Gulf retailer reveals plan for 200 stores

EXPANSION PLAN: US giant Office Depot is one of the big names coming to the Gulf under MH Alshaya's plan.

A major Gulf-based retailer revealed on Wednesday that it would be opening 200 new stores as part of expansion plans across 16 countries, despite the global economic impact.

Mohammed Alshaya, executive chairman of Kuwait-based MH Alshaya Co, which operates more than 1,700 franchise stores representing 40 international brands, said it was committed to growing the company in 2009.

On the sidelines of the Wharton Global Forum in Dubai, he told Arabian Business that 200 new stores would be opened across all countries and five new brands would be heading to the Middle East as a result.

"We are still expanding and we are still hiring and we are still innovating," he said.

The retail company, which operates franchises for such names as H&M, Debenhams, Top Shop and Starbucks across the Middle East and Eastern Europe, will be launching US brands Office Depot and Express this year, Alshaya added.

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READERS' COMMENTS

it's about time!
Posted by rach, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 12 March 2009 at 12:27 UAE time


This is great! great! news... I have been here for the past 5 years and I have not seen any decent office supplies store!

I live in Karama and I think Office Mart was the best and when I went there two weeks ago, the place is gone :(

Office Depot
Posted by BuckeyeDubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 11 March 2009 at 16:50 UAE time


This is great news provided the inventory quantity and quality is the same as the stores in the US.

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