Arada has welcomed an influx of dining outlets and retail brands at East Boulevard, the shopping and lifestyle destination at the centre of the Dhs35 billion Aljada megaproject in Sharjah.

In total, 87 new shops, cafes and restaurants are now open at the popular 2.2-kilometre-long avenue, making it one of the hottest new social spots in the UAE.

Recent completions to the East Village and Nest residential communities adjacent to East Boulevard mean that open leasable space has grown by 80 per cent to 130,000 square feet, providing a wide, walkable street lined with trees for an enhanced customer experience.

Newly opened outlets include Berenjak, the hit Persian home-cooked cuisine concept that has taken London’s Soho by storm, and Sharjah’s first edition of Home Bakery, the hugely popular café and dining concept.

La Brioche, the French patisserie, has also made its Sharjah debut in Aljada, as has TBK, which has opened its second location following the Italian-American restaurant’s first outlet in Dubai, while trendy fast-food joint Pickl has brought its famous burgers to East Boulevard.

Upcoming outlets include colourful Indian restaurant Rang, which is opening its second location after  Dubai Mall, Chef Eyad, which specialises in delicious smoked meats, the Late Lounge coffee shop and Mara Lounge, the popular world-cuisine concept that has a number of branches across the UAE. These new outlets join a large range of existing F&B brands at East Boulevard, including Bosporus, Five Guys, Starbucks, Hoof Café, Moon Slice Pizza and Origami.

These are complemented by a wide range of shops and services, including Spinneys, Carrefour, Maple Bear Nursery, Mumuso, First Abu Dhabi Bank and the Artal fashion outlet, as well as pharmacies, salons, florists and cleaners.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said: “The expansion of East Boulevard not only cements Aljada’s position as Sharjah’s most vibrant community, it also underscores Arada’s commitment to enhancing the Emirate’s lifestyle offerings, contributing to its ongoing growth and economic development. I’m pleased to say that commercial demand for our retail space has been extremely high, allowing us to curate the perfect blend of outlets for our residents and visitors.”

East Boulevard welcomed 2.4 million visitors in 2023, with that number set to increase substantially following the raft of new openings in the first half of this year, and the recent completion of homes at Aljada. In total, over 7,500 homes have now been finished at the megaproject, alongside a host of amenities that includes the SABIS International School-Aljada, a Wellfit flagship gym, the Zad food truck park and the Aljada Skate Park, all of which are complemented by extensive green landscaping.

With an estimated population of 70,000 on completion, and a catchment area that includes Sharjah city and much of northern Dubai, retail, leisure and entertainment play an important role in the Aljada master plan.

Around 1.2 million square feet of leasable space is on offer in the Madar central district alone, with the main contract for Madar Mall scheduled to be awarded in 2024.

Spread over a 24 million square foot area, Aljada is Sharjah’s largest ever project and a transformational destination for the Emirate. As well as its numerous residential districts, Aljada also contains extensive hospitality, entertainment, sporting, educational, healthcare components and a business park, all set within a green, walkable master plan.

Based in the UAE, Arada is a developer that has been created to build spaces and experiences that enrich, engage and inspire their residents. Our homes are exceptionally designed and are complemented with best-in-class amenities, all provided at an accessible price point.

Arada was founded in 2017 by Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi and Prince Khaled Bin Alwaleed Bin Talal, Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively, with the intention of delivering superior properties to the UAE real estate segment.

Meanwhile Arada and Minor Hotels have officially launched off-plan sales for Anantara Sharjah Residences, a new destination for luxury seaside living. Each of the 128 branded residences is housed within the grounds of the Anantara Sharjah Resort, a five-star hotel complex that is set to represent the ultimate in high-end beachfront hospitality.

Owned and developed by Arada and operated by Minor Hotels, the Anantara Sharjah Residences and Anantara Sharjah Resort will feature striking architecture including a signature gateway that is designed to show the path of the sun. The complex is located on the north-eastern edge of Al Heerah Beach, a popular tourist destination in its own right with 3.5 kilometres of beachfront containing jogging and cycling tracks and a wide variety of dining options.