Retail plaza planned to bolster MotorCity community and its surroundings; track-based business units planned to cater for motorsport industry

Dubai, January 7, 2016: Dubai Autodrome LLC and Union Properties PSJC are forging ahead with plans to evolve areas of the business while developing new retail units at the facilities in MotorCity.   

Ryan Trutch, Dubai Autodrome Special Projects Manager said: “MotorCity community has become a hive of activity over the past few years. Through the development, enhancement and expansion of our facilities we aim to further increase the business and leisure attraction in and around Dubai Autodrome and Kartdrome.'   

The Retail Plaza, located in the grandstand area of Dubai Autodrome, is being prepared to accomodate 11 new prime retail units overlooking the start and finish straight of the circuit and encompassing a large outdoor terrace in which merchants can operate their businesses in a unique environment.   

Trutch said: 'We expect to see several F&B outlets, cafés and motor related businesses to open within a few months. We welcomed the first tenant ‘Emerald Fitness’ which opened their doors in December 2015 with a state-of-the art gym.'

Also set to open in the Retail Plaza tomorrow (8 January) ahead of the traditional Hankook 24H Dubai endurance race, is a pop-up style bar come lounge run by Fox Hill Catering & Events Management in the grandstand courtyard. This will open daily until midnight and remains open for several months thereafter. 

Trutch explained: “We expect that the grandstand area will become a destination for social entertainment and F&B outlets. Additionally Fox Hill will be hosting weekend community markets over the course of the next few months which will obviously add to the appeal.'

During the course of 2016, Dubai Autodrome and Union Properties intend to roll out several projects to further bolster the area, including the development of a motorsport business park, which will cater for racing teams and motorsport related businesses keen to locate to the venue which in turn attracts a dedicated clientele which they can tap into.

The planned 5,000 square metres facility will comprise of 13 units ranging in size from 200 square metres up to 420 square metres and will be situated in the existing P2 car park area. The building will overlook the main circuit pit exit.

The plans allow for buildings which are bespoke for motorsport operations, with the goal to cater for and help develop the motorsport industry and business in Dubai, while concentrating these activities in an ideal environment in the aptly named MotorCity.

Across the boulevard from the main track, the Kartdrome - which has enjoyed ongoing upgrades over the years – will continue to be developed with plans in place to further enhance the facility for kart owners and Arrive & Drive customers. Also in the pipeline is the construction of a corporate enclosure, above the pit bays, overlooking the main straight adjacent to the existing pits complex.

A Zoom store, serving food and refreshments, has become an integral and highly popular part of the outdoor Kartdrome and another will be added at the indoor Kartdrome facility in due course.

Richard Birch, General manager of Dubai Autodrome said: 'Dubai is a constantly evolving city, with benchmark international standard sports facilities aimed at catering admirably for the city's residents as well as attracting tourists from around the globe.'

Birch added: 'Our objective is to deliver projects to the highest standards as we continue to always raise our game to the highest level, with the goal of being a prime location for automotive and motorsport events as well as business in the build-up, and during, the forthcoming Expo2020.'