Majid Al Futtaim to launch over 30 new stores in GCC

Majid Al Futtaim has announced an ambitious expansion of its luxury retail portfolio for 2025.

The regional pioneer in shopping malls, communities, retail, and leisure across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia reported a record-breaking 2024, with a 26 per cent growth in its lifestyle business.

Read-UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim posts 2024 results, reports Dhs33.9bn in revenue

This expansion will be anchored by renowned Italian brands—Eleventy, Corneliani, and Poltrona Frau—with a series of store openings planned across key locations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Launch of new stores

As part of its strategic growth agenda, Majid Al Futtaim will open over 30 new stores across the region, spanning both luxury and high street brands. The expansion includes five standalone Eleventy stores, the regional debut of Corneliani, and the first Poltrona Frau store outside the UAE, to be launched in Saudi Arabia—showcasing Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to strengthening its footprint in the luxury retail sector.

“In a region where customers have an abundance of choice, our ambition is to curate a portfolio of luxury brands that offer something truly distinctive. By introducing brands like Eleventy, Corneliani, and Poltrona Frau, we are bringing new dimensions to the luxury market—combining timeless craftsmanship with modern sensibilities that resonate with the refined tastes of our customers,” said Fahed Ghanim, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle.

Ghanim added, “At Majid Al Futtaim, our work with luxury brands has been deeply rooted in THAT Concept Store, which has been instrumental in identifying and nurturing brands with strong market potential. Eleventy’s journey—from its initial shop-in-shop to standalone stores—is a testament to our strategy of testing, scaling, and growing global luxury brands. This approach enables us to continuously evolve the retail experience and deliver distinctive offerings that resonate with our customers.”

Five standalone Eleventy stores set to open

The five standalone Eleventy stores are scheduled to open in 2025 at key locations including Solitaire Mall in Saudi Arabia, Mall of the Emirates, and Marsa Al Arab—all of which opened this month—with Dubai Mall and The Grove (UAE) to follow later this year. Known for its sustainable practices and premium materials, Eleventy reflects a growing consumer preference for quality and understated sophistication, under the ‘Made in Italy’ banner.

This expansion builds on Eleventy’s existing regional presence, which includes a shop-in-shop at THAT Concept Store, a pop-up at Mall of the Emirates, and its first standalone location at Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, opened with Majid Al Futtaim in November 2024.

Strengthening partnership with Poltrona Frau

Majid Al Futtaim is also strengthening its partnership with Poltrona Frau, the iconic Italian luxury furniture brand, by opening its first store outside the UAE at Centria Mall, Riyadh, in May. Poltrona Frau achieved remarkable growth in 2024, with revenue increasing fivefold following the launch of its second UAE store at Mall of the Emirates.

Corneliani makes regional debut in Saudi Arabia

Italian menswear brand Corneliani made its regional store debut in April at Solitaire Mall in Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1930, Corneliani is one of Italy’s oldest independent luxury brands, renowned for its meticulous craftsmanship and presence in over 70 countries. With the launch of its first standalone store in the Middle East, Majid Al Futtaim is bringing Corneliani’s timeless suits and sophisticated casualwear to a broader audience in the region.

“Eleventy’s philosophy of understated elegance and commitment to sustainability resonates strongly with the sophisticated Middle Eastern consumer. We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Majid Al Futtaim, whose visionary approach to luxury retail is shaping a new standard focused on customer needs,” said Marco Baldassari, Co-Founder and Menswear Creative Director at Eleventy.

“Since partnering with Majid Al Futtaim more than two years ago, we’ve focused on strategic growth and elevating the customer experience. The revitalisation of our flagship store in Jumeirah and our debut at Mall of the Emirates were key milestones. We’re now excited to bring this momentum to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with our first store in Riyadh—further strengthening our presence in the GCC,” added Nicola Coropulis, CEO of Poltrona Frau.

Continuing momentum in 2025

Majid Al Futtaim’s expansion in luxury retail builds on a record-setting 2024, which saw a 26 per cent increase in revenue and a 31 per cent surge in digital sales across its lifestyle portfolio.

StLast year also saw the opening of 17 new stores across the region, bringing the total to 87—featuring flagship locations for brands such as lululemon, Psycho Bunny, Shiseido, Crate & Barrel, and CB2, alongside 27 e-commerce platforms. Looking ahead, 2025 is poised to be another milestone year, with plans to open 30 new stores across the region—including seven in Saudi Arabia, a key market for the group.