Dubai: The GCC's total retail area will reach six million square metres by the end of the year - equivalent to almost 27 of Dubai's Mall of the Emirates, according to a report by UK-based retail consultancy Retail International. Dubai will make up a quarter of this space and more than 50 per cent of the whole UAE.

The city currently boasts 1.3 million square metres of retail space, approximately 500,000 square metres more than Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Jeddah, said Simon Thompson, owner of Retail International.

Dubai has grabbed the headlines after announcing Dubai Mall, set to become the world's biggest mall, as well as Mall of Arabia and Dubai Festival City - a combined 1.2 million square metres - but the city is far from alone in contributing to the region's retail boom.

Jim McCallum, group director, retail for Al Futtaim Group, which has established its leading brands, Marks & Spencer, Ikea, Toys R Us and Ace Hardwear in Abu Dhabi, says the city's retail sector could one day match Dubai for size and spending.

"There are major retail markets in the Middle East other than Dubai - the growth of Abu Dhabi for one should certainly not be underestimated," he said.

"With all the real estate projects and investments planned for the city, I believe it can be as big if not bigger in retail terms than Dubai in ten years, driven by a massive inward investment. There are property projects, each with retail components, worth more than $600 billion."

Approximately Dh300 million was invested into expanding Abu Dhabi's flagship project, Marina Mall, earlier last year - adding 109 new store to the existing 165.

Other experts agree that the region's retail boom is far from confined to Dubai. Qatar is building a reputation as a retail hub led by its Le Villaggio and Pearl Qatar malls.

Other big malls include Mall of Kuwait, Al Shobily Grand Mall in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain City Centre, who total approximately 735,000 square metres between them.

Meanwhile, retail space in Saudi Arabia will expand by 2-3 million square metres in five years, driven by a booming population, religious tourism and greater openness to foreign investment, according to Mohammad Alawi, vice-president for the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC).

Alawi said the GCC currently boasts five million square metres of gross leasable area (GLA) - a figure he expects to double in the next five years.

"Dubai is currently leading in terms of percentage with more than 30 per cent of the GCC's retail space, but this position is not guaranteed in the long term," he said.

"The city's retail strategy is based on attracting tourists and being a transit hub with a new airport at Jebel Ali. If the city achieves its targets, it will need even more GLA than is currently being planned.

"But if regional instability rises, people may stay at home rather than shop, tourists will go elsewhere and expat families will return home - this is a major concern among mall retailers."