Abu Dhabi’s distinguished lifestyle destination, The Galleria Al Maryah Island, has commemorated a significant milestone in redefining luxury experiences. Celebrating "Abu Dhabi's Decade of Luxury" since its inauguration and anticipating the celebrations, The Galleria is rejoicing in a remarkable 10-year luxury journey.
Since its inception in 2013, The Galleria has reshaped Abu Dhabi's retail landscape. When it opened its doors, over 50 exclusive brands were introduced to the emirate. Celine, Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, Moschino and many more opted for this novel luxurious destination to become their inaugural location in Abu Dhabi.
These were accompanied by a range of internationally renowned flagship concepts, which announced The Galleria as the home of luxury in the UAE capital.
The external façade and interior design matched the elevated offering of the brands within. The 33,000 square metre (gross leasable area) destination mirrored the city's vitality, encapsulating modern design elements with Arabic influence. Crowned with an iconic sculptural roof structure, The Luxury Collection has become an architectural landmark in the capital.
The Galleria's primary entry experience is also choreographed for maximum impact. Bathed in a natural lightscape created by the structure above, guests are welcomed at the pinnacle of the two levels into the soaring, marble-clad Great Room. As they descend, the dramatic 20-metre-high bowed glass western façade rises directly ahead, framing the Abu Dhabi skyline across the water and opening the destination to the city.
The entire destination is characterised by its openness and spaciousness. Floor-to-ceiling windows embrace the city's panorama, and overhanging balconies in the north and south wings elevate public spaces and create an indoor-outdoor flow onto the waterfront.
Complementing its unique retail offering, the crème de la crème of the UAE fine-dining scene recognised this Year's opportunity.
The Galleria's Dining Collection overlapped along the island's waterfront promenade overlooking Abu Dhabi. Concepts like Zuma, the multi-award-winning Japanese restaurant and lounge, COYA, LPM Restaurant and Bar, and the now Michelin Star 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant altered the trajectory of dining in the capital. Guests no longer had to travel outside of the Emirates to enjoy the best dining experiences in the region.
As the calibre of the destination became established, its evolution accelerated. The interconnected ecosystem on Al Maryah Island further added to its desirability by enabling year-round air-conditioned access from all surrounding assets.
Flanked on both sides by five-star accommodations, Rosewood Abu Dhabi and Four Seasons Al Maryah Island, alongside Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, the growing business hub of Abu Dhabi Global Market and high-end office towers, The Galleria's extraordinary combination of contemporary design, luxury positioning, exceptional service, centralised location and the ability to cater to a growing market, captured the attention of the world's most prominent retail groups.
With one central opening after another, brands saw the extraordinary potential The Luxury Collection offered. They were eager to establish a presence in what had already become the unrivalled home of luxury fashion and high jewellery in Abu Dhabi.
Today, The Galleria welcomes over 34 million guests annually. It is home to brands like Hermès, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Cartier, Fendi, Prada, Bulgari, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet, Graff, IWC, Patek Philippe, a spectacular Apple store set on top of a water feature on the promenade and so many more. This offering continues to grow and evolve, catering to an informed, discerning and knowledgeable market.
The Galleria's dining offering followed a similar trajectory by introducing more fine-dining options to its guests, such as Almayass and Salt Bae’s Nusr-Et. This prompted interest from other dining categories with UAE-favourite concepts like L'ETO café, which introduced their brand to Abu Dhabi at The Galleria.
As a result, many of the region's foremost culinary offerings are all located within a 200-metre stretch along the island's promenade. This has led to global recognition. In 2022, Al Maryah Island was selected to host the Middle East and North Africa's prestigious 50 Best Restaurants event.
The Galleria also became a key destination for community events and celebrations. Iconic New Year’s Eve concerts on Al Maryah Island have seen international artists like Amr Diab and Myriam Fares perform on the promenade.
At the same time, the Chinese New Year and the spectacular annual Winter Wonderland have become staples on the Abu Dhabi event calendar. In recent years, this has expanded to incorporate Halloween, Easter and other seasonal celebrations mirroring and catering to the growing and diverse population in the UAE capital.
In 2019, the luxury destination hosted the first Comité Colbert, an assembly comprising 84 distinguished French luxury brands and 16 cultural establishments. In partnership with Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Hosn, The Galleria and Comité Colbert delved into 21st-century French luxury and the interplay between French and Emirati cultures, creating a distinctive and enriching cultural exchange.
That same year, phase two of The Galleria unveiled a new chapter in Abu Dhabi's urban landscape. The Luxury Collection was joined by an expansive precinct housing an extended offering. What resulted was a physical transformation and a complete reimagination of high-street fashion, unique entertainment and casual dining all in one place.
In celebration of this occasion, the world-class attraction hosted a sensational block party welcoming 100,000 people within 12 hours to celebrate the occasion.
Giving back to the community has also been a central focus. As a lifestyle destination located centrally in the capital, The Galleria is in a privileged position to enhance the lives of the local community.
Complimentary community programmes incorporating fitness, dance and yoga provide a free and easy way for people to connect, spend time together and live a healthier lifestyle. At the same time, charitable initiatives and cause-related efforts have been a primary focus over the years.
Partnerships with charitable initiatives during critical periods such as Ramadan leverage the power of the community to make a positive impact. These have included Reach, which raises funds for tropical diseases, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi for occasions like World Heart Day and the Pink Caravan initiative, which provides free breast cancer screenings.
Collaborations with local schools and cultural establishments have also helped promote local culture and art. Notable exhibitions have included Bae's with the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, Zayed University and the support of people of determination with the Special Olympics.
The destination's "Embrace Nature, Inspire Change" environmental initiative was launched in June 2023. The Galleria has committed to planting 3,000 trees in Abu Dhabi in honour of the Year of Sustainability, building on its ongoing recycling, energy-saving and other sustainability efforts.
Participating guests were rewarded with The Galleria's new gift card initiative to engage the community in collaboration with Visa. This unique offering empowers guests to present the gift of shopping and dining at their preferred locations within the destination.
Ali Fikree, Senior Vice President in UAE Real Estate at UAE Investments, Mubadala, said: "Celebrating a decade of The Galleria Al Maryah Island is a testament to its enduring significance as a capital landmark and a hub for luxury experiences. Throughout these ten years, The Galleria has not only maintained its position as the premier destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment but has also played a pivotal role in driving the sustained growth and prominence of Al Maryah Island, one of the region’s most sought-after hubs to work, live, shop and play. As we cross this special milestone today, we remain committed to delivering world-class experiences contributing to Abu Dhabi's cultural and economic landscape.”
Commenting on this milestone, David Robinson, CEO of Al Maryah Retail Company, said: “Completing a decade of visionary innovation, The Galleria Al Maryah Island has redefined Abu Dhabi’s lifestyle narrative. From fashion, jewellery, and exclusive luxury to gastronomy and entertainment, every facet of this extraordinary destination reflects our commitment to excellence and is catered to our guests. Celebrating a remarkable 10-year journey, we invite guests to embrace A Decade of Luxury. We look forward to growing with the Abu Dhabi community for many years.”
Through its transformative journey, The Galleria Al Maryah Island has become more than a destination – it is a living testament to Abu Dhabi's aspirations, diversity and unquenchable thirst for excellence.
The story of The Galleria is one of constant evolution, a tale of a destination that listens, learns and continuously strives to offer a truly enriching experience to its cherished community.
These significant achievements will be commemorated in true luxury fashion, and guests can eagerly anticipate the exciting developments yet to unfold.
For more information about The Galleria Al Maryah Island, please visit www.thegalleria.ae or follow @TheGalleriaUAE.
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