Majid Al Futtaim to open Carrefour hypermarket at Dubai Festival City

Carrefour’s regional franchise owner Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) has announced plans to open a new hypermarket in Dubai Festival City.

The new store will replace the UAE’s only Hyperpanda market, which is closing after more than a decade as part of restructuring efforts by owner Saudi-listed Savola Group.

MAF said it would open just before Ramadan, which is expected to begin at the end of May, and increase the number of Carrefour hypermarkets in the country to 23.

Dubai Festival City has undergone a number of changes in recent months including the closure of the Al Badia Gold Club and associated academies in February.

The area is undergoing a Dhs1.5bn redevelopment ($408m), which has also seen new retailers arrive at the Festival City Mall.

Singapore-based department store Robinsons opened a location at the mall earlier this year and in December Dubai Festival City owner Al Futtaim Group, Majid Al Futtaim’s rival following the split of the Al Futtaim empire in 2000, launched a new light and water show.

Read: Al Futtaim to launch new light and water show at Dubai Festival City

In November, InterContinental Hotels Group also announced plans to open the UAE’s largest Holiday Inn at the development. This will feature 520 rooms and a direct connection to the mall.

Read: InterContinental Hotels pens deal for UAE’s largest Holiday Inn