Dubai Autodrome and Union Properties are forging ahead with plans to bolster the MotorCity community and its surroundings, with retail units and track-based business units to cater for the motorsport industry.

During 2016, the alliance intends to roll out several projects to further enhance the area, including the development of a motorsport business park, which will cater for racing teams and motorsport-related businesses keen to locate to the venue which in turn attracts a dedicated clientele.

Ryan Trutch, Dubai Autodrome special projects manager, comments: “MotorCity community has become a hive of activity over the past few years. Through the development, enhancement and expansion of our facilities we aim to further increase the business and leisure attraction in and around Dubai Autodrome and Kartdrome.”

The Retail Plaza, located in the grandstand area of Dubai Autodrome, is being prepared to accommodate 11 new prime retail units overlooking the start and finish straight of the circuit and encompassing a large outdoor terrace in which merchants can operate their businesses in a unique environment.

Trutch says: “We expect to see several F&B (food and beverage) outlets, cafés and motor-related businesses to open within a few months. We welcomed the first tenant, Emerald Fitness, which opened its doors in December 2015 with a state-of-the-art gym.”

Also opened in the Retail Plaza last month (January) ahead of the traditional Hankook 24H Dubai endurance race, was a pop-up-style bar-cum-lounge run by Fox Hill Catering and Events Management in the grandstand courtyard. This will open daily until midnight and will remain open for several months thereafter.

Trutch explains: “We expect that the grandstand area will become a destination for social entertainment and F&B outlets. Additionally, Fox Hill will be hosting weekend community markets over the course of the next few months which will obviously add to the appeal.”

The motorsport business park planned over 5,000 sq m will comprise 13 units ranging from 200 to 420 sq m in size and will be situated in the existing P2 car park area. The building will overlook the main circuit pit exit.

The plans allow for buildings that are bespoke for motorsport operations, to cater for and help develop the motorsport industry and business in Dubai, while concentrating these activities in an ideal environment.

Across the boulevard from the main track, the Kartdrome – which has enjoyed ongoing upgrades over the years – will continue to be developed with plans in place to further enhance the facility for kart owners and Arrive and Drive customers. Also in the pipeline is the construction of a corporate enclosure, above the pit bays, overlooking the main straight adjacent to the existing pits complex.

A Zoom store, serving food and refreshments, has become an integral and highly popular part of the outdoor Kartdrome and another will be added at the indoor Kartdrome facility in due course.

Richard Birch, general manager of Dubai Autodrome, says: “Our objective is to deliver projects to the highest standards as we continue to raise our game to the highest level, with the goal of being a prime location for automotive and motorsport events as well as business in the forthcoming Expo 2020.”