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Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE

Master Plan & Mixed Use Developments

Master planned & mixed use developments require a clear, well integrated retail strategy to succeed commercially & experientially. When retail, F&B, leisure, & services are planned correctly, they become the social heart of the community, support residential value, accelerate sales velocity, & strengthen long term asset performance. RLPC supports master planned and mixed use developments across the GCC and emerging markets such as Egypt, where retail must be carefully integrated to protect long-term asset performance.

RLPC advises developers, master planners, & design teams on mixed use retail strategy, master planned community retail advisory, & destination retail planning across residential led communities, large scale mixed use developments, giga developments, industrial parks, & employment hubs. Our role is to ensure retail is correctly sized, positioned, & integrated from vision stage through detailed design, leasing readiness, & phased delivery.

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Our Services – Master Plan & Mixed Use Retail Advisory

1

Mixed Use Retail Strategy & Hierarchy

We work with the project team to define a clear mixed use retail strategy that establishes the role of retail across destination retail, community retail, attraction led retail, & convenience retail layers. This includes retail hierarchy planning, district level differentiation, residential led retail positioning, & alignment with destination vision & placemaking objectives to ensure every retail component has a clear commercial purpose.

2

Retail Demand Determination & Sustainable GLA Planning

We advise on retail demand determination & sustainable retail GLA by assessing supply demand dynamics, retail capacity planning, market share analysis, & retail gap assessment. The objective is right sizing retail to ensure long term viability, protect leasing performance, & avoid under traded or over supplied retail within mixed use developments.

3

Tenant Mix Strategy & Category Planning

We support tenant mix strategy through retail category planning & brand & operator curation across retail, F&B, leisure, & services. This includes defining core category lists, indicative tenant mix direction, balancing daily needs retail with destination dining, & aligning lifestyle brands, healthcare, fitness, & family services with community & destination retail roles.

4

Retail & F&B Clustering & Adjacency Planning

We develop retail & F&B clustering strategies that improve footfall flow, dwell time, & spend through activity based zoning & tenant adjacency planning. This includes plaza retail planning, promenade & lakeside dining strategies, grocery anchored clusters, family focused clusters, & experiential retail zones that support placemaking & leasing velocity.

5

Placemaking Led Retail & Public Realm Integration

We integrate placemaking retail strategy into master plans by aligning retail with urban design, public realm planning, & experiential retail principles. This includes walkable retail streets, climate responsive retail environments, shaded colonnades, street retail ambience, urban plazas, & destination anchors that position retail as a social & lifestyle focal point.

6

Ground Floor & Podium Retail Activation

We advise on ground floor retail activation & podium retail planning to enhance walkability, visibility, & residential compatibility. This includes frontage logic, accessibility planning, street activation strategy, & residential retail interface frameworks that improve livability while maintaining strong leasing performance.

7

Leasing Economics & Commercial Performance

We support retail commercial advisory through leasing economics & benchmarking, including occupancy cost ratio analysis, rent to sales benchmarking, lease rate strategy, rental sensitivity analysis, & occupancy cost optimisation. We also advise on footfall analysis, visitor profiling, dwell time estimation, & resident versus tourist demand segmentation to support data led leasing decisions.

8

Retail Phasing & Long-Term Asset Viability

We advise on retail phasing strategies aligned with population growth, footfall maturity, & operational readiness. This includes flexible retail unit planning, future proofed layouts, fast track delivery coordination, leasing readiness sequencing, & phased monetisation strategies that protect long term retail performance & tenant retention.

9

Industrial Parks, Logistics Hubs, & Employment Led Commercial Ecosystems

We advise on retail phasing strategies aligned with population growth, footfall maturity, & operational readiness. This includes flexible retail unit planning, future proofed layouts, fast track delivery coordination, leasing readiness sequencing, & phased monetisation strategies that protect long term retail performance & tenant retention.

Our Process

Vision Alignment

We work with the developer & master planner to align retail strategy with the master plan vision, destination objectives, & mixed use positioning.

Retail Role & Scale Definition

We define the appropriate retail role & sustainable retail GLA based on retail demand, catchment behaviour, & long term commercial viability.

Tenant Mix & Clustering Strategy

We support tenant mix strategy, category planning, & retail & F&B clustering to improve dwell time, footfall flow, & leasing performance.

Spatial Translation & Interfaces

We help translate retail strategy into ground floor activation, podium planning, public realm integration, & residential retail interfaces.

Sales & Leasing Alignment

We align retail planning with sales, marketing, & leasing requirements through leasing ready layouts & commercial narratives.

