The local Emirates REIT has appointed UK-based Foster + Partners to reconfigure the retail mall and design ready to occupy office floors at Index Tower at Dubai International Financial Centre.

Emirates REIT owns 16.64 office floors in the building, 1,404 car parking spaces and the retail mall located over ground and podium levels, as well as the sky lobby.

Foster + Partners was selected following a highly competitive tender process.

Emirates REIT says that, as the original architect of Index Tower, the company presented strong plans to drive customer footfall across the retail floors, including adding significant leaseable area, redesigning and updating the podium landscaping, and improving customer access into the tower.

In April, Emirates REIT raised $175m by selling 46 per cent of its equity through an initial public offering (IPO).