China’s Huawei plans more than five UAE stores

Chinese technology firm Huawei is planning to open more than fives stores across the UAE to forge a connection with local consumers.

The plans come as the company seeks to solidify its position as the world’s third largest smartphone vendor and gain ground on Apple and Samsung.

“There is a significant gap between what we are and what we show off,” said Huawei Consumer Business Group’s country manager for the UAE UAE David Wang.

“And we believe that it is our responsible to tell them [end users] who we are and how big we are and how long we have been here.”

Under this strategy, has been expanding its physical presence in the region with a network of more than 50 service centres.

It now plans to add to this footprint with the opening of its first flagship experience store in October at Dubai Mall, allowing customers to get hands on with its products ranging from smartphones to wearables, tablets, PCs and accessories.

Several other stores are also planned across the country, Wang told Gulf Business.

“I believe we are expecting to cover most of the emirates in UAE,” he said.

“The accurate number is of course depending on the location and how we get the contract but I believe it’s more than five.”

First half figures from market research firm GFK place Huawei in second place by smartphone sales volume in the Middle and Africa with 13.8 per cent share.

The company is hoping to gain a further boost in the fourth quarter with the launch of its Mate 10 smartphone powered by a new artificial intelligence chipset in October.

Wang said Huawei was expecting its regional gross margin to increase from more than 30 per cent last year to 40 per cent this year as its sales of premium devices continue to increase.