Page 55 - May2021

Berlin
Following destruction, division, reunification and reestablishment as Germany’s capital,
the city has seen unprecedented growth and its evolution into a modern, green and
vibrant metropolis has been truly astonishing. This was all before the Covid-19 pandemic
as well! Each district and neighbourhood in Berlin has its own individual character with
which residents identify and something that they are fiercely proud of. And yet, at
the same time, the whole city has a uniform spirit; a common aesthetic which binds
Berliners together and produces the distinctive, vibrant and fun atmosphere for which
the city has become well-known for today. From luxury stationary boutiques to artisanal
tea stores, Berlin has plenty to offer even the most discerning shoppers. Berlin has a
distinct street style: more casual than Paris, less flashy than New York or London. In
the past two decades, a spate of young designers has established their labels in the
city, resulting in a seductively independent retail scene. Beyond the wardrobe there are
a plethora of innovative concept shops and dynamic specialists. Iconic locations in this
city include Kurfürstendamm and Tauentzienstraße, Berlin’s top locations, Hackescher
Markt, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Wilmersdorfer Strasse and Schlossstrasse and the
recent important brand launches are Lush, Arket, Lululemon, Dior, Miniso, Decathlon
and Foot Locker.
cairo
Founded in 969AD, modern Cairo has more than 20 million people living the metro
area; Cairo has “an energetic pulse”, according to Lauren K Clark, an American writer
who has lived in the city since 2010. Beacons of tourism since the dawn of history,
both Egypt and its capital possess an enduring appeal. Just southwest of Cairo, a patch
of the Giza desert offers nothing less than the Seventh Wonder of the Ancient World in
Khufu’s Great Pyramid, plus the iconic Sphinx. While, unsurprisingly, brick-and-mortar
stores are yet to record pre-COVID level sales, the growth of e-commerce in Cairo
played a significant role in developing small businesses and ensuring they sustain their
operations. In turn, despite lagging performance across Cairo’s hotel market, secondary
markets such as the North Coast and Marsa Alam saw the addition of new hotels as
domestic tourism is expected to drive the sector. Around 71,000sq m of retail space
was delivered in 2020, bringing the total retail stock to over 2.3 million square metre.
With most project deliveries pushed to the coming year, an additional 125,000sq m
is expected to be completed in 2021. Developers are also increasing their efforts to
attract footfall by introducing unique entertainment and F&B offerings to their centres.

DuBai
This city has been called the shopping capital of the Middle Easy, with Dubai having
more than 70 shopping centres, including the world’s largest, the Dubai Mall. Dubai
is also known for the historical souk districts located on either side of its creek. In
14th place, Dubai has entered the Global Top 20 of JLL’s City Momentum Index 2020
for the first time in three years. The Emirate continues to build the necessary critical
mass to be the major business hub in the Middle East. Underpinning its appeal is
strong demographics, with more than half of the population aged 20-40 (the second
highest proportion globally). Although a construction boom in commercial and residential
property has resulted in a supply/demand imbalance, the UAE government has responded
with initiatives designed to boost demand. Among these has been the relaxation of visa
regulations and initiatives to improve transparency. Momentum is expected to be fuelled
further in the lead-up to the rearranged Expo 2020. New-to-market retailers include
Maison Assouline, American Rag, American Girl, Hermes, Skyzone, Oud Milano, Carrefour
and Al Fardan Exchange. New F&B offerings include The Scene by Simon Rimmer, Bistro
Des Arts, Farzi Café, Eggspectation Restaurant Café, Bareburger and Just Salad.

DuBlin
Before Covid-19, Ireland has been on a positive trajectory over the past number of
years, and as the economy continues to grow, Dublin will continue to see the benefits
first and foremost. A number of multi -national companies already see Ireland as their
global headquarters and the country is seeing further expansion and new entrants in
this space, with a booming office environment in Dublin at present. Dublin remains an
attractive tourist destination and benefits from significant tourist spend from visitors,
particularly those within the EU. Along with being home to major shopping centres such
as Dundrum Town Centre, Blanchardstown Centre and The Square Town Centre, Tallaght,
it also offers one of the widest varieties of restaurants of any city in Europe, providing
for every budge and taste. Along with F&B, the out of town market in Ireland is seeing
a resurgence following several years with limited activity. There have been increased
levels of development in Dublin and this is starting to funnel its way to other major Irish
cities. Major areas in Dublin are Grafton Street and Henry Street/Mary Street and new
entrants are Rituals, Next, Kurt Geiger, Holland & Barrett, Mango, Hollister and Zaytoon.

MAY 2021 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 55