Five Minutes With.. Dr. Ahmed El Tigani, GM, Al Rawabi

UAE dairy company Al Rawabi is looking to address key health concerns in the UAE, says general manager Dr. Ahmed El Tigani.

UAE Ranks Fourth Among World’s Most Attractive Global Retail Markets

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan were the other attractive retail markets in the Middle East, according to a new report.

Middle East Luxury Good Market Steady Despite Regional Worries

The GCC luxury goods market has continued to grow fast, at a rate of five to eight per cent.

Emaar Introduces Giant Crocodile To Dubai Mall Aquarium

The 750kg reptile, brought in from Australia, becomes latest attraction in Dubai Mall, as Emaar seeks to boost visitor footfall.

World’s First Real Madrid Café Launches In Dubai

The café, themed around Spanish club Real Madrid, is located in The Beach Mall in JBR.

Dubai’s Emaar Malls Attracts Strong Demand For Debut Sukuk

The 10-year sukuk received orders worth more than $5.4 billion.

Emaar Malls Sukuk Launched At Tight End Of Guidance

The $750 million Islamic bond received orders worth more than $5.5 billion from investors.

Dubai’s Emaar Malls Seen Selling 10-Year Sukuk This Week

The potential benchmark sukuk comes ahead of plans by Emaar Properties to sell a quarter of its unit to the public.

Saudi Retailer Alhokair Signs $267m Islamic Loan

The amount will be used to help repay loans and fund expansion.

UAE-based Just Falafel Opens First US Restaurant

The restaurant, located in San Francisco, is the first of 160 outlets planned across North America.

Middle East E-Commerce Sales To Reach $15bn By 2015

E-commerce is booming but limited number of players in the industry and logistical challenges are hindering the sector’s growth.

Dubai Festival City Mall In Major Refurbishment Programme

The first phase of the redevelopment has been completed, and includes new stores and an upcoming leisured component.

Landmark To Open 50 New UAE Stores By End-2015, To Hire 2,500

A bulk of the new openings will be in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall, with stores also planned for Sharjah.

Dubai’s Al Futtaim Group Signs Deal To Build $1.6bn Saudi Mall

The super regional mall will be anchored by an IKEA store and will have a gross leasable area of 250,000 square metres.

Saudi Mall Owner Othaim Plans Debut Local Currency Sukuk

The transaction is likely to be worth between SAR500 million and SAR1 billion, sources said.

Dubai’s Damac Plans Mega Shopping Strip In AKOYA Development

The 1.3km AKOYA Drive, resembling Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and Champs Elysees in Paris, will include F&B options and retail outlets.

Five Minutes With… Jim Moaddab, COO, Caramel Group

Jim Moaddab, COO at F&B specialist Caramel Group gives his insight into the company’s expansion plans and the UAE restaurant market.

UAE’s Bar And Restaurant Segment Becoming Too Overcrowded

Local restaurant chief warns the Emirates’ F&B market is being spread too thinly.

Dubai Ranks As World’s Second Biggest Retail Destination – Report

The emirate came closely behind London, and significantly ahead of New York, Moscow and Shanghai

Nakheel Awards Dhs160m Construction Contract For Ibn Battuta Hotel

The 372-room hotel is part of the developer’s 28,000 square metre expansion of the Ibn Battuta mall complex.

Nakheel Awards Dhs1.2bn Construction Contract For Nakheel Mall

UAE contractors United Engineering Construction and Actco General Contracting Company win contract to build the new complex, located in Palm Jumeirah.

Roberto Cavalli Approaches Bahrain’s Investcorp For Possible Investment

Founder-owned fashion firm Cavalli has for some time been looking for a partner or a buyer to bring in new funds.

Kuwait’s NREC Appoints RTKL As Designer For Abu Dhabi’s Stalled Reem Mall

The $1 billion mall will consist of 450 stores and 85 restaurants.

Doha Festival City Awards QAR1.65bn Main Mall Construction Contract

Gulf Contracting Company, in a joint venture with ALEC Qatar, won the contract for the mega project.

RAK Mall Launches UAE’s First In-Store Go-Karting Facility

The 10,000 sq ft drift go-karting circuit will be operated by Italian engineering company Augusta Re Consulting.

LuLu International Invests Dhs55m To Launch Galito’s Restaurant Chain in UAE

The franchise agreement includes plans to setup 15 restaurants in the UAE over the next four years.

UAE’s Lulu To Invest $200m On Halal-Only Hypermarkets In Malaysia

The supermarket chain plans to open five outlets across Malaysia in the next two years.

Muscat City Centre Malls To Launch VOX Cinemas In June

The move is part of mall operator Majid Al Futtaim’s $29.3 million redevelopment plan for Oman.

UAE’s Just Falafel To Open 57 New Outlets In Europe

The stores, located in Europe’s Benelux region, will be operated by Wadi Degla Holding.

Kuwait’s Americana Q1 Profit Rises 10.4%

The company, a franchise operator of restaurants including KFC and Pizza Hut, made $64.4 million in the first three months of 2014.