Qatar Seeks Partners for $12.1bn Marks & Spencer bid

Qatar Investment Authority has reportedly approached several large private equity houses to jointly bid for British retailer Marks & Spencer.

GCC Tourists Spend Dhs2,440 Per Head In The UK

Visitors from Qatar and Kuwait were found to be the biggest spenders.

Exclusive: Dubai-Based Chocodate Maker Plans Major Expansion

The company is currently in talks to export the product to the US, UK, Japan, Brazil and Russia, among other countries.

UAE’s First Online Shopping Mall Goes Live

Retail plays an important role in the UAE’s economic growth, accounting for 12 per cent of Dubai’s GDP over the last ten years.

McDonald’s Arabia: “No Horsemeat In Our Products”

Products are tested externally and internally to ensure that “quality is maintained” says regional head.

Abercrombie & Fitch To Launch In Middle East With MAF

American fashion house will open a Hollister store in Mall of the Emirates in Q3 of this year.

GCC Food Consumption To Hit $106bn By 2018

Food is the largest segment of consumer expenditure in the region and stood at $83 billion year-end 2012, says new report.

Exclusive: Aujan To Expand Into Asia, Africa

The Saudi-based juice manufacturer, which signed a $1 billion deal with Coca-Cola in 2011, plans to launch Rani and Barbican brands in international markets.

Qatar Boosts Tiffany & Co Stake To 8.7%

The Qatar Investment Fund first acquired a 5.2 per cent stake in April last year.

Damac Launches Partnership With Fendi

The announcement marked a rare public appearance from the chairman of DAMAC, Hussain Sajwani.

Retailer SPAR To Enter Middle East

The company aims to have 30 stores in the region by end of 2015.

Ladies’ Watches Given Greater Focus

Luxury brands at SIHH are realigning their positions in the Middle East.

Dubai Retailer MAF Posts 10% Rise In 2012 Revenue

The company, which is expanding rapidly, aims bid for Egypt supermarket chain Metro in the first quarter of 2013.

Richard Mille Unveils 2013 Watches

The Swiss watchmaker unveils its timepieces for the new year at the SIHH in Geneva.

Saudi’s Almarai Q4 Net Profit Up 29%, Beats Forecasts

The dairy and food producer made a net profit of SAR369 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Turkey’s E-Commerce Firms Set For Shakeout

According to a Deloitte report on e-commerce in Turkey, 17 merger and acquisition deals were closed last year.

Dubai Duty Free To Employ 1,070 New Staff In 2013

Sales forecast at Dhs 6.6 billion for 2013, says executive vice chairman Colm McLoughlin.

Emaar Says No Plans To Spin Off Malls

The Dubai developer has denied reports it is planning to list its malls business.

Swatch Group 2012 Sales Up 14%

The group expects good results at operating profit and net income level when they’re released next month.

Dubai’s Just Falafel Plans 20 New UK Stores In 2013

The company has launched it’s first store outside the Middle East in London.

Rotana Kick-Starts Dhs2bn Al Ghurair Expansion

The number of stores at the adjacent shopping centre is set to rise from 200 to 350 this year.

Dubai’s BurJuman Shopping Mall Begins Expansion

A new Carrefour hypermarket and a 14-screen Vox Cinemas multiplex are part of the mall’s renovation plan.

Dubai’s MAF Group Eyes Egypt Supermarkets In $300m Deal

The Majid Al Futtaim group is reportedly in talks to buy the supermarket business of Mansour Group.

How Glambox Cornered The Luxury Testing Market

Shant Oknayan, co-founder of GlamBox, describes the first 12 months for the UAE’s start-up beauty revolution.

Chairman – Giordano Pushes For 15% ME Marketshare

Hong Kong clothing store to open 60 stores in the region and India by the end of 2015, says chairman Dr Peter Lau.

Revealed: The Best Tailors In The UAE

Where to go for the best bespoke suits and shirts in the emirate.

GCC To Host First World Luxury Expo

Steinway Piano Gallery will be displaying a crystallised 1/6 scale model grand piano worth AED12 million for the first time

Luxury Market To Contract Further in 2013

With increased consolidation and tepid growth only a few players will survive, says Manuel Emch, CEO of Romain Jerome.

Dubai Plans Mega City; World’s Largest Mall

The mall will be part of a new retail and tourism complex that also includes a park bigger than London’s Hyde park.

Spying for Dummies

A new breed of mannequin uses facial recognition software to gather customer data while you shop.