A new energy is taking shape at Mall of the Emirates as we welcome Primark in partnership with Alshaya Group. Their arrival brings one of the world’s most recognised brands to Dubai’s most beloved destination and reflects the continued strength of the UAE as a global destination for retail, tourism and investment. Majid Al Futtaim | 49 comments on LinkedIn

We’re proud to bring another much-loved homegrown brand to travellers at Dubai International Airport - FiLLi Cafe.   Our vibrant new café in DXB Terminal 1, Concourse D, introduces the iconic Zafran Chai experience to one of the world’s busiest travel hubs.   This collaboration reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to delivering concepts that truly resonate with today’s traveller.   FiLLi’s journey from a local favourite to a globally recognised café brand is rooted in culture, connection and consistency, values we’re proud to bring to life together in this new space. As consumer preferences continue to evolve, so do our offerings. From authentic, comforting flavours to modern, fast-casual dining experiences, this opening is another step in shaping a portfolio that blends global appeal with regional relevance. Whether it’s a quick grab-and-go moment or a pause before take-off, FiLLi offers a familiar taste of home with a contemporary twist.   This addition further strengthens our growing travel retail portfolio, where every concept is thoughtfully curated to enhance the guest experience and reflect what matters most to our customers today.   Here’s to more meaningful partnerships and memorable journeys! Head to the Media Centre on our website for the full press release - https://lnkd.in/dUHHrSfw   #EmiratesLeisureRetail #DXB #Partnerships #TravelRetail #FilliCafe #DubaiAirport #DXB #CustomerExperience #FoodAndBeverage Tyrone Reid | Murat Gun | Rafih fiLLi®| Ashraf H. | Vivek Rathour | Hitesh Mehta | Abdul Hannan | Graham Knowles | Andrew White | Norbert Erik Budai | Vipin Singh | Daniel Tomlinson | Matthew Caswell | MIKE GLEN | Deon Peacock | Narelle Fox | Khalid Khyser | Dubai Airports | EUGENE BARRY | Alison Macdonald | John Rogers

Dubai’s Kokoro Handroll Bar is to expand further this summer, launching its first international location in France. Known for its counter-driven concept, Kokoro launched in Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue in March 2024, founded by Tamer Elkhayat, CEO of FYTE Hospitality, and Faisal Yabroudi, COO of FYTE Hospitality, in collaboration with chefs Daniel Lee and Patrick Pha. It has since expanded to two more locations in Dubai, and is now set to open on La Croisette in Cannes in July 2026, developed with a strategic partnership with DB Group. – the team behind Palm Beach Cannes among others. “During the summer, Cannes becomes one of the most concentrated hospitality markets in the world, and throughout the year it remains active through major conventions and international gatherings,” said Tamer Elkhayat, CEO of FYTE Hospitality. “Its connection to the Middle East and its global audience make it uniquely positioned. Being on La Croisette places Kokoro Handroll Bar at the centre of that energy. It is the right city for us to begin our international journey.”

Nike Second Branch Opened in Dubai Mall with size 5,575 sq ft #Dubai 😍

Dubai’s flagship Marks & Spencer store, in The Dubai Mall, has reopened with a brand-new look. The 3,066 square-metre store has had a contemporary makeover, with new interiors designed to optimise the customer experience. Fans of M&S’s food hall will be pleased to hear that the revamped store now has the addition of its full chilled food range, stocking more than 2,000 more grocery goods including meat, cheese and salad in the enhanced space. M&S’s freezer range is also now available at The Dubai Mall store, alongside classic cupboard staples and British favourites. Shoppers looking to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets will also be able to shop the Plant Kitchen range, which features dishes such as sweet-potato falafel and cashew nut and cannellini dip. As well as a much larger food hall, the store features a new Marks & Spencer Cafe, offering customers both a dine-in and pick-up service. The cafe will serve classic British afternoon tea, plus a selection of cakes and baked goods, and heartier dishes including fish and chips. Food aside, the new store offers Marks & Spencer’s clothing and accessories for men, women and children, as well as homeware. “We are pleased to welcome shoppers to our new boutique concept store, where we have introduced fresh food to the store for the very first time. The store will also offer a wide range of popular clothing collections for the whole family,” says Nick Batey, general manager of Marks & Spencer Mena. “We’ve been working hard to offer customers new, convenient ways to shop with Marks & Spencer, including the M&S Food app, e-catalogue service and partnerships with elGrocer, Deliveroo and, of course, on our website. It’s important that customers are able to shop our products in the way that is most convenient to them.” In line with government guidelines, all necessary health and safety measures are in place, including regular and ongoing deep cleaning, the provision of sanitiser and gloves to all customers, social distancing measures and twice-daily body and temperature checks for staff.

Cath Kidston permanently closed all of its stores with the loss of 900 jobs, while Primark's owner said sales had fallen to zero and it had furloughed 68,000 staff on another ominous day for British retailers, who have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, pubs, bars and restaurants warned MPs that they face a “bloodbath” as lockdown conditions are eased, with up to a third of the sector at risk of going out of business. Associated British Foods (ABF), which owns budget retailer Primark, was the first to sound the alarm on Tuesday, as it revealed that sales had dropped from £650m per month to zero as a result of all its stores closing in Europe and the US. Unlike many rivals, Primark does not sell clothes online — meaning it has been unable to mitigate lost revenues by ramping up deliveries to customers’ homes. ABF boss George Weston said the group had been “squarely in the path of this pandemic” and would have had to have laid off staff if governments had not implemented furlough schemes which cover wage costs. Pre-tax profits slumped 42 per cent to £298m for the half-year to February as Primark was left with millions of pounds of stock it was unable to sell. The company wrote down the value of its stock by £243m. Mr Weston said that when stores can reopen, “we must make our Primark stores safe for our staff and our customers, even if that means ensuring there are fewer people shopping at any one time and so accepting lower sales at least until the remaining risk is minimal”. “In time we can rebuild the profits. We can’t replace the people we lose.” Home furnishings chain Cath Kidston confirmed on Tuesday that its 60 stores will not reopen after the coronavirus lockdown ends, with just 32 out of 940 employees to keep their jobs. The brand will continue after a deal with the one of the retailer’s shareholders, Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA), which will buy the online business, brand and wholesale arm from administrators Alvarez & Marsal. Melinda Paraie, chief executive officer of Cath Kidston, said: “While we are pleased that the future of Cath Kidston has been secured, this is obviously an extremely difficult day as we say goodbye to many colleagues. “Despite our very best efforts, against the backdrop of Covid-19, we were unable to secure a solvent sale of the business which would have allowed us to avoid administration and carry on trading in our current form.” Hospitality firms are facing similar problems to retailers, with the sector’s trade body calling for deferral of rent payments that have built up during the pandemic to help prevent mass insolvencies. UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls called for urgent action, including extending the employee furlough scheme for premises that may be forced to continue social distancing measures as late as Christmas, long after the rest of the country has left lockdown. Ms Nicholls told MPs on the House of Commons Treasury Committee that large numbers of hotel and restaurant staff are already missing out on furlough payments because income from tips and service charges is not included. Ms Nicholls said: “It is undoubtedly the case that we are not going to be able to save every business and we are not going to be able to save every job in hospitality.”