Dubai, UAE: Al-Futtaim is proud to have worked with Marks & Spencer since 1998, when it opened the first Marks & Spencer store in Deira, Dubai, UAE. Today, UAE customers can enjoy an inspiring shopping experience across its 16 stores and website marksandspencerme.com.

“As long-term partners of Marks & Spencer, we are delighted to be celebrating 20 years of business together,” said Stephen Rayfield, Vice President Marks & Spencer MENA and Asia. “This year marks an important milestone in our journey in the Middle East and we are excited about the future as the business continues to thrive in the market.” The partnership has accelerated Marks & Spencer’s expansion across the Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macau, with Al-Futtaim operating 88 stores in total.

Since signing the franchise agreement with Al-Futtaim in 1997, Marks & Spencer has achieved some important milestones in expanding its franchised international business. In 2007, the largest Marks & Spencer store outside of the UK was built in Dubai Festival City Mall, and in 2017, this flagship store was modernised to include a new M&S Café, welcoming customers to its first ever table-waited dining experience in the region. More recently Marks & Spencer has, with the support of Al-Futtaim, expanded its food offer in the region; the first standalone food store in the Middle East opened in Dubai Marina Walk in 2017, followed by the Springs Souq store in 2018.

Paul Friston, M&S’s International Director said: “Celebrating our 20th anniversary in the UAE with Al-Futtaim is an exceptionally proud moment for Marks & Spencer. Since we opened our first Dubai store in 1998, our partnership with Al-Futtaim has gone from strength to strength with 88 stores and a growing online business across the Middle East and Asia. We would like to thank the support of our partner, customers and colleagues over the last twenty years for the role they have played in making M&S in the UAE the fantastic business it is today. We also want to celebrate the future of our partnership and our continued commitment to delight and excite our customers with our quality, stylish clothing collections and our great tasting food.”

Recently the business launched Marks & Spencer’s first-ever modest collection, helping to align stylish dressing with local tastes and fashions. Marks & Spencer’s commitment to the needs of the region, combined with the brand’s focus on quality wardrobe essentials for the family, that are rooted in innovation, has created a winning combination that looks set for continued success into the future.

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About Marks & Spencer and Al-Futtaim

  • A member of the Al-Futtaim Group of companies since 1997, the Marks & Spencer Al-Futtaim franchise partnership boasts 88 stores located across MENA, KSA and Asia.
  • The stores offer an extensive range of stylish, high quality clothing products for the whole family, across each category – Womenswear, Lingerie, Menswear and Kidswear. M&S also offers Beauty and Home products, as well as outstanding quality food.

For more information, please visit: www.marksandspencerme.com 

About Al-Futtaim

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim is one of the most progressive regional business houses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Al-Futtaim employs in excess of 42,000 people and operates in 29 countries through more than 200 companies.

The Group has significantly expanded its business operations through a strategic acquisition plan and has entered a number of new territories, increasing its footprint beyond the GCC and Greater Middle East to encompass, Asia and East Africa. Structured into four operational divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate and retail, the success of Al-Futtaim is attributed to proactively managing change whilst upholding the values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity.

The majority of businesses, built on a portfolio of world leading brands, dominate their sector. For more information visit: www.alfuttaim.com 

For more information contact:
Nikita Sidana
n.sidana@ipn.ae 
+9714 3304030

 

© Press Release 2018

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