From golf to kart racing to nightclubbing, when it comes to leisure activities, Yas Island’s got plenty of them. However, as yet, and until Yas Mall opens some time in 2012, shopping isn’t really one of them. Except that from today, if self-assembled flat pack furniture, crockery and picture frames is what you need then you’re in luck, as Ikea has just opened a massive new outlet on the island. The shop, which is part of the Al Futtaim Group, covers 33,000sq m and, despite its slightly remote location, is expecting some 1.3 million visitors in its first year of operation. It will also have its own in-house restaurant, where you can stuff yourself with meatballs and hotdogs before you start scrutinising sofas and filling your trolley with ice cube trays and the like.
Unfortunately, if you like to include a bit of furniture shopping on your visits to Marina Mall, the Ikea store there has now closed its doors. But, if it makes you feel any better, the Yas Island’s store is three times as big and hence has three times as much stock, meaning that two month wait to have your bed delivered shouldn’t happen for the future.
