With Dubai Fashion Week about to storm the region, it’s easy to see how the city has become the shopping and fashion capital of the Middle East. The third annual event, which takes place April 5 – 9, 2009, showcases 28 regional designers to buyers and fashion media from across the region.
Dubai is also home to the world’s largest shopping mall. The Dubai Mall, measuring 12 million square feet or the size of 50 football pitches, opened in November 2008 in Downtown Burj Dubai. The Mall will eventually house 1200 retailers and feature a “Fashion Avenue” with designers such as Stella McCartney, Versace, Hugo Boss, Fivenchy, Roberto Cavalli, and Tom Ford.
Cartier opened a flagship store in the Dubai Mall on March 27th. It is the brand’s largest boutique in the Middle East, with a showroom measureing over 7500 square feet. The opening was attended by international celebrities and Bollywood stars such as Monica Bellucci and Anil Kapoor.
Future retail developments in Dubai will include the Mall of Arabia, scheduled to open its first phase in 2010. Once all phases are complete, it will house over 1400 outlets. Additionally, the Isla Moda will be the world’s first dedicated fashion island. Moda will feature fashion-themed restaurants and hotels as well as residential villas with personal shoppers and stylists. It plans to host high profile fashion events once complete.
Most famous for the luxurious Dubai beach resort, the city is home to over 50 shopping malls such as the Wafi Mall in Wafi City (an Egyptian-themed development) and the Dubai Outlet Mall. The Mall of the Emirates is home to the first indoor ski destination in the Middle East, Ski Dubai.
Twice a year, Dubai hosts events designed to call attention to it’s retail industry and development. The Dubai Shopping Festival is held each January while the Dubai Summer Surprises takes place in July – August.
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