Dubai Design Centre (DDC), shaping up as an exclusive hub for traders and retailers in home furnishing and construction solutions, is attracting investment proposals from a number of reputed European companies, says property developer Nakheel.

As an example, it said the DDC had generated tremendous response at the recently concluded BAU Exhibition 2005 in Munich, Germany.  
The 13 million sq ft Dubai Design Centre will be the largest home furnishing centre of its kind in the Middle East and is designed to cater for a full scope of needs, ranging from furniture to tools, equipment, interiors and kitchenware. With a net prime retail space of 5.7 million sq ft, DDC also contains offices for architects and engineers as well as additional amenities for customers, tenants and patrons from the GCC and Middle East regions.
DDC is the second specialised centre after Dragon Mart and is being developed at Nakheel’s International City, a world-class hub for international investors, traders and retailers, combining commercial, residential and tourism interests.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman, Nakheel, said: “The region is seeing a tremendous boost in housing and commercial property development. With the Dubai Design Centre, Nakheel has addressed the need for providing world-class solutions in home furnishing and accessories under one roof. The development with its industry concentration will define next-generation retailing in the region and create robust business opportunities for investors, traders and retailers.”
A number of leading European companies have expressed a keen interest in DDC’s offerings as an ideal opportunity to satisfy the growing demand in the Middle East for world-class furnishing accessories and building materials. Dubai Design Centre is slated for completion by the end of 2006.
The DDC is divided into special zones offering showroom space for products that are joined together according to category. These areas are lined up in the distinctly elongated ‘U’ shape of the development, with each zone providing customer choices in furniture, beddings, lounges, tables, general home ware, garden décor, carpets, fabrics, artwork, electrical and white goods, home entertainment products, lighting and fittings, air conditioning, baths, doors, windows, glass supplies, tiles shelves, timber, steel supplies, landscaping, gardening and other lifestyle amenities such as pools and spas and a host of finishing products such as paints, varnish and tempering  products, among others. Retailers are allocated shop floor in the DDC depending on the profile and product category in order to maintain consistency with the zoning regulations in the development. The complex has already attracted some of the biggest names in home construction and furnishing solutions.
In addition, the Dubai Design Centre features office blocks providing 80,000 sq m of prime office space and a state-of-the-art business centre, offering integrated conferencing and business-related solutions to the tenants of the project. The centre will also house a three-star and a four-star hotel, three extensive food courts as well as an entertainment section. The central node in DDC will include offices, conferencing and business facilities and services.
“Dubai is witnessing rapid all around development, especially in the area of real estate and housing development projects. DCC is created to cater to the varied needs of the property development sector of the Middle East,” concluded Bin Sulayem.
International City covers 780 hectares of land, located just 12 km from Dubai International Airport in the Al Warsan area of Dubai. The project will be a world-class hub for international investors, traders and retailers from across the globe as well as offering unique themed residential areas.
International City will also combine internationally themed commercial and tourism elements into its six key areas: The Central District, Dubai Design Centre, Dragon Mart, The Residential District, Lakes District and The Forbidden City. International City will be a city where people can live, work and relax in one unique an exclusive environment. Construction is already underway and the end of 2006 will see the completion of the entire project.