Developer Arada awards contract for the next phase of its family entertainment district Madar, part of the Aljada megaproject

Developer Arada has awarded the first contract for the next phase of its family entertainment district, Madar, part of the Aljada megaproject in Sharjah.

Opened in February 2020, Madar at Aljada has already welcomed two million visitors to its mix of attractions and food offerings.

The second phase will contain a health and fitness club, a trampoline park, an extension to the existing skatepark, more parking and a further 460,000 square feet of parkland.

At more than 110,000 square feet, the health and fitness club will be one of the largest in Sharjah, with separate sections catering to men and women.

Dubai-based landscape architect Proscape has won the first construction contract for this phase. It will carry out landscaping and other works over four months, while the second phase will be completed by September 2022.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, CEO of Arada, said: "With more than 100,000 visitors a month, Madar at Aljada has cemented its position as the fastest-growing family entertainment destination in the UAE. We believe that the new attractions on offer in the second phase will help to grow visitor numbers to Madar even more strongly while also presenting residents of Aljada with an outstanding portfolio of facilities right on their doorstep."

Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the complex is the largest of its kind in the Northern Emirates at 1.9 million square feet.

Existing attractions include the Aljada Discovery Centre, the Zad food village and drive-thru, a children’s adventure playground, a skatepark, a free-to-enter drive-in cinema, an indoor events space, a waterplay area, and an outdoor amphitheatre.

Madar at Aljada is the centrepiece of Sharjah’s largest ever megaproject, valued at AED24 billion, and is spread over 24 million square feet.

Construction work on Aljada began in 2018, and buyers received the first homes at the beginning of 2021.