“We’re expecting a lot more visitors and to make sure we can give them the most convenient trip, it was essential to increase the number of spaces too. We have placed them around the three car park levels of the mall including ground,” said Fuad Sharaf, Vice President, Mall of the Emirates.

While the expansion work has been carried out, the traffic flow within the mall has been redesigned for easier access, with more signs and customer service personnel. Customers are urged to take note of the new exits from the mall which will be effective until April. All exits from the mall to Sheikh Zayed Road will be from the ground floor and to Al Barsha from Level 1 of the Carrefour side.

“By the end of April, we expect work on the parking to be near completion, with full access to Al Barsha and Sheikh Zayed Road from all levels. In June, we will also have a brand new taxi drop-off and pick-up area at the north east corner of the mall with a refurbished entrance and lobby,” added Sharaf.

Scheduled to open at the end of the third quarter of 2010, an additional 10,500 square metres of retail space is being added to one of the most popular malls in the UAE.

Charging will begin on September 10 and will only apply to cars parking for more than 3 hours (4 hours at weekends). Those watching movies at the CineStar cinemas will receive free parking for an additional hour.

The move is designed to prevent drivers parking their vehicles for free at the malls and catching the Metro to another destination.

The malls’ owners, the Majid Al Futtaim Group, say the change will not affect the vast majority of shoppers.

The 5-star Pullman Mall of the Emirates will offer 481 rooms (including 94 suites) and will mainly cater to business travellers.

It is expected to open in the latter half of 2010 and will be situated at the Mall of the Emirates in Al Barsha.

Pullman is Accor’s upscale business hotel brand. The first Pullman hotel opened in 2007. By 2015 Accor predict there will be around 300 Pullman properties.

In 2011, the Novotel Deira City Centre will be re-branded as a Pullman hotel following an extensive refurbishment project.

The entire show is choreographed by Sharmila Kamte and her Dance Academy in association with Skechers, official newspaper 7 Days, Meeting Dance & Leisure Wear, Clean & Clear and Lighthouse Productions along with the official venue Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre and Startime. This year’s show includes retentions of latino, soul, indian and hip hop styles among the 23 dances being performed. Audiences will also have the opportunity to enjoy performances from Sharmila Kamte and her ensemble as well as Piso Caliente the latino dance specialists.

Sharmilas Annual Show has been performed in Dubai for the past nine years, previously showing at the Jumeirah Beach Club. 2007 saw the show move to the Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Center at Mall of the Emirates. The Centre is the first modern, non-profit, cross-community creative centre in the Gulf, built to international specifications.

Sharmilas Annual Jazz Show will be opening on Friday 24th April with a matinee performance at 2:30pm for specially invited guests with an evening performance at 7pm commencing the public performances, on Saturday 25th April at 2.30pm and 7pm.

Tickets are on sale now from the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre at Mall of the Emirates. Ticket prices are 85 AED for adults and 70 AED for under 18’s.

General Manager Philippe Montaubin said ‘At Ibis Al Barsha, we are launching with a brand promise to deliver economy rates year round, not just for a few months.’

Christophe Landais, Managing Director Accor Hospitality Middle East, added ‘In Dubai, we plan a total of 16 Accor hotels: 7 are operational and 9 are under construction. Aside from Ibis, we have other existing brands such as Novotel, and under development are Sofitel, Suitehotel and Pullman. Our group has an extensive portfolio of hotel brands from economy to upper-upscale to cater to all segments of the market.’