Page 12 - September 2020

middle east news inbrief

MAJOR DEVELOPER MAJID AL FUTTAIM IS NEW RETAIL STORES OPEN AT

CONTINUING EXPANSION DOHA FESTIVAL CITY CHLOE LAUNCHES FLAGSHIP
The latest Chloe flagship boutique has opened
in the Fashion Avenue Extension of the Dubai
Despite a 27 per cent drop in earnings for the first six Doha Festival City continues to solidify its Mall in the UAE. Conceived to create the
months of the year, Majid Al Futtaim remains committed position as Qatar’s choice for shopping and experience of personalised luxury, the 150sq
inbrief
to plans to expand across a number of its operations. dining with the announcement of even more m store presents a modern and refiend design
The company has already announced opening dates store openings and F&B offerings. that bridges the feminine codes of the Maison
for some of its key locations across the UAE including Digital House Pro, Karaca Home and with a modern spirit.
Mall of Oman, and City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah. The French specialty perfume boutique, Ambix,
retail arm of MAF will continue its rapid expansion, have all recently opened at the Mall, and
opening physical locations in well-established markets in the coming weeks Edge Fitness, Hush HUBLOT LAUNCHES AT QDF
and also opening three new supermarkets in Uzbekistan Puppies, Rituals and Jasmine as well as Papa The first Hublot Boutique in travel retail has
this year. John’s and Maia Chocolates will open. opened at Qatar Duty Free. The new 58sq m
CEO of Majid Al Futtaim, Alain Bejjani has Robert Hall, General Manager for Doha Hublot Boutique is adorned with contemporary
commented: “While the timeline for a full-scale Festival City has commented: ‘We are furnishings and pop-art paintings in a fusion
recovery is still uncertain, what we are witnessing is a excited to be bringing more choices for between the traditional and modern and is
slow re-opening of the economy. We will do our part to beauty, fitness and dining experience. We located in the Plaza South duty free area.
rebuild consumer trust that is so crucial to revitalising pride ourselves in being a partner of choice
the economy.” for international and local brands which
enables us to create unique experiences for GRANDOISE OPENS NEW UNIT
our shoppers.” Part of Ghassan Aboud Group, Grandoise is
now open at Marina Walk with plans to open
COSMOPOLITAN MIDDLE EAST TO several new locations in the coming weeks.
The new Grandoise Supermarket introduces a
TAP INTO GAMING INDUSTRY unique look and feel with a surreal experience
of freshness, colourfulness and delicious aroma.

The gaming industry is one of the fastest- revenue increasing by14.5 per cent year-
growing in the world, and is projected to be on-year, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE AL AIN ADDS FAMOUS DAVE’S
a $257bn industry by 2025, with Gen-Zers ranking in the top five countries across the The new location is the sixth for the company in
making up 90 per cent of the players. MENA region. the UAE after it opened at Al Jimi Mall in Al Ain.
In a strategic move to enter this highly Milli Midwood, Editor in Chief of The American chain of barbecue restaurants is
profitable market, Cosmopolitan Middle Cosmo ME: “From Louis Vuitton to Benefit managed by Tablez Food Company and is now
East, the largest international media brand Cosmetics, a new stream of fashion and well established in the area. serving their guests
in the region for Gen Z and millennials, is beauty brands are targeting and trying ribs, smoked meat and chicken.
teaming up with ITP Gaming, organisers of to engage with this hard-to-reach young
the biggest title launches and tournaments demographic through one of the fastest
in the region, to tap into the multi-billion growing global markets. Multiple sectors M&S LAUNCHES FOOD POP-UP
dollar e-sports industry through the launch are vying for young consumers’ attention, The pop-up is located on the ground floor at
SAUDI ARABIA’S QIDDIYA IS CONTINUING ITS BUSINESS AS IT NORMALLY WOULD AND INKS $186.5M CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT. THE DEAL WHICH WAS SIGNED WITH SHIBH AL Nakheel Mall and will offer over 500 premium
JAZIRA CONTRACTING COMPANY TO BUILD STORMWATER DRAINAGE FACILITIES, ROADS AND BRIDGES AT THE 334 KILOMETRE SQUARE ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS AND ARTS GIGA- of the Cosmo Cup, the first-ever female- and with social distancing making in-person
PROJECT. THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE, ROADS AND BRIDGES WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO ALL FACILITIES AND ASSETS ON THE LOWER PLATEAU OF QIDDIYA’S SITE, WHICH WILL focused online gaming tournament in the meet-ups, sporting events and physical products including a variety of delicious snacks.
MAKE TRANSPORTATION OF MAJOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TO THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT SITES WITHIN QIDDIYA’S LOWER PLATEAU FEASIBLE. GCC. competitions impossible, the rise of gamers Customers will be able to purchase M&S hand
The rise of e-sports in the region sees has accelerated.” cooked crisps, an extensive indulgent biscuit
Kicking off at the end of September, the
CINEMAS IN ABU DHABI EYEWA RAISES $2.5M IN the Middle East now account for a 3.2 online competition will see gamers compete selection and the popular range of confectionary
items such Extremely Chocolatey Mini Bites.
per cent share of global gaming revenues
ALLOWED TO RE-OPEN NEW FUNDING ROUND and is the fastest growing region with for first, second and third place.
WORK STARTS ON
Cinemas inside shopping malls across Abu Dhabi can re-open their UAE-based eyewear e-commerce platform Eyewa, has raised a
doors to the public. The announcement was made by the Abu Dhabi pre-series B bridge round of $2.5M from Wamda Capital, EQ2 SECOND PHASE
Department of Economic Development (ADDED), but comes with a Ventures and Nuwa Capital.
number of precautionary measures which must be implemented and The company specialises in online retail of sunglasses,
adhered to in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. eyeglasses, prescription contact lenses and colour contact lenses. The second phase of construction on The
This includes limiting the capacity inside cinemas to 30 percent and This is the firm’s third funding round; prior to this in the Series A District Al Faisaliah project in Saudi Arabia’s
the continuous sanitising and cleaning of all service facilities and common fund Eyewa raised $7.5M in mid-2019 and $1.1M in seed round Olaya District has started, the developer, Al
areas where food and drinks are served. in 2018. Eyewa, which claims to be the largest online eyewear Khozama Company has confirmed.
Rashid Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, under secretary of ADDED retailer in UAE and KSA, doubled its business during the recent The first phase of the scheme saw the
commented that cinema owners should also apply social distancing lockdown period. refurbishment and expansion of the Mode Al
measures between visitors insdie and outside the cinema halls. ”Granting Mehdi Oudghiri, Co-Founder and Co-CEO added, “These Faisaliah Mall.
the cinema reopening permit is subject to the fulfilment of all the set of funds will allow us to accelerate our disruption of MENA’s The second phase will see multiple high-rises
requirements,” he said. eyewear retail sector through the implementation of innovative and a mall in the super-premium project. The
There are 19 cinemas operating in Abu Dhabi, 12 in Abu Dhabi city, six tech solutions, expanding our product portfolio and offering best second features the Al Faisaliah Tower, Al Khairiah
in Al Ain city and one in Al Dhafra region, all of which have been closed in class customer service,” while Wamda Executvie Chiarman Towers, Al Faisaliah Hotel, Al Faisaliah Suites,
since March as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. Fadi Ghandour lauded the founders’ resilience. Hotel Al Khozama and the Mode Al Faisaliah Mall.

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