Mohamed Alabbar and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) are teaming up to launch a Middle Eastern e-commerce platform, the Dubai-based billionaire announced on Sunday. At the media launch at Dubai Opera, Alabbar described the new e-commerce venture - Noon.com - as “game changing". "We're turning the e-commerce environment in Middle East upside down," he... Continue Reading →
Marks & Spencer (M&S)’s department stores in the Gulf will be unaffected by the British retail giant’s decision to close down more than 80 shops in the UK and around the world. The company announced on Tuesday that it would shut 30 outlets in the UK, and 53 overseas, including most of its fully owned... Continue Reading →
Hypermarket chain Carrefour plans to open ten new stores in the UAE in 2017, according to a statement on Sunday from Majid Al Futtaim, which holds the Carrefour franchise in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. Carrefour has set a target to reach 140 hypermarkets and 210 supermarkets in the countries in which Majid... Continue Reading →
A reported 800 telecoms shops in Saudi Arabia have closed since new rules came into force requiring 100 percent of staff to be Saudi nationals. Under a ramped-up Saudisation policy from the government, all stores selling mobile communications devices had to ensure that at least 50 percent of employees were Saudi citizens from June 6;... Continue Reading →
SPAR has opened its first food stores in Albania through a partnership with Balfin Group. The two hypermarkets in Tirana East Gate and in the QTU shopping centre span 7,200 and 3,800 square metres respectively. Balfin Group is the largest private company operating in Albania. The company entered into food retail in 2005 with the... Continue Reading →
Jarir Marketing, one of Saudi Arabia's largest retailers by market value, posted flat third-quarter net profit on Thursday, and noted a drop in its non-operating expenses. It made a net profit of 220 million riyals ($58.7 million) in the three months to Sept. 30, from 218.5 million riyals in the same period a year earlier,... Continue Reading →
McDonald's is set to agree a deal to sell 20-year franchise rights for its Singapore and Malaysia outlets to Saudi Arabia's Reza group for up to $400 million, as part of a re-jig of its Asian business, people familiar with the matter said. Reza Food Services Co. Ltd, which owns and operates McDonald's restaurants in... Continue Reading →
Premier League football giant Liverpool is set to open an official shop in Abu Dhabi store, with a free in-store event to be hosted by club ambassador and former striker Robbie Fowler. The event will take place on Thursday September 29 and fans will be able to take part in a Q&A, meet and greet... Continue Reading →
Meydan Group has revealed more details about its plans to build the Meydan One Mall in Dubai, which will feature the largest dancing water fountain in the world, measuring 400m in width and 100m in height. The centre point of the much anticipated Meydan One mega development, launched in August 2015 by Sheikh Mohammed bin... Continue Reading →
A new agreement between Landmark Group and the Reem Mall will bring concepts from the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate to the shopping center. Reem Mall is recognized as one of the supreme destinations on Reem Island for shopping and socializing. “Reem Mall is set to transform the retail landscape in Abu Dhabi, and... Continue Reading →
Five BHS stores in Dubai and Sharjah are set to close after the British retail major collapsed in March. Al Maya Group, a Dubai company that owns the franchise to BHS in the emirate, said its five BHS stores located in Dubai Mall, Festival City, Al Ghurair Centre, Lamcy Plaza and Sharjah City Centre would... Continue Reading →
Costa Coffee's franchise partner in the Middle East has invested in digital menu screens as it looks to improve the customer experience in the company's Dubai stores. Over 50 Costa Coffee shops in Dubai are in the process of being refreshed with digital signage installations, as the global chain looks to update the experience it... Continue Reading →
Axiom telecom, the UAE’s largest mobility retailer, has brought its ‘experiential shopping’ to Abu Dhabi with the first-of-its-kind retail concept in the emirate. The launch of axiom’s innovative shopping concept in Abu Dhabi Mall marks the retailer’s third store renovation in the UAE after Dubai Festival City and The Dubai Mall. It is also the... Continue Reading →
Cosmetics retailer Sephora has opened four new shops in the Middle East, adding to its 52-store roster in the region. The Paris-headquartered beauty chain has launched stores in the newly expanded Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai, Gulf Mall in Qatar and Jouri Mall and the Mall of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. The chain claims it has... Continue Reading →
Al-Futtaim, a Dubai-based conglomerate, has signed a partnership agreement with French fashion house ba&sh to introduce the luxury brand to the Middle East. The first of the planned 10 ba&sh stores will open in Dubai's City Walk in the fourth quarter of 2016, it said in a statement. Paul Delaoutre, president Al Futtaim Retail said:... Continue Reading →
Wishing all our readers a blessed Ramadan Kareem
Most of the Dh30 billion of investments in the UAE announced yesterday by Majid Al Futtaim is likely to be in place by the time Dubai’s Expo 2020 takes place, says the company’s chief executive, Alain Bejjani. The Dubai-based group revealed plans to open 10 new City Centre malls, six hotels, 28 cinemas, 40 Carrefour... Continue Reading →
