Nakheel has announced the completion of the AED135 million ($36.75m) expansion of the Ibn Battuta Mall, following the completion of a link connecting the mall with the Dubai Metro. The mall-metro link is the second element of Nakheel’s Ibn Battuta phase one expansion, which also includes a 300,000 sq ft extension to the mall which opened earlier this year. A second 4.7 million sq ft expansion is currently underway. The two-storey, 210 metre walkway will allow metro and bus users to directly access the mall and its facilities. The link will feature 90 new retail and dining outlets, including a food court of around 20 restaurants. “Today marks yet another major milestone for Nakheel and its rapidly-growing retail development portfolio,” said Ali Rashid Lootah, Nakheel chairman. “We continue to enhance and upgrade our existing malls with new facilities and attractions that benefit customers and retailers, while at the same time delivering a new and diverse range of retail and leisure developments. “Nakheel Malls’ project portfolio is set to become the largest in Dubai, with more than 17 million square feet of leasable space in operation or in the pipeline,” he added. Ibn Battuta Mall sees more than 20 million visitors annually, making it a major tourism destination for Dubai. The construction of a Metro link was a ‘natural progression’ for the shopping mall, Nakheel said in a statement, adding that it would encourage visitors to use public transport, rather than cars.