In this scenario, the concept of neighbourhood retailing as promoted by Emaar Retail will become more significant. Emaar's retail ethos is driven by one key philosophy: Deliver residents in its master-planned communities the services and products they need in a friendly ambience, and back it up with amenities such as parking and leisure choices.

There are several striking parallels between the retail sectors of India and Dubai. For one, the retail sector of Dubai was predominantly led by Indian traders - an association that goes back to several centuries. The evolution of Dubai's retail sector as a truly world-class shopping destination was swift and phenomenal, and in this growth, shopping malls have played a key role.

Dubai's shopping malls have removed the dichotomy of shopping and leisure, and created a perfect blend of retail and entertainment that appealed to families - both residents and visitors. The integrated lifestyle approach that drives the development of The Dubai Mall, the flagship development by Emaar Malls Group, can also serve as a referral point for India's retail sector.

Emaar Malls Group - a subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, which through a joint venture with MGF Land Development is the largest foreign direct investor in India's real estate sector - has helped transform the look and feel of shopping malls. The operational philosophy of Emaar Malls Group is to design shopping malls as vibrant retail and leisure destinations.

The Dubai Mall, for example, is redefining the shopping and leisure experience with its rich array of components including the world's largest indoor Gold Souk; one of the world's largest aquariums featuring 33,000 living animals; an Olympic-size ice rink; an entertainment section including the region's first SEGA indoor theme park; and KidZania®, an 80,000 square feet children's 'edu-tainment' centre.

The Gold Souk is designed to reflect the rich Arabic heritage blended with the modern features of The Dubai Mall, and will showcase a collection of over 220 of the region's most trusted gold and jewellery retailers. At the souk, gold and jewellery can be readily purchased or tailor-crafted. The aquarium, at 51m x 20m x 11m, will feature the world's largest viewing panel measuring 32.8m in width x 8.3m in height. With the capacity to hold 10 million litres of water, the aquarium will illuminate the marvels of the ocean floor and showcase a diverse collection of marine life worldwide.

Other entertainment components at The Dubai Mall will include KidZania® and SEGA Republic. Kidzania is an award-winning children's 'edu-tainment' concept that will be introduced to the region for the first time. It will be an 80,000 square feet interactive mini-city that combines play with learning. SEGA Republic is to be an indoor theme park focused on action, adventure, and entertainment. The two-level, 76,000 square feet adventure is being developed by Emaar Malls Group in partnership with SEGA Corporation.

This integrated approach works for India, too, especially given its current socio-economic shift. The growing middle-class population with high purchasing power continues to drive the retail sector in India. For them, shopping malls are becoming destinations for leisure - places where they meet with friends and families. Indian retail sector must take a cue from The Dubai Mall and create integrated shopping destinations.