New projects will appear in Nad Al Sheba, Jumeirah, The Villa, Liwan and Sobha Hartland

By the end of 2026, Dubai's retail infrastructure will expand with five new facilities primarily serving residents of nearby neighborhoods. New shopping centers will open in Nad Al Sheba, Jumeirah, The Villa, Liwan and Sobha Hartland.

Unlike large urban malls, these projects are developed as community retail centers—neighborhood hubs where essential daily services are located right near home.

The new complexes will feature supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, fitness centers, medical facilities, children's play areas, and convenience stores.

For the real estate market, the development of such infrastructure has practical value: having a high-quality retail and service center within a residential area improves daily convenience and can increase the location's appeal for both owners and tenants.

The Grand will open in Nad Al Sheba Gardens

The first of the new properties will be The Grand in the Nad Al Sheba Gardens area. Shamal Holding will begin its phased opening on August 19, 2026.

One of the anchor tenants will be Waitrose & Partners. This will be the chain's first supermarket in the Nad Al Sheba area.

The first phase of the complex will also include the opening of:

• MMI;
• Heart Cottage Lane;
• Maple Bear Nursery;
• Al Jaber Optical;
• Fixperts.

By September, the center's dining options will expand significantly. Announced establishments include Tasha’s, Somewhere, Home Bakery, Kokoro, Blu Pizzeria, Bake My Day, and Daima.

Additional infrastructure will be provided by Staywell Pharmacy and Tips & Toes.

The Fitcode fitness space and the American Hospital medical center are scheduled to open in early 2027, meaning the complex will continue to develop even after the main part of the project launches.

All commercial spaces at The Grand have been leased in advance

Even before the official opening, Shamal Holding had fully leased the complex's spaces to tenants.

This indicates strong business interest in local retail infrastructure in Nad Al Sheba Gardens.

The Grand is being created as a multifunctional community hub where residents can shop for daily essentials, visit restaurants, access medical services, and exercise without needing to travel to other parts of Dubai.

For a growing residential community, having such infrastructure can be a significant advantage when choosing a property for long-term living.

First Avenue Mall Jumeirah to open in September

Another new shopping center is set to appear in one of the city's most established residential areas.

The opening of First Avenue Mall Jumeirah, located near the Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, is scheduled for September 2026.

Final construction work is underway at the site, and tenants are currently preparing their spaces.

A significant portion of the concept will be dedicated to the dining sector.

Announced establishments include:

• Jon and Vinny’s;
• Nala;
• Lost in Tokyo.

Later in 2026, they will be joined by the Japanese ramen shop Tora Tora.

Jumeirah gains additional community infrastructure

First Avenue Mall Jumeirah will cater to both residents of Jumeirah and visitors to the city's coastal area.

For established neighborhoods, the addition of new restaurants and retail spaces is particularly significant, as it is not about creating a new residential cluster from scratch, but rather about further enhancing the quality of the existing urban environment.

For property owners, such changes can improve the neighborhood's daily convenience and expand the range of services available within walking or a short driving distance.

Le Meryeme Mall will open in The Villa

In the The Villa community, a new Le Meryeme Mall is scheduled to open by the end of 2026.

The retail complex in Wadi Al Safa 5 will add approximately 124,000 square feet of commercial infrastructure to the area.

Construction of the facility was completed by KeyMavens Group.

The project will feature:

• retail stores;
• restaurants and cafes;
• fitness spaces;
• medical and wellness services;
• family entertainment.

A rooftop pool will be a standout feature.

Which tenants will be coming to Le Meryeme Mall in The Villa

Confirmed tenants for the project include:

• Mumuso;
• MyPT;
• NovaSkin;
• Medicina Pharmacy;
• Tips & Toes;
• Dastaan;
• Carnival.

The mall's concept is primarily focused on the daily needs of residents in The Villa and surrounding communities.

For the neighborhood, this means more services right on their doorstep, which may reduce the need for regular trips to Dubai's larger shopping malls.