Phasing & Long Term Performance

We remain involved during phased delivery to support retail phasing strategy, flexibility, & long term asset performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Retail strategy should be introduced at the vision or concept master plan stage to ensure correct retail positioning, sustainable retail GLA, & integration with mixed use & residential components.

Retail GLA is determined through retail demand determination, catchment analysis, retail capacity planning, & benchmarking to ensure long term viability.

Destination retail attracts regional visitors, community retail supports lifestyle & social needs, & convenience retail serves daily routines. Clear retail hierarchy is essential in mixed use developments.

Residential retail conflict is avoided through ground floor & podium planning, frontage logic, service access coordination, & activity zoning.

Yes. RLPC frequently supports approved master plans by protecting retail intent through detailed design & translating strategy into leasing ready layouts.

 

Retail phasing strategies are aligned with population growth, footfall maturity, & operational readiness to protect early & long term performance.

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Contact Us

Ankit Khatkar

B.COM (Hons) - School of Open Learning, University of Delhi, Delhi (2023)

UI/UX Advanced Certification - Dice Academy, Delhi (2023)

Digital Marketing Professional Course - Digiperform, Delhi (2019)

  • Ankit Khatkar is a results-driven Research Analyst and Growth Marketing professional with over five years of experience in UI/UX, digital strategy, and web design. He excels in conducting in-depth market research, analysing trends, and using data-driven insights to optimise business growth and user engagement.
  • He holds a B.COM (Hons) from the University of Delhi (2023), along with an Advanced UI/UX Certification from Dice Academy and a Digital Marketing Professional Certification from Digiperform. His expertise lies in blending design thinking with strategic marketing to drive impactful digital experiences.
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David-James Nguyen

Certificate of Real Estate Registration - McGrath Academy, Australia (2003)

Master’s Degree in Law - University of Technology Sydney, Australia (2007)

Bachelor’s Degree in Business - University of Technology Sydney, Australia (2004)

  • David-James Nguyen is the Founder of DJN Consulting, specialising in food ordering and shopping apps for shopping centres, airports, and universities. With a passion for helping restaurants expand, he focuses on optimising asset value and enhancing customer experiences through strategic partnerships and digital innovation.
  • He holds a Master’s in Law (2007) and a Bachelor’s in Business (2004) from the University of Technology Sydney, along with a Certificate of Real Estate Registration from McGrath Academy (2003). His expertise is reflected in notable projects like Chadstone Shopping Centre, Westfield Victoria Portfolio, and Nomnie Food Ordering Apps, shaping the future of retail and dining experiences.
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Overview

  • Ankit Khatkar is a results-driven Research Analyst and Growth Marketing professional with over five years of experience in UI/UX, digital strategy, and web design. He excels in conducting in-depth market research, analysing trends, and using data-driven insights to optimise business growth and user engagement.
  • He holds a B.COM (Hons) from the University of Delhi (2023), along with an Advanced UI/UX Certification from Dice Academy and a Digital Marketing Professional Certification from Digiperform. His expertise lies in blending design thinking with strategic marketing to drive impactful digital experiences.

Certifications

B.COM (Hons) - School of Open Learning, University of Delhi, Delhi (2023)

UI/UX Advanced Certification - Dice Academy, Delhi (2023)

Digital Marketing Professional Course - Digiperform, Delhi (2019)

Connect on LinkedIn

Overview

  • David-James Nguyen is the Founder of DJN Consulting, specialising in food ordering and shopping apps for shopping centres, airports, and universities. With a passion for helping restaurants expand, he focuses on optimising asset value and enhancing customer experiences through strategic partnerships and digital innovation.
  • He holds a Master’s in Law (2007) and a Bachelor’s in Business (2004) from the University of Technology Sydney, along with a Certificate of Real Estate Registration from McGrath Academy (2003). His expertise is reflected in notable projects like Chadstone Shopping Centre, Westfield Victoria Portfolio, and Nomnie Food Ordering Apps, shaping the future of retail and dining experiences.

Certifications

Certificate of Real Estate Registration - McGrath Academy, Australia (2003)

Master’s Degree in Law - University of Technology Sydney, Australia (2007)

Bachelor’s Degree in Business - University of Technology Sydney, Australia (2004)

Connect on LinkedIn

Overview

  • Uzma Azami is a marketing professional with 14+ years of experience in branding, digital marketing, events, and strategic communication. She has a strong track record of driving business growth, enhancing brand presence, and executing high-impact campaigns across industries. Her expertise lies in data-driven strategies that boost customer engagement and market positioning.
  • She holds an M.Sc. in Global Entrepreneurship from Purdue University Daniels School of Business (2014) and a B.A. in Mass Communications Advertising from the American University of Sharjah (2010). With her industry experience and strategic mindset, Uzma develops innovative marketing solutions that align with business goals and strengthen brand connections.

