The Mall of Oman, from the Majid Al Futtaim group which gave us Ski Dubai and the more recent Ski Egypt, is on course to open as scheduled this September, complete with a 14,000 square metre indoor snow park, the company says.

There’s not a great deal of detail on the indoor snowpark yet but its reported size places it around 22^nd in size of the 115+ indoor snow centres currently operating worldwide, and slightly larger than Ski Egypt.  Ski Dubai, the 8^th biggest indoor snow centre in the world, is about double that size.  

Although this is believed to be the first time there will have been snow in Oman, there has been no actual skiing or snowboarding facilities announced for the new Mall, although an indoor chairlift is shown in visualisations.  Instead it appears to be a snow play facility.

“A step over the threshold will deliver visitors to an icy Omani port town complete with shipwreck and a frozen lighthouse,” an online description of the complex enthuses, “The Ice Skating Trail will engage both new and experienced skaters, while sledding down soft white dunes under a breathtaking snow dome that will be an unprecedented activity for the region. Over a bridge will be the Snow Village, where little ones can enjoy soft play activities with warm seating for parents. The nearby Snow Café will be stocked full of plentiful seating and hot and cold drinks.

It will, however, have the Majid Al Futtaim group’s trademark indoor penguins;

“Topping it off will be the park’s resident penguins for that magical photo opportunity,” the statement confirms.

If there is no skiing or snowboarding 14,000 square metres of indoor snow would be the world’s largest indoor snow play facility yet without skiing and snowboarding.

The Majid Al Futtaim group already run four shopping malls in the sultanate but this will be their biggest to date with 140,000 sqm of retail space comprising over 350 retail outlets including 55 dining options. There will also be a 15 screen cinema including IMAX and 3D screens and the largest Magic Planet in the country, with family-oriented rides, games and attractions.

“For the first time ever, the largest indoor snow park, VOX Cinemas and Magic Planet will all be found in one location, bringing everyone closer to creating lasting memories,” said Husam Al Mandhari, Director of Shopping malls in Oman at Majid Al Futtaim Properties.

Majid Al Futtaim group are also working on a fourth indoor snow centre within the Mall of Saudi (below), scheduled to open in 2022. With 40,000 square metres of indoor snow this will be the world’s fourth biggest centre and largest outside China.