New Abu Dhabi mall shows damage after huge blaze

Khalifa City Mall is charred but appears to have escaped major damage from Monday's fire

Khalifa City Mall showed some smoke damage and charring on Tuesday. Victor Besa / The National

A new mall to serve one of Abu Dhabi's largest suburbs showed damage on Tuesday after a blaze spread through the under-construction building the previous day.

Khalifa City Mall was charred and blackened but appeared to have escaped any serious structural damage.

Firefighters tackled a blaze on Monday afternoon that sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Witnesses reported a fierce blaze encompassing a corner of a large building site, with smoke reaching high into the construction cranes.

An eyewitness captured the blaze on Monday afternoon as it spread through the construction site. The National

The structure showed charring but appeared to have escaped structural damage. Victor Besa / The National

A digital rendering of the new mall that was released by its architects. Courtesy: Design International

How the mall will look once completed. Courtesy: Design International

Emergency services had the fire under control by late evening. Police said there were no casualties reported.

The three-level shopping centre will host about 160 shops, a cinema, a Lulu supermarket and parking for 1,700 vehicles.

London-based architects Design International and Lulu Group, which will operate the mall, have been contacted for comment.