UNITED ARAB EMIRATES —UAE-based master developer Arada has awarded a construction contract valued at AED 2.18 billion for Madar Mall, the principal retail and entertainment component of its Aljada development in Sharjah. The contract has been granted to United Engineering Construction Company (UNEC), a Dubai-headquartered contractor established in 1976 with extensive experience delivering major projects across the GCC. Construction is set to commence immediately, with handover targeted for December 2028.
Madar Mall will comprise approximately 3.9 million square feet of built-up area, including 1.1 million square feet of gross leasable space distributed over three levels. The scheme forms the final phase of the Madar district, a family-oriented leisure precinct within Aljada designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. Planned components include more than 400 retail outlets, 80 dining venues, an 11-screen cinema, an ice rink, a public events plaza, a flagship fitness facility, and an observation tower featuring a restaurant.
The development is expected to reinforce Sharjah’s position within the UAE’s retail and entertainment real estate market, supporting job creation across construction, retail operations, and facility management. It also expands institutional-grade commercial assets within a master-planned community that ultimately envisions over 25,000 residential units alongside education, hospitality, and office space.
For investors and contractors, the award signals continued capital deployment into large-scale mixed-use projects in the northern emirates, with downstream implications for supply chains, leasing markets, and long-term asset management strategies.
