Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council (UPC) has approved concept designs for the Reem Mall development.

The Concept Planning Report (CPR) approval represents a significant milestone for the $1bn project, and keeps it on track to open in 2018.

Local firm Dewan Architects & Engineers completed the design work on the Abu Dhabi mall project. The contract, which was signed in February, included engineering, masterplanning, architectural design and post-contract services.

Construction works are expected to start in 2015, with opening scheduled for 2018. Once completed, the scheme will deliver 2 million square feet of retail, leisure, and entertainment facilities, including 450 stores and 85 food and beverage outlets.

In May, the UK’s Faithful+Gould was appointed to provide a range of core services, including cost management, development advisory, project controls and specialised commercial management.

Kuwait’s National Real Estate Company (NREC) is developing the project in partnership with fellow Kuwaiti developer United Projects for Aviation Services Company (UPAC), which will invest up to $224m in the project through its real estate subsidiary, Al-Arfaj Real Estate Company.