In a surprising turn of events, Safeer Mall, once a go-to shopping destination in Sharjah, has closed down, marking the end of an era for a mall that stood as a retail giant in the city. This closure was confirmed by a call center agent from Al Safeer Group of Companies to Khaleej Times. The mall quietly shut its doors two months ago, leaving many longtime visitors nostalgic.
If you drive past its former location on Al Khan Road, you’ll notice something missing: the mall’s signature blue signage and logo have vanished. Built in 2005, this three-floor shopping hub with two basement parking levels once buzzed with life, offering everything from fashion to electronics. But now, the once-iconic structure sits silent, another page turned in Sharjah’s retail history.
Safeer Mall wasn’t just a standalone project; it was part of a larger retail empire. The Safeer Group began its UAE journey in 1985 with the launch of Shop N Save supermarkets in Sharjah. By 1997, the company had introduced discount markets, setting the stage for a retail revolution. The early 2000s saw the opening of Safeer Market in Nahda, and by 2005, Safeer Mall emerged as one of Sharjah’s premier shopping hubs. The group continued expanding, launching hypermarkets and marts across the UAE, including Safeer Malls in Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. Century Mall in Dubai’s Hor Al Anz East also falls under its umbrella, further cementing its influence in retail.
However, the story behind the closure of Safeer Mall reveals deeper issues. The building was officially handed back to its landlord on December 31, 2024, as confirmed by Om Prakash, Marketing Manager at Safeer Group of Companies. “We had taken the building on lease 19 years ago and officially handed it back to the landlord on January 31, 2024,” he told Gulf News. Most tenants had vacated the premises by then, although some businesses are still negotiating with the new management, hoping to continue operations.
Western International Group, which has brands such as Nesto, Mark and Save, Geepas, and Royalford, has acquired the property. Nawas Basheer KP, Director of Western International Group, confirmed, “The mall management is changing. We have taken over the mall at present.” He also indicated that the hypermarket would be taken over by the Mark and Save brand. As for the new name of the mall, Nawas stated, "It’s still under wraps. We will reveal it in due course. Our goal is to revamp the mall and transform it into the next shopping destination in Sharjah.”
Despite its closure, Safeer Group remains active in the UAE’s retail sector. The company recently launched a Safeer Market in Dubai, which opened less than a month ago, around March 3, 2025. It continues to manage Safeer Mall Ajman and multiple Safeer Supermarkets and Hypermarkets across the country.
The decline of Safeer Mall has been attributed to various factors, including traffic congestion and new toll systems that contributed to a decrease in footfall. Over 60 percent of the mall was left vacant in recent years. Prakash noted, “The area also became less viable due to new traffic bottlenecks and tolls. It wasn’t financially viable for us to stay there anymore.” Before its decline, the mall housed major brands like Landmark Group, Babyshop, Splash, and Shoe Express, all of which have since vacated.
Some shop owners in Sharjah's Safeer Mall are seeking clarity about the future of their businesses after the shopping destination’s operator confirmed the shutdown. When this reporter visited the location recently, the mall was a shadow of its former self, with lights switched off in most parts and upper floors almost deserted. Several shops were shuttered, while access to the basement parking was restricted with red tape. However, a few stores remained operational, with one owner acknowledging that only nine shops were still open.
Khaleej Times confirmed that while the 19-year-old landmark is no longer owned and operated by Al Safeer Group of Companies, it is currently in the process of being acquired by new management. Om Prakash clarified that the group had handed over the property to the landlord in January and served notices to shop owners in December with the choice to vacate or continue running their establishments.
Despite the uncertainty, some owners have chosen to continue their operations. Mukesh Chaturbhuj, who owns Leena Mukesh Trading, an Indian clothing shop on the ground floor, renewed his contract with Sharjah Municipality and has been paying rent directly to the municipality. He stated, "I have been running my shop here for the last two years and invested money into it. After Safeer Group handed over the mall, I renewed my contract with Sharjah Municipality and have been paying my rent directly to the municipality.”
Sufiya Noufal Sweets, a bakery located inside the food court on the third floor of the mall, has also continued to operate as their contracts were renewed directly with the Sharjah Municipality. The 29-year-old owner of the bakery shared that despite Safeer Group's exit, a few shops have continued to operate as their contracts were later renewed. Popular eateries like Raju Omlet, Sagar Ratna, and Hometown Restaurant are among those still operational.
However, confusion looms over the future of these shops due to eviction notices from the new management, which instructed tenants to vacate their shops within 15 days despite existing contracts and rental payments to the Sharjah Municipality. Ashfaq Muhammad Khan, the owner of clothing store Amani, expressed concern and is planning to discuss the legality of these notices with the municipality.
While the closure of Safeer Mall marks a significant shift in Sharjah’s retail landscape, it also serves as a reminder of the rapid changes taking place in the shopping sector. As new management prepares to revamp the space, the future of the mall remains uncertain, leaving both nostalgic memories and hopeful possibilities in its wake.
