Middle Eastern retail conglomerate Al-Futtaim is bringing Asian beauty retail brand Watsons to the Gulf in a partnership with AS Watson Group. The partnership marks AS Watson Group’s first franchise agreement in its almost 180-year of history and its first venture into the Middle East. The first Watsons flagship will launch in Dubai Mall on October 1 together with its e-commerce store and mobile app. Al-Futtaim said it plans to open 100 stores by the end of 2025. “As a local business operating across the globe, it is our duty to support and contribute to the economic growth of the region we belong to, while bringing quality and customer-oriented brands to our retail network,” said Omar Al Futtaim, vice chairman at Al-Futtaim Group. “Our partnership with A.S. Watson Group is another milestone in our journey to further enhance both the UAE and the Middle East’s position in the world’s top retail destinations map,” he said Al-Futtaim will roll out two more Watsons outlets in Dubai Festival City Center and The Mall of the Emirates by the end of this year. The beauty retailer will make its debut in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia next year. “Al-Futtaim has impressed us with its proven experience and track record in quality management of retail brands,” said Dominic Lai, MD at AS Watson Group. “We are excited to partner with them to bring new offline and online beauty experiences as well as numerous trendy brands to customers in the region.”

Al-Futtaim brings Lutétia Paris, the leading aesthetic clinic to the Middle East, and will open in Dubai Festival City Mall. Nathanaël Aknine, Founder and President, Aesthetics, Al-Futtaim said “I’m very proud to be leading on the development of Al-Futtaim’s aesthetic proposition with the opening of our first clinic in the region. Here, we’ll be drawing upon the success of Lutétia, the renowned Paris-based clinic and DHI - world leaders in hair restoration.” This securement signals a first in the Middle East, as Al-Futtaim Malls continue to drive new and first-to-market retail experiences.

Dubai-based Al Futtaim announced on Tuesday it has signed an agreement with PVR Limited, a film exhibition company in India, to establish a joint venture cinema business in the Middle East and North Africa. Al Futtaim said it sees “great potential” in the cinema business in the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom’s government reopened the cinema industry that had been closed for decades. The companies have already identified locations within Al Futtaim’s projects such as Dubai Festival City and Festival Plaza. They are also in discussions with landlords to secure other locations in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, Al Futtaim said in a statement. “PVR is the perfect partner for Al Futtaim, given its 20 years’ proven track record of operating and creating experiential cinema formats …” said Marwan Shehadeh, group director of corporate development at Al Futtaim. The joint venture will introduce a range of experiential cinema formats to the region including PVR’s Director’s Cut, a format described by the companies as blending hospitality and entertainment. The deal comes as cinema operators aim to capitalise on the opening of the cinema industry in Saudi Arabia as well as consumer spending trends in the UAE. Operators including Majid Al Futtaim’s VOX Cinemas have already opened multiplexes in Saudi Arabia, with plans to launch more screens. In the UAE, operators are eyeing novel ways to open cinemas, with a focus on experiential formats. In April, American restaurateur and chef Guy Fieri teamed up with Dubai’s Reel Cinemas to launch a dine-in cinema concept where customers can be served a meal as they watch a film.

Dubai-based business house Al-Futtaim has announced a partnership with Middle-Eastern luxury goods expert Chalhoub Group to bring 150-year old Singapore department store Robinsons to the GCC and Middle-East region. In today’s announcement, Paul Delaoutre, former Managing Director of upscale French department store chain Galeries Lafayette, and current Al-Futtaim Retail President, said: “Al-Futtaim has already been operating four Robinsons department stores in Singapore and Malaysia and through our partnership with the Chalhoub Group we will bring this unique format department store to the Middle East expanding the brand’s footprint and strengthening its international appeal.” The first Robinsons store in the GCC and Middle-East region will open in spring 2017 at Al-Futtaim’s Dubai Festival City Mall after the current expansion project is completed. This pilot Robinsons will be a 3 level, 18,000sqm (almost 200,000 sq ft) destination, promised to be the first of many projects in the region. The Dubai Festival City Mall Robinsons store will offer a large selection of categories including fashion brands for women, men, kids, beauty, home and lifestyle. There will be restaurants and other unique services in store. Thierry Prevost, Managing Director of Fashion and Department store for Al-Futtaim Retail said: “The store will redefine fashion retail, with unique, innovative and interactive concepts, exclusive product offerings, innovative interior design and intuitive visual merchandising. We are very excited about the future of Robinsons in the Middle-East and look forward to making further announcements soon.” Al-Futtaim is familiar with Robinsons, as it acquired Robinsons in 2008 and already operates three Robinsons stores in Singapore and one in Malaysia. This will be its first foray into the GCC via its partnership with Chalhoub Group, who has vast Middle-East business experience through its current operations of 650 luxury fashion and beauty retail stores in the region.