Another Le Meryeme Mall will open in Liwan

KeyMavens Group is developing its second project under the Le Meryeme brand in the Liwan, in Wadi Al Safa 2.

The complex will span approximately 113,675 sq. ft., with completion scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.

The new center will serve residents of Liwan and the nearby Dubai Silicon Oasis.

The project will feature:

• restaurants;
• cafes;
• medical facilities;
• sports facilities;
• children's play areas;
• convenience stores.

There will also be landscaped open spaces and a dedicated plaza for events.

Liwan is gaining more comprehensive local infrastructure

The architectural concept of Le Meryeme Mall in Liwan will incorporate elements of Spanish style.

For the neighborhood itself, the functional aspect of the project is more important: the arrival of new shops, services, and dining venues near residential areas.

Together, the two Le Meryeme properties in The Villa and Liwan will add approximately 237,675 square feet of new neighborhood retail infrastructure to Dubai.

For property buyers, this further highlights the trend of developers and commercial property owners focusing on creating comprehensive local hubs within residential communities.

Sobha Mall will become the new infrastructure hub for Sobha Hartland

During 2026, Sobha Realty also plans to open Sobha Mall in the residential community of Sobha Hartland.

An exact launch date has not yet been announced.

The total area of the project will be approximately 339,000 square feet, of which about 115,000 square feet will be leasable space.

The shopping center is planned to house 35 retail and dining outlets.

The infrastructure will also include:

• a supermarket;
• a gym;
• sports facilities;
• family entertainment spaces.

In addition, the project includes over ten restaurant concepts.

Investment in Sobha Mall to reach AED 210 million

According to project details, Sobha Realty is allocating approximately AED 210 million, or about USD 57.2 million, for the development of the shopping center.

Once opened, residents of Sobha Hartland will have access to key services right within their residential community.

This is particularly relevant for large master-planned districts, where buyers increasingly expect not just residential property, but a full range of infrastructure for daily life.

Dubai focuses on community shopping centers

A common feature of all five projects is their local format.

Instead of creating another massive mall designed for the entire city and tourist traffic, developers are building shopping centers tailored to the residents of specific communities.

This format brings together the most essential daily services in one place:

• grocery shopping;
• dining out;
• medical services;
• sports and fitness;
• personal care;
• childcare facilities;
• everyday services.

For residents, this reduces the number of trips across the city and increases the convenience of the neighborhood.

Why community retail is becoming important for the real estate market

Modern real estate buyers in Dubai are increasingly evaluating not just the apartment or villa, but also the quality of the surrounding infrastructure.

This is especially important for families and expats purchasing homes for their own residence.

When choosing a neighborhood, they pay attention to how close the following are:

• supermarkets;
• schools and kindergartens;
• medical facilities;
• restaurants;
• sports facilities;
• leisure areas.

Therefore, a neighborhood shopping center becomes part of the overall value of a residential community.

What new shopping centers mean for investors

For investors, the development of local commercial infrastructure can be an additional factor in a neighborhood's appeal.

The presence of shops, restaurants, fitness centers, and medical services near a home can increase interest from tenants and end buyers.

This is especially relevant for neighborhoods that are still under development and gradually forming a full-fledged urban environment.

However, the mere fact that a shopping center has opened does not guarantee an increase in property value. Investment analysis must still take into account the purchase price, the volume of future supply, project quality, transport accessibility, and actual rental demand.

Infrastructure is becoming one of the factors of a neighborhood's long-term value

Development of The Grand, First Avenue Mall Jumeirah, the Le Meryeme Mall and Sobha Mall projects demonstrate how the approach to developing Dubai's residential areas is evolving.

The primary focus is shifting toward infrastructure integrated directly into the daily lives of the community.

For owners, this means greater comfort; for tenants, it means convenience; and for investors, it provides a broader range of factors that help maintain property demand.

Five new shopping centers scheduled to open in 2026 will continue the development of Nad Al Sheba, Jumeirah, The Villa, Liwan and Sobha Hartland , expanding residents' access to essential services right on their doorstep.