What’s On goes behind the scenes at new shopping mall Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, with Formula One racing team Red Bull, and driver Carlos Sainz Jr.

More…
– F1 gigs revealed
– Racing Yas Marina
– What’s at Yas Mall?
– More from Red Bull
– F1 ticket info
– Mall Of The World

Those waiting patiently for the grand opening of Yas Mall, scheduled for next month, have been treated to a special sneak peek of the main areas.

The sprawling 235,000sq m complex on Yas Island is nearing completion, with some 400 stores working behind the scenes to get ready for the grand launch, which is expected to coincide with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

And, fittingly, developers have decided to sync themselves with motorsport by sending an Infiniti Red Bull Racing car around the building site, offering us a glimpse of what we can expect.

Speaking last month, developer Aldar Properties said the new shopping destination will see up to 20million visitors a year flocking to Yas Island, which already has the iconic Formula One circuit, Yas Marina, the Ferrari World theme park, and a water park.

Aldar has said 20million is a conservative estimate, describing a ‘hunger’ for destination shopping in the capital.

“Over the last five years, the growth of both Dubai Mall and the Mall Of The Emirates has been immense,” Aldar CEO Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak told CNN.com.

“They’ve both become destinations in themselves. Abu Dhabi does not have that sort of destination here. It needs that, it’s hungry for it, and Yas Mall is hopefully going to cater to that hunger.”

The firm is so confident of the success of Yas Mall, which will be the second biggest in the UAE behind the Dubai Mall (502,000sq m),that it is already looking ahead to phase two of the development, with even more shops due to be added down the line.

There’s been rumours House Of Fraser, from the UK, could be housed there, as well as John Lewis, who were threatening to open a branch in the UAE back in 2011, but scrapped plans. Alternatively, there could be US store Macy’s (the owners of Bloomingdales, which already has a branch in Dubai).

What is known is that there will be over 450 stores, four international department stores, other concept stores and fashion boulevards, as well as dining options including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, Texas Roadhouse, Giraffe Café, The Cheesecake Factory and Shake Shack.

“We believe that by creating a new concept, with one of the region’s most respected luxury retailers, we will create a unique shopping experience that complements the diverse retail mix already in place at the mall,” Aldar said last month.

Once completed, the mall will also feature a Geant (the largest hypermarket in Abu Dhabi), a 20-screen VOX cinema, and will offer direct access to Yas’s themepark Ferrari World.