Certifications

Master of Science in Global Entrepreneurship - Purdue University Daniels School of Business, Indiana (2014)

Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications Advertising - American University of Sharjah, UAE (2010)

Connect on LinkedIn

Overview

  • Rashiq Ali is a seasoned architect with over 20 years of experience across five countries, specializing in human-centered design, parametric architecture, and urban planning. His work blends innovation, functionality, and sustainability to create impactful, future-ready spaces that enhance both urban landscapes and user experiences.
  • His portfolio includes iconic projects like Wangjing Soho in Beijing, Dubai Opera House, and The Circle at Zurich Airport, along with large-scale developments such as Doha Festival City and Business Bay Masterplan. Holding a Master of Architecture from the Architectural Association in London, Rashiq continues to shape modern architecture with visionary design solutions.

Certifications

Master of Architecture (M.Arch) - Architectural Association, London (2008)

Iconic Projects - Designed landmark developments like Wangjing Soho (Beijing), Dubai Opera House, and The Circle (Zurich Airport)

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Rashiq Muhamad Ali

Master of Architecture (M.Arch) - Architectural Association, London (2008)

Iconic Projects – Designed landmark developments like Wangjing Soho (Beijing), Dubai Opera House, and The Circle (Zurich Airport).

  • Rashiq Ali is a seasoned architect with over 20 years of experience across five countries, specializing in human-centered design, parametric architecture, and urban planning. His work blends innovation, functionality, and sustainability to create impactful, future-ready spaces that enhance both urban landscapes and user experiences.
  • His portfolio includes iconic projects like Wangjing Soho in Beijing, Dubai Opera House, and The Circle at Zurich Airport, along with large-scale developments such as Doha Festival City and Business Bay Masterplan. Holding a Master of Architecture from the Architectural Association in London, Rashiq continues to shape modern architecture with visionary design solutions.
Connect on LinkedIn

Overview

  • Rashed Lootah has a strong retail management and operations background and has been instrumental in driving the success of multiple retail ventures across the region, including Nakheel and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
  • His expertise lies in streamlining operations in all related aspects such as Fit-out, FM, enhancing customer experiences, engaging the Service Level Agreements, and improving overall business performance.
  • He excels in navigating the complexities of government relations, offering invaluable support in regulatory compliance and strategic investment opportunities. His unique ability to bridge the gap between retail operations and government initiatives has made him a key figure in fostering sustainable growth and securing long-term partnerships in the retail sector.

Certifications

UAE National identity Ambassador - Watani Al Emarat 2023

Level III Certification - Gregory Vogt School for Retail Professionals, UAE 2023

Action Centered Leadership (24 CPD Points) - Informa Academy, UAE 2023

Connect on LinkedIn

Overview

  • Hitesh Mirani is seasoned in global retail consulting, specializing in projects that span a wide range of formats Master-planned Developments, Regional Malls, Lifestyle Destinations, Community Centres, Office Retail, Hotel Retail, Promenade Retail & Casino Retail.
  • He has visited & analyzed over 350 shopping centers worldwide, gaining market intelligence & global best practices.
  • Whether it's developing large-scale retail destinations or optimizing smaller niche projects, his strategic vision and adaptability ensure that each venture thrives in its unique market context.

Certifications

Certified Retail Real Estate Professional (CRRP) - International Council of Shopping Centers, USA 2019

Level III Instructor - Gregory Vogt School for Retail Professionals, UAE 2023

Jury Member - Middle East Council of Shopping Center Award, UAE 2024

Connect on LinkedIn

Rashed Lootah

UAE National identity Ambassador - Watani Al Emarat 2023

Level III Certification - Gregory Vogt School for Retail Professionals, UAE 2023

Action Centered Leadership (24 CPD Points) - Informa Academy, UAE 2023

  • Rashed Lootah has a strong retail management and operations background and has been instrumental in driving the success of multiple retail ventures across the region, including Nakheel and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
  • His expertise lies in streamlining operations in all related aspects such as Fit-out, FM, enhancing customer experiences, engaging the Service Level Agreements, and improving overall business performance.
  • He excels in navigating the complexities of government relations, offering invaluable support in regulatory compliance and strategic investment opportunities. His unique ability to bridge the gap between retail operations and government initiatives has made him a key figure in fostering sustainable growth and securing long-term partnerships in the retail sector.
Connect on LinkedIn