The first Macy’s – the iconic department store – outside the US will open at Abu Dhabi’s Al Maryah Central in 2018 and alongside the second Bloomingdale’s outlet in the UAE, according to a top official at Al Tayer Group, the licence holder.
The first Bloomingdale’s, located at The Dubai Mall, will mark its fifth anniversary next February. Both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s – which is more upscale in its merchandising mix – are owned by Ohio-headquartered Macy’s Inc.
The Abu Dhabi presence was confirmed following an agreement signed by Al Tayer Group with Gulf Related, the developer of the $1 billion Al Maryah Central, which will create 2.3 million square feet of new retail capacity in Abu Dhabi. Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s will have anchor roles when they open and are to take up floor levels apiece. (Al Maryah Central will have a linkage to The Galleria, now established as the pre-eminent retail and leisure destination in Abu Dhabi.)
Ever since Bloomingdale’s opened in Dubai, there was constant speculation that a Macy’s would follow in short order. It was also assumed that the first opening would happen in Dubai.
Apart from Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, Al Tayer Group also operates the UK’s Harvey Nichols store at Mall of the Emirates.
At Al Maryah Central, the Group will have more than 20 outlets, including upscale F&B brands, which will take up a combined 502,000 square feet of space. That equates to a third of the mall’s overall leasable space.
From Gulf News
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