Nakheel on Sunday signed a Dh27.5 million contract for the construction of a 10,600-square metre Jumeirah Park Community Centre.

The Dubai-based developer appointed Parkway International Contracting as main contractor for the community centre, which will primarily serve 4,200 homes in Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Village Triangle and Jumeirah Park.

It will include a Geant supermarket, cafes, a pharmacy, dry cleaner, salons and other everyday convenience stores.

Construction of the centre will begin immediately, and is expected to be completed in 12 months.

The company has already leased most of retail outlets at the centre, with anchor tenant Geant taking 2,400 square metres – almost a quarter of the available space.

Sanjay Manchanda, Acting CEO of Nakheel, said: “Neighbourhood malls are a key part of our business plan. We are enhancing our communities with convenient, local facilities that people want and need.”

Last week, Nakheel had awarded construction contracts worth Dh600 million for the Dragon Mart Phase 2.

The new phase, work on which will commence soon, will add 177,000 square metres to the existing mall with the total size being 335,000 square metres, i.e. equivalent to 47 international football pitches.

The hub will have an estimated total development value of Dh1 billion and will be completed in Q3 2013.