UK retailer John Lewis set to open outlet in Dubai

Leading UAE-headquartered diversified conglomerate Al-Futtaim and John Lewis have signed an agreement which paves the way for the Middle East launch of the UK retailer’s stores.

The deal strengthens Dubai’s status as a major shopping destination and an attractive proposal for foreign retail majors to have presence in the emirate.

According to the deal, John Lewis’ home department will spearhead Dubai Festival City Mall’s new flagship Robinsons store scheduled for a spring 2017 opening. Spanning over 15,000 sqft, John Lewis’s home department in Dubai will be the UK retailer’s largest overseas shop-in-shop.   

At its Robinson’s shop-in-shop, John Lewis will be doubling its product assortment compared to its existing international collaborations offering Dubai Festival City Mall’s shoppers its label furniture, cookware, textiles, glassware and nursery products in addition to the retailer’s household bed, bath, living and gifting assortments.

Al-Futtaim and John Lewis have also agreed to further extend their existing partnership with Robinsons currently limited in Singapore, by exporting the concept to neighbouring Malaysia with next month’s opening of a 630 sqft John Lewis shop-in-shop at Robinson’s Kuala Lumpur store.

John Lewis said in December it would enter continental Europe, opening seven outlets within De Bijenkorf department stores in the Netherlands throughout this year and 2017.

"The success of our existing international shop-in-shops has given us the confidence to open in the Middle East and increase both the scale of the space and product assortment," said John Lewis managing director Andy Street.

The John Lewis department in Dubai will stock bed, bath, living and gifting assortments as well as own brand furniture, cookware, textiles, glassware and nursery products.

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