Dubai Holding, a leading investment holding company, has announced the launch of its new waterfront destination, 'Marasi Business Bay,' to be developed along the creek within Business Bay destination at an estimated cost of Dh1 billion ($272 million). A breakthrough master-planned development, 'Marasi Business Bay embraces the longest promenade spanning 12 km, the UAE’s... Continue Reading →
World’s first Warner Bros. Hotel to open in Abu Dhabi within US$1 billion themed park May 7, 2016 Miral, the asset management company responsible for the development and management of Yas Island, and Warner Bros. have officially announced that a Warner Bros. themed destination is set to open in Abu Dhabi. Situated on Yas Island,... Continue Reading →
New retail destination will be connected to The Tower, one of world's tallest observation decks Dubai: Dubai is to have a new "mega retail district" at the new masters elopement in the making near Dubai Creek. Part of the Dubai Creek Harbour, the new retail destination could be announced as early as in the next... Continue Reading →
British cosmetics retailer The Body Shop is planning to launch its own e-commerce website in the United Arab Emirates as its growth in the region outperforms the rest of the word. The ethical beauty giant’s chief executive Jeremy Schwartz said the company planned to launch the new website in Dubai in 2017. The CEO claimed... Continue Reading →
London luxury department store Harrods has opened a temporary store in Doha for the Christmas period. The iconic store, which is owned by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), opened a 6,500 square metre branch at Katara Cultural Village at the weekend. For the first week, the store is only open to VIP visitors, after which the... Continue Reading →
Italian fashion house Valentino, owned by Qatar's Mayhoola for Investments, has offered 500 million euros ($569 million) to buy Pierre Balmain, French newspaper Les Echos has reported , citing sources. The French fashion house, led by artistic director Olivier Rousteing, has also received offers from a Chinese group and an American investor, Les Echos said,... Continue Reading →
Danube Home, the one-stop retail destination for complete home solutions, has opened its first bespoke store in Dubai, UAE, on Sheikh Zayed Road. The grand opening ceremony on January 16 was attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Social Development of the UAE; Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty; and Rizwan... Continue Reading →
More than 900 hotel rooms and 5,000 residential units to be built on the two banks of canal Dubai: During his inspection of the Dubai Canal project on Saturday, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was briefed by Saeed Humaid Al Tayer,... Continue Reading →
Wishing all our readers and followers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Abercrombie & Fitch continues Middle East expansion with first A&F branded store in the UAE Abercrombie & Fitch continues Middle East expansion with first A&F branded store in the UAENew store houses the brand's first stand-alone fragrance boutique and first Abercrombie kids location in the Middle East Dubai, UAE--Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) today... Continue Reading →
Dubai Design District, also known as d3, has announced an agreement with Marka Hospitality to launch the first Harper's Bazaar Café in the first quarter of 2016. The signing of the deal with the food and beverage division of retail firm Marka signifies the start of many new retail and hospitality agreements for d3, as... Continue Reading →
London luxury department store Harrods has opened a temporary store in Doha for the Christmas period. The iconic store, which is owned by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), opened a 6,500 square metre branch at Katara Cultural Village at the weekend. For the first week, the store is only open to VIP visitors, after which the... Continue Reading →
UAE master developer Nakheel will meet a host of European retailers and investors as it highlights retail projects in Dubai worth over €3.7 billion ($3.9 billion) in construction costs at Mapic, the annual international retail real estate show in Cannes, France. The biggest retail developer in the Middle East with more than 15 million sq... Continue Reading →
Bahrain Shopping Festival Announces 2015 Dates§ 'Shop Bahrain' unveiled as the festival's new brand § The largest event in the Kingdom of Bahrain § 2nd edition of the festival will run from December 24 2015 - January 23 2016 § Festival will feature a line-up of world-class entertainment, events and promotions Manama: The second edition... Continue Reading →
Customers and fans of the half-eaten fruit will get a full Apple experience when the company's first stores open in the UAE this Thursday, October 29, according to a senior vice president of retail and online stores at Apple, Angela Ahrendts, reported an article in gulfnews.com. "The retail stores are simply to give customers another... Continue Reading →
MENAFA award recognises Alshaya’s leadership in bringing international retail brands to the region United Arab Emirates, 22 October 2015: International retail franchise operator M.H. Alshaya Co. has been named Best Multi-Brand Franchise Operator in the Middle East and North Africa by the Middle East and North Africa Franchise Association (MENAFA). Alshaya received the award this... Continue Reading →
Dubai-based master developer Nakheel has awarded construction contracts worth nearly Dh2.3 billion ($626 millon) for three major projects in its growing retail portfolio. The company has confirmed the builders of Deira Islands Night Souk, Warsan Souk and The Circle Mall, which, combined, offer nearly 2.3 million sq ft of retail space and over 6,700 shopping,... Continue Reading →
