Construction work has begun on the vast Mall of the Emirates retail and leisure complex in Dubai, which will include an 85m (300 feet) high snowdome. The Mall will be the largest retail centre outside the US and is expected to open in September 2005.

The Majid Al Futtaim group's billion dollar project has doubled in size since it was originally announced several years ago, then called the Souk Al Nakheel centre.

The snow playground will include one of the world's longest ski slopes, 400m long with a 62 metre vertical, served by a Poma built indoor chairlit.

The entire complex will include 2.4 million square feet of gross leasable area and a 200,000 square feet Carrefour hypermarket and parking for 7000 cars. There will be two entertainment zones (Magic Planet) for children and young adults totalling 100,000 square feet, and a 14 screen multiplex cinema and two international food courts with 25-30 outlets.

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