Dubai’s Festival City Mall will open a new 70,000 square feet food hall, which will be the biggest of its kind in the Middle East.

Titled ‘The Market Island,’ the food hall is will be built in partnership with Russian real estate firm Zemskiy Group, which will mark its debut in the UAE with the Market Island.

“Market Island will be a venue that merges the worlds of food and entertainment, featuring a diverse range of culinary concepts,” Hayssam Hajjar, General Manager of Al-Futtaim Malls – UAE said.

The food hall will be located at the mall’s north end on the ground floor, and will be open for visitors in December.

The area can accommodate over 3,500 seats and will feature 53 food outlets and restaurant spaces.

Market Island will also be built to function as a tourism and leisure destination, and will host live entertainment shows and DJ sets by regional artists.