The company has unveiled a barricade around the outside of the two stores, which is covered in Arabic calligraphy. The company has unveiled a barricade around the outside of the two stores, which is covered in Arabic calligraphy. Apple has confirmed longstanding market rumours by announcing that it will open two stores in the UAE... Continue Reading →
Viacom's Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) unit is continuing the global rollout of Nickelodeon stores, announcing Tuesday that it would open a Dubai store in 2016. The store will be based in one of the world’s largest shopping malls, Dubai Mall, which forms part of a $20 billion downtown complex with more than 1,200... Continue Reading →
Alshaya to bring over 30 global lifestyle and hospitality brands to Mall of Qatar to occupy around 18,000 sq. m DOHA, Qatar, October 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ Qatar's largest leisure, entertainment and shopping complex, Mall of Qatar has signed a leasing agreement with M.H. Alshaya Co., one of the world's leading retail franchise operators to open... Continue Reading →
Apple on Tuesday posted 14 fresh jobs on its official website for retail operations in the UAE. The first Apple Store in the Middle East at Dubai's Mall of the Emirates has been delayed for a month or two, sources told Khaleej Times. The flagship store was supposed to open on September 28 along with... Continue Reading →
The expansion of Mall of the Emirates has revealed an entirely new floor as part of Majid Al Futtaim’s Dhs1 billion investment. The scheme has added 36,000sqm of retail, dining and entertainment at the mall in Dubai. Two new domes, three glass barrel roof lights, nine new bridges and three escalators have been added to... Continue Reading →
Dubai: England and Manchester United legend David Beckham will be in Dubai on September 29 to open the new Adidas store at Mall of the Emirates, it was confirmed on social media on Tuesday. Adidas Middle East are running a competition for one lucky fan and a friend to meet the 40-year-old former midfielder, who... Continue Reading →
Gap Inc’s largest brand to open in Dubai in November Dubai: American apparel brand Old Navy said on Sunday it is opening its first store in the UAE in November this year, at the Dubai Festival City. This is the fifth franchise market expansion for Old Navy. In March 2014, it opened its first franchise-operated... Continue Reading →
Home Centre, the home decor retailer, will be adding another four shops in the UAE as part of its Dh1 billion, five-year expansion plan. Home Centre currently has 16 stores across the UAE. The new store openings will be Karama in Dubai opening imminently, Fujairah opening in November, Al Ain which has already partially opened... Continue Reading →
Dubai has won the bid to host the 10th World Retail Congress 2016 in the United Arab Emirates, an announcement that came during the final day of the 9th Congress in Rome, which was attended by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and an industry-led trade mission. This is the first time that the event will be... Continue Reading →
UAE retail chain LuLu expands into Indonesia, plans 15 outlets Home / Abu Dhabi / Asia-pacific / Industry / Retail The group plans to invest $300m in the first phase of expansion By Aarti Nagraj 16 hours ago Abu Dhabi-based retailer LuLu Group has announced plans to expand across Indonesia and will open its first... Continue Reading →
Majid Al Futtaim announced on Thursday the completion of its redevelopment project for its flagship Mall of the Emirates shopping mall in Dubai. The mall operator said it will reveal a new 36,000 sq m retail extension at the shopping centre on September 28. The extension will pave the way to 40 new shopping, dining... Continue Reading →
‘ ‘Diamond of Dubai’: Burj 2020 tower design unveiled at Cityscape A masterplan has been unveiled for the Burj 2020 District, an upcoming megaproject set to include a skyscraper dubbed ‘the diamond of Dubai’ as well as retail, hospitality and residential spaces. The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) project will include seven towers spanning a... Continue Reading →
The UAE Ministry of Economy has denied giving 100 per cent foreign ownership to Apple for opening its stores in the UAE. Bloomberg News agency, quoting two people with knowledge of the matter, said Apple is likely to be exempted from foreign ownership laws in the UAE. The agency said the privilege was a... Continue Reading →
The highly anticipated Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) retail store opening in Dubai was delayed and may not open until October or even later. The store, which would have been a first for the United Arab Emirates, is set to be located inside the Mall of Emirates. Everything else involving the upcoming store opening remains unchanged. It... Continue Reading →
Apple Said to Plan Dubai Stores After Winning Exemptions Apple Inc. has been granted an exemption from foreign ownership laws in the United Arab Emirates that will allow it 100 percent control of operations in the country, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The dispensation was a condition for the world’s largest... Continue Reading →
10 Dubai projects to watch out for These mixed-use developments in Dubai boast several superlatives and are set to transform the city's skyline,l Dubai never ceases to amaze you. With several iconic buildings such as the Burj Al Arab, the Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa, the city is an epitome of architectural largesse. In the... Continue Reading →
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