Ikea breaks ground for flagship Abu Dhabi store

Ikea UAE, part of Al Futtaim Group, yesterday held a formal ground-breaking ceremony on Yas Island for a 32,000 sqm flagship store in Abu Dhabi.

It expects to serve nearly 1.3 million visitors in the first year of operations when it opens for business in early 2011. Mile Franicevic, Group Director – Retail, Al Futtaim, said the store will form part of Yas Island's retail centre based around Yas Mall, featuring a wide range of retail categories from individual boutiques to large format value retailers.

The present Ikea store in Marina Mall will relocate to Yas Island where it will be a full-fledged concept store. Ikea also operates a store at Dubai Festival City.

Franicevic said: "The ground-breaking event clearly signals Ikea's long-term plans of being part of the country's high growth area."

In addition to the Yas Marina Circuit, it is the venue for the Formula 1 Etihad Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Yas Island is home to seven hotels, including the signature Yas Hotel and Yas Marina, a super-yacht marina with capacity for more than 140 yachts.

 

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