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s most influential retail destinations.

Thank you, Will Odwarka, for the kind invitation and for coordinating this insightful tour.

Our Chairman and Founder, Phil McArthur, CRX, CSM, CDP—formerly Vice President of Leasing at MAF Shopping Centres \(1999–2002\)—greeted the tour and provided the delegates with a personal insight into the early days of Majid Al Futtaim’s shopping centre developments.

Phil shared stories from the formative years, including the motivation behind creating such a pioneering destination, key business considerations, and memorable anecdotes from the mall’s planning and leasing stages.

He also explained how the UAE retail market has transformed over the past 30 years into a global retail giant, thanks to the visionary efforts of industry leaders such as MAF Group, Al Futtaim Group, Emaar Malls, and Nakheel.

It was an engaging and insightful exchange, and a pleasure to contribute to ACROSS Magazine’s continued mission of showcasing the region’s world-class retail landscape.