Swiss Luxury Player Expands In Middle East

Bally opens new store in Dubai; third in the last one year.

Top 10 Fashion Brands In The Middle East

Gulf Business asked Sophia Serin, Senior Editor at Emirates Woman Group, to round up the region’s most popular fashion brands.

Marks & Spencer’s Middle East Expansion

The giant British retailer is opening a new store in Jordan before the end of the year.

Dubai Needs Affordable Shopping Malls

Retail must accommodate middle-class tourists’ needs as their numbers rise, say experts.

Qataris Biggest Luxury Spenders In ME

Residents in Qatar spend up to $5,000 per month on luxury goods, says new report.

First Free Sampling Store Opens In Dubai

Sample Central allows members to take products home for free in return for sharing their opinions.

Saudi’s Almarai To Issue Private Sukuk

The dairy company raised SAR1 billion through the first tranche of a Sukuk in March this year.

Fashion Brand Brioni Opens Shop In Dubai

CEO Francesco Pesci speaks to Gulf Business about the brand’s expansion in the Middle East, its PPR takeover and James Bond.

Groupon And YaDig Launch Review Partnership

New alliance will see regional website’s reviews published on global giant’s website.

Dubai’s MOE Ranks Among World’s Top 10 Lucrative Malls

Mall of the Emirates earns $1,423 per square foot every year, says new research.

Saudi Almarai Q3 Profit Up 4.7%

The dairy producer’s third quarter revenue rose 27 per cent to SAR2.7 billion.

Dubai Duty Free Eyes $1.6bn Sales By Year-End

The airport retailer saw sales increase 10 per cent year-on-year during the first nine months of 2012.

Vogue Café To Open In Dubai This Year

The publisher of the glossy will open the café in Dubai Mall later this year.

J.P.Morgan Invests $20m In Dubai E-Commerce Startup

The London-based investment fund has backed online fashion site Namshi just one year after it launched.

MAF Eyes $800m Mall of Egypt Launch By 2015

The UAE-based shopping mall operator hopes to start construction on the project by the end of 2012.

MAF Group Reports 15% Rise In H1 Revenue

The UAE-based shopping mall developer made a gross revenue of Dhs10.7 billion for the first half of the year.

Arab Spring Boosts Dubai Retail Sales

Majid Al Futtaim-owened malls have seen a 15 per cent rise in footfall for the first half of the year.

British Retailers Eye Middle East For Expansion

The MENA region ranks fifth most popular destination for international expansion, with UAE most popular country.

MENA Consumers Are World’s Most Loyal

Ernst & Young survey shows shoppers in the region are more loyal to their preferred brands than shoppers in the UK or US.

UAE Ranks In Top Ten For Swiss Watch Sales

Returning consumer confidence is a driving factor for the UAE luxury sector.

Qatar Luxury Group Buys Stake In Anya Hindmarch

The Qatari-owned investment company increases its luxury goods portfolio with British fashion brand.

Abu Dhabi Food Prices Rise 3.3% During Ramadan

The biggest hikes were recorded in the prices of fish, vegetables and meat, according to official statistics.

5 Minutes With… Ishwar Chugani, Exective Director, Giordano

Chugani set up the Middle East, India and Africa Giordano network

South Africa: The Halal Kingdom

With the halal industry reaching over $2 trillion in value, South Africa has emerged as a surprising global leader in halal certification, writes Peter Shaw-Smith.

Emaar profit rises 45% to Dhs1.2 bn, led by retail

Property giant Emaar reports 2012 profit rise citing Dubai’s strengthening economy.

UAE’s Agthia Posts 38% H1 Profit Rise

The food and beverage company made a net profit of Dhs56 million during the first half of the year.

GCC Not Yet ‘Luxury Tourist Hub’

Luxury retailers in the region need to innovate to attract savvy customers, says a new study by BCG.

Luxury Goods Market To Grow 15% In Middle East

As Tiffany & Co. announce a new JV in the region, a global report says the luxury goods market is growing.

UAE Confidence Levels High

Qatar has the highest levels in the Middle East while Egypt sets a record; Lebanon scores the lowest.

Cost Of Food Drops 15%

Government reminds retailers and suppliers not to raise food prices ahead of Ramadan and iftars.