13 reasons to get excited about Yas Mall: in pictures

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  Lego: First off, there is going to be a Lego replica of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to gaze at, assembled over the previous weekend by schoolchildren. And a store selling nothing but Lego? The first ever-certified one in the entire Middle East and North Africa region? Call us instant ALEs (that’s Lego lingo for “Adult Lego Enthusiast”).

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  Joe Fresh: Canadian expatriate hearts will go pitter-patter at news this cheap-and-cheerful line of stylish basics, bags, undergarments, accessories, kids, sportswear, beauty and cosmetics is going to be a first for the Middle East. Don’t be suspicious because these wares, designed by the Club Monaco founder Joe Mimran, were first conceived to be sold in a grocery store: they are many cuts above the typical hypermarket offerings. Eugene Gologursky / Getty Images for the Joe Fresh / AFP

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  Jamba Juice: You have to admit: there are not many places to get a good healthy smoothie or a fresh, cold-pressed juice in the capital. We can only hope the first outlet of this ubiquitous American brand to hit the Middle East – lucky Abu Dhabi – is one of many to come. We’re particularly excited to try the new, whole-food offerings. Kale-ribbean Breeze, with a whole cup of the green leaves, mango, chia seeds and Greek yogurt, sounds lovely. AP

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  Pie Face: It was on a trip in 2009 to Sydney that we first had one of these fun, flaky and delicious little pies – each served with their own smiley face drawn on top – and we’ve been wishing for one ever since. The Yas Mall location marks the first outlet for the much-loved Australian chain – we can only hope there are more Pie Faces on the way. AP

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  Cheesecake Factory: We’ve been jealous of those massive slabs of this American success story’s cheesy, creamy confections that people have been lining up for in Dubai for months now. Any cheesecake fan living in the capital knows that quality versions are very hard to come by, but that’s all about to change with the news that Yas Mall will host the first Cheesecake Factory in the capital. Get out your comfy pants. Courtesy The Cheesecake Factory

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  Rogo’s: This is billed as the world’s largest roller-coaster restaurant. No, you don’t eat while you are on a roller coaster, that would be silly. Instead your meal will be delivered to you via a tiny roller coaster car, while you remain stationary. This outrageous-sounding outlet is billed as a first in the Mena region. We are very curious. iStockphoto.com

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  Under Armour: This is one of the world’s most popular and sought-after brands of fitness clothing and for good reason: it fits well, breathes and doesn’t start looking like a sorry, saggy mess about a few workouts and washes. Yas Mall will have Under Armour’s first stand-alone store in the UAE. AP

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  20 screens and one 4Dx: Swaying tilting chairs, the odd splash of water or puff of wind, smoke, flashes of light: this is what cinema viewing has become. Get all five senses ready then, because Yas Mall’s Vox Cinemas has the capital’s first 4Dx experience among its 20 screens – one of them 23.5 metres. Courtesy VOX Cinemas

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  Tons of natural light: It’s not just in the Town Square at the heart of the mall, under a massive skylight, where a shopper could stand and actually get the feeling of being outdoors. There are skylights everywhere, which combine with gorgeous high ceilings and wide corridors to give the entire space a cheerful, open vibe. This is going to be a summer happy place. Christopher Pike / The National

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  Real trees: There are 57 of them waiting for customers on opening day, augmented by hundreds of plants and shrubs – enough to give the mall a lively feel that no other in the capital has. These trees are a genius addition. Kudos to the gardener. Christopher Pike / The National

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  The coffee shops: Build a mall and the coffee lovers will come. Yas Mall offers the standard fare, in the form of Starbucks and Costa Coffee, but it also has the first Angelina Cafe in Abu Dhabi, a Jamaica Blue, Paul, the first Guylian in the UAE, a Godiva Cafe and the UAE staple, Shakespeare and Co. Jeff Topping / The National

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  It’s sustainable: The mall met a two-Pearl rating under Estidama, Abu Dhabi’s green building and operations guideline, above the one-Pearl minimum. The project’s managers say 75 per cent of waste by weight produced during construction was diverted from landfill, 80 per cent of the steel is recycled and all paints, adhesives, sealants, carpeting and ceilings are below the recommended levels for volatile organic compounds. Ravindranath K / The National

We keep finding reasons to be excited about the opening of the long-awaited Yas Mall, just ahead of Abu Dhabi's Formula One weekend. There are a lot of things to love about the inside of those 2.5 million square feet, including more than 400 shops, 60 food and beverage outlets and some of the largest spaces in the Middle East devoted to our favourite brands, but we found 13 in particular we want everyone to know about.
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