Abu Dhabi, the capital and second most populated city of the UAE, will welcome its first Bloomingdale‘s department store and the first international Macy‘s department store outside the USA.
Gulf Related – the joint venture between Gulf Capital and Related Companies – and Al Tayer Group, the diversified regional business, announced that they have signed a landmark agreement which will see the opening of two iconic US retailers, Bloomingdale‘s and Macy‘s. Both department stores will operate across four levels at Al Maryah Central, the mixed use development currently under way on Al Maryah Island and scheduled to open in Spring 2018.
Strategically located in the heart of Abu Dhabi‘s new Central Business District and adjacent to the recently opened luxury shopping and dining destination, The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, Al Maryah Central further extends Gulf Related‘s retail footprint in Abu Dhabi. As well as housing Bloomingdale‘s and Macy‘s, it will boast a 20 screen cinema, a signature health club, open-air rooftop parks and playgrounds, a best-in-class collection of retail and food & beverage offerings and then some, all in a premium architectural setting. Al Maryah Central will be directly connected to The Galleria via a waterfront outdoor promenade, together creating a 2.9m sq ft shopping paradise.
The regional shopping centre will be complemented by two high-rise towers, each 400,000 sq ft, one with an upscale hotel with services apartments and the other with luxury residences.
Making its international debut, Macy‘s is well known for its diverse offering of merchandise and will be provided with “an outstanding opportunity to be introduced to customers who live and work in the booming UAE market, as well as to visitors who come from around the world for events, business and holidays” says Terry Lundreg, Chairman and CEO of Macy‘s Inc, the holding company which owns Macy‘s and Bloomingdale‘s.
A Bloomingdale‘s store has been open for just under five years in Abu Dhabi‘s brother Emirate, Dubai, and has been doing particularly well. The opening of its second UAE store reflects the retailer‘s impressive brand portfolio.
“We are delighted to be launching the first Macy‘s outside of the United States, as well as our second Bloomingdale‘s, in Abu Dhabi. Having recorded almost five successful years with Bloomingale‘s – Dubai, we are confident that the offering from Macy‘s will have an equally strong appeal in the Middle East region. Both brands have entrenched themselves as market leaders in department store retailing in the US, and we look forward to delivering the same unrivalled shopping experience to customers in Abu Dhabi” said Kalid Al Tayer, CEO of retail at Al Tayer Group.
