Dubai Mall receives world's most visitors in 2011

The Dubai Mall received a record- smashing of more than 54 million visitors in 2011 to become the world's most-visited shopping and leisure destination, according to Emaar Properties, developer of the mall. The number of visitors to the Dubai Mall exceeds the number of annual tourists to New York City in 2011, reported at 50.2 million. Retail sales across the various outlets in the mall have reported robust growth at about 35 percent on average compared with 2010, according to Emaar Properties. "The Dubai Mall's record-breaking footfall elevates its position as the world's most visited tourism and shopping destination, topping the annual visitor arrivals to all landmark attractions anywhere in the world," said Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties PJSC. "The visitor footfall is matched by the increase in retail sales, highlighting the contribution of the Dubai Mall to Dubai's retail sector. The mall's varied choice of retail outlets underlines its premier position as the must-visit destination for the booming consumer segment not just in the Middle East but across the region," he said. Centrally located in downtown Dubai, the Dubai Mall is described as 'the Center of Now,' and overlooks Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. The mall has about 1,200 outlets ranging from fashion wear to accessories, electronic appliances to home furnishing, the latest communication gadgets to audio-visual choices, books, jewelry and much more. The mall also boasts leisure attractions such as Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, which holds the Guinness World Record for the largest acrylic viewing panel; the Olympic sized Dubai Ice Rink; and the 22-screen Reel Cinemas, one of the region's largest megaplexes that can seat over 2,800 people.