The UAE-based mall developer Majid al-Futtaim Group (MAF) has shortlisted three groups for the contract to build the estimated $770m Mall of Egypt at 6 October City outside Cairo.

The shortlisted groups are:

• Arabtec Construction (UAE)/Industrial Construction & Engineering Company (Siac) (local)
• Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) (Athens-based)/Hassan Allam Sons (local)
• Orascom Construction Industries (local)/Six Construct (Belgium)

The Mall of Egypt will cover a total area of 160,000 square metres and is scheduled to contain 350 shops when completed. One of the main attractions of the proposed mall will be an indoor ski slope, similar to the Ski Dubai component in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, also an MAF development.

In addition to the indoor ski facility, the mall will contain a 17-screen cinema complex, food court and other leisure amenities. The UK-based architecture firm RTKL is designing the shopping development.

The development is part of MAF’s intention to expand operations and open 10 new malls in the Middle East and North Africa over the next 10 years.

The Al-Futtaim Group is another UAE-based developer building a major shopping mall in Cairo.

The UAE/UK Al-Futtaim Carillion, in joint venture with Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries, started work on the estimated $9bn Cairo Festival City (CFC) retail centre in 2008.

The three-level Festival City shopping centre is scheduled to cover a total area of 140,000 square metres and contain 300 international and regional retail stores, including Al-Futtaim brands such as Toys R Us and InterSport. The mall is also planned to contain a Carrefour hypermarket, 17-screen multiplex cinema and food and beverage outlets (MEED 16:5:08).

The project was originally due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2012, but the scheme has faced delays. Construction work came to a halt in February as a result of the political unrest that led to the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.