Dubai Festival City Mall eyes first to market portfolios amid a fast-evolving retail sector

Dubai Festival City Mall eyes first to market portfolios amid a fast-evolving retail sector

The city’s premium lifestyle destination is set to offer a wide range of new retail, F&B, leisure and entertainment experiences.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates:04 October 2024: As part of its transformation plans, Dubai Festival City Mall revealed an all-new line up of first to market brands set to be launched this winter. Given the year-on-year increase in visitor numbers and a growing appetite for novel experiences, the mall announced 95% GLA (gross leasing area) occupancy across over 332,000 sq. ft. and 400 stores, alongside having recorded a footfall of 23 million last year.

“Despite significant changes in the retail sector, such as the rise of e-commerce and shifting consumer behaviours, the demand for in-person shopping experiences remains strong. For years now, we have stirred several firsts for the city. We continue to lead with unique offerings, and this latest positioningis a testament to our enduring commitment to innovation,” said Hayssam Hajjar, Asset Management Director at Al-Futtaim Real Estate.

The mall is home to over 400 outlets, including the UAE’s first IKEA, two hypermarkets, renowned fashion brands from ACE to Zara, a rich selection of cafés and restaurants, and vibrant entertainment offerings. Set against the unique waterfront location at the heart of the city, Dubai Festival City Mall continues to offer a dynamic mix that goes beyond retail, dining and entertainment to cover memorable experiences for all kinds of visitor.

Tapping into audience preferences, Dubai Festival City Mall has over 30 new stores in the lineup for 2024, out of which 24 are first to market, occupying a GLA of 200,000+ sq.ft.

Bringing new brands to the region

Recently, Market Island – the largest food hall in the Middle East opened its doors, boasting a foodie hotspot to look out for at the ground floor, nearby some of the city’s much-loved fashion and lifestyle brands. Perfect for a refreshing dine out with your favourite folks after a shopping spree, the expansive dining concept spanning over 70,000 sq.ft. features over 16 first to market offerings with a significant presence from renowned international brands. Beyond first-to-marketbrands, Dubai Festival City Mall is also investing in building unique, innovative stores for some of the city’s favorite names. Recently unveiled, Jijil, Bueno, Pull & Bear, and Monkeys Everywhere feature expansive spaces and the latest collections, catering to shoppers who seek something truly distinctive.

Upcoming additions in the fashion space include Calliope and Okaidi for the little ones; as well as Faiz Couture, Tanjim, Key Town, Cotton Collection, Jules & Juliette for shopaholics and fashionists.
For those looking to step up their beauty routine, Russia’s leading cosmetics retailer L’Etoile recently opened its flagship store with over 1000+ brands all under one roof. The global iconic tech brand HONOR also opened its new store at the mall. Not just that, popular Italian restaurant chain – Ilforno, popular American fast-casual restaurant, Wayback Burger, and Kafu Coffee will also add to the vibrant gastronomy scene at Dubai Festival City Mall.

“To remain at the forefront of retail innovation, strategic partnerships and fresh concepts are crucial. ‘Shopping for Growth’ by Strategy& sheds light on the region’s annual retail sales slated to grow to USD 300 billion by 2028. It reveals master plans and diversified retail approaches as key success enablers, especially for wider economic development and quality offerings for tourists and residents alike. This is important for any urban retail destination and is a top priority for us.

Reflecting on our history of pioneering initiatives, such as introducing IKEA and early community malls, we remain committed to reinventing the retail experience and driving growth in this new era. By continuing to introduce exclusive brands and experiences, we reaffirm our role as a pioneer in the evolving retail landscape,” added Hayssam.

For more information about the new brands and upcoming openings, please follow Dubai Festival City Mall’s social media channels.

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About Dubai Festival City Mall

Dubai Festival City Mall, one of the major shopping destinations in Dubai, stands as the super-regional flagship mall in the Al-Futtaim Real Estate portfolio, achieving over 23 million footfall in 2023. With over 400 outlets, the mall is home to renowned fashion and beauty brands like The Editor’s Market, H&M, Watsons, Nike, Adidas, Sephora, MAC Cosmetics and more, as well as popular interior stores including IKEA and ACE.

A paradise for culinary delights, the destination offers iconic waterfront dining on Festival Bay and comprises 50 restaurants and cafés and the largest food court in Dubai. The mall promises an unrivalled gastronomic variety for visitors with a host of renowned brands such as Joe & The Juice, L’ETO, EL&N, and Karaki Lounge and licensed concepts including Sayf Dubai and Helipad by Frozen Cherry.

During the winter months, guests can enjoy the immersive and experiential destination The Bay by Social, featuring diverse food and beverage offering, cozy coffee counters, brand activation zones, interactive art installations, a carnival atmosphere and lush greenery.

The entertainment venue is also home to VOX Cinema Multiplex; the world-first BOUNCE-X Freestyle Terrain Park; the record-breaking, global attraction IMAGINE; Fabyland, a 70,000 sq. ft. family entertainment centre; and Leo & Loona, Hello Park and Go Skate, all-in-one family destinations.

With creating exceptional experiences at the core of its mandate, the mall offers several signature services including car charging stations, EZ taxis inside the mall, valet parking, NOL charging stations and Mayed, the mall’s personal happiness ambassador to provide personalized assistance to elevate the shopping experience.

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About Al-Futtaim Real Estate

Al-Futtaim Real Estate is the region’s only private master developer with over six decades of real estate and management experiences, with a diversified portfolio across the real estate value chain. Al-Futtaim Real Estate is responsible for a multi-billion-dollar portfolio comprising of individual, corporate real estate and investment assets and master-planned destinations across the Middle East and North Africa region. With capabilities across the value chain and entire real estate cycle from location conceptualization, development, design and fit-out, asset management, contracting and operation, Al-Futtaim Real Estate covers a diverse range of industries and asset type including residential, commercial, malls, hospitality, healthcare, infrastructure, and education.

The current flagship mixed-use urban communities under Al-Futtaim Real Estate’s Festival City brand are Dubai Festival City, Cairo Festival City and Doha Festival City. Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City are fully integrated communities which have been carefully master planned to offer a superior lifestyle destination with outstanding facilities, comprising residential and commercial accommodation, educational institutions and five-star hotels to fully complement the signature retail, leisure, and entertainment proposition. The Real Estate portfolio covers over 1 million sqm GLA across retail and commercial assets and over 80 million in annual footfall across five malls in the MENA region: Dubai Festival City Mall and Festival Plaza in the UAE, Cairo Festival City Mall in Egypt, Doha Festival City in Qatar and Zenata Mall in Casablanca, Morocco.

Testament to its expertise in the retail space, Al-Futtaim Real Estate also provides third party management services in asset management, leasing, marketing and operations for shopping centers in the region, including Arabian Center, part of the Al Naboodah Group.

The Al-Futtaim Real Estate division also manages Al Futtaim’s contracting business, a fully integrated, end-to-end engineering, technologies and construction specialist with a solid delivery track record of mega projects in major Middle East markets over the past 50 years. Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies offers customers complete engineering and systems integration solutions.

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About Al-Futtaim Group

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail, and health; employing more than 33,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, we partner with over 200 of the world’s most admired and innovative brands.

Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enable the organisation to continue to grow and expand, responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate. By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration, and integrity, Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers every day. For more information, visit: www.alfuttaim.com

For more information, please contact: alfuttaim@webershandwick.com