UAE retailer signs up France's Carrefour

SouqExtra!, the UAE chain of community retail centres, on Tuesday announced that French retail giant Carrefour will open a supermarket in its upcoming Dubai Silicon Oasis project.

The retailer said it has signed a contract with Carrefour Market to lease 15,800 sq ft of anchor store space at the new centre, which will be the sixth SouqExtra! community centre in the UAE.

Justin Wilshaw, CEO of SouqExtra!, said: "We are delighted to welcome Carrefour Market to our growing list of trusted retail partners - now numbering over 110 and set to double by the end of 2013 when a further four centres will open for business."

He added: "SouqExtra! is now at an exciting phase in its further development, and we view the strong and continued retailer interest in our centres as a validation of the solidity of our business model and of our founding vision to grow with our partners and customers."

Franck Rouquet, VP Carrefour Market, said: "This partnership will allow us to provide residents of Dubai Silicon Oasis with a convenient, value-for-money daily or weekly shopping destination right within the community's retail nerve centre."

The SouqExtra! centre in Dubai Silicon Oasis, which will have a gross leasable area of 32,600 sq ft, is expected to open in late 2013.

SouqExtra! currently operates five centres across three emirates - Dubai (Al Barsha, Al Quoz, and Ewan Residences), Fujairah (Al Mirbah), and Al Ain (Al Batheen).

The company also plans to open four new centres - three in Dubai and one in Ajman - to double SouqExtra!'s total retail space.

The SouqExtra! retail mix includes Spinneys, McDonald's, Subway, Lulu Express, Carrefour Market, Baskin Robbins, WeCare Pharmacy, Hatam Restaurant, Champion Cleaners, Grand Optics, Al Farooj Restaurant, and Gloria Jean's Coffees.