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OurShopee offers Islamic financial solutions to Oman consumers

OurShopee, regional online retailer, has partnered with the Islamic Finance Initiation Network to offer consumers in Oman instant finance solutions in accordance with Islamic Sharia law.

Shoppers in the sultanate can now shop on the Dubai-based e-commerce site without needing credit or debit cards and can repay bills in flexible instalments.

The collaboration comes amid the rise of e-commerce activity in Oman. Online transactions in the sultanate more than doubled last year, as per Euromonitor
ME Retail News •

L'Occitane en Provence launches accelerator programme for tech start-ups

L’Occitane en Provence, French-based beauty product and fragrance retailer, has launched an accelerator programme for tech start-ups, with three able to secure $50,000 in funding.

Running under The Greenhouse scheme of its franchise operator in the region, the Chalhoub Group, the programme marks L’Occitane en Provence’s efforts to keep pace with evolving consumer habits through improving the retail-tech element of its consumers’ shopping experiences.

Tech start-ups interested in the beauty and
ME Retail News •

Printemps Doha partners with M7 to launch fashion mentorship programme

Printemps Doha, luxury department store set to open next month in Qatar, has partnered with art centre M7 to launch The Collective, a programme to support local fashion designers.

The programme invites established and aspiring fashion designers in the country to present designs from their latest collections of womenswear items, such as abayas, kaftans, eveningwear, casualwear and accessories.

For three months, 14 candidates will learn about the business of luxury retail from creative designers
ME Retail News •

Emaar Malls to close DSS with its 'Final Sale'

Emaar Malls is celebrating the end of Dubai Summer Surprises with its ‘Final Sale’ running across Dubai Mall, Dubai Hills and Dubai Marina Mall.

From September 2 to September 4, shoppers can find up to 90 per cent discounts across the mall’s stores, restaurants and entertainment concepts.

When spending at least AED500 at the malls, shoppers enrolled in Emaar Malls’ loyalty programme, U By Emaar, will win fivefold in UPoints.

Members of the programme are also automatically entered into a weekl
ME Retail News •

UAE grocery prices to lower after growing imports

Grocery prices in the UAE are expected to fall as imports from international markets grow more frequent.

By October, cooking oil prices are expected to fall by 5 per cent to 10 per cent, with wheat prices expected to be fall by 15 per cent to 20 per cent, market sources told .

Also estimated to fall by 15 per cent to 20 per cent are sugar prices, after India allows for its export.

The projections follow the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s report that placed the average price index of food
ME Retail News •

Bahrain's e-commerce market to value BHD400 million in H2, says Homiez's chief digital officer

Bahrain’s e-commerce industry will value BHD400 million in the second half of this year, according to Sadiq Abdul Rasool, chief digital officer at online retailer Homiez.

The projection follows the Central Bank of Bahrain’s report that the point-of-sale and e-commerce transactions in the kingdom topped BHD309 million in July, marking a 13.6 per cent increase from June and a 10.9 per cent increase from July 2021.

“This rise is due to many factors, including the back-to-school season, sale seaso
ME Retail News •

Easa Al Gurg launches National Development Programme

Easa Al Gurg, UAE-based retail conglomerate, has launched its National Development Programme, in keeping with the country’s Nafis initiative.

The initiative encourages competitiveness among Emirati jobseekers to boost their employment rates in the private sector.

The group’s programme aims to help Emirati nationals gain work experience.

Candidates can acquire practical skills across numerous business verticals, such as retail organisations, sales, productions, marketing, finance, foundry oper
ME Retail News •

Talabat partners with 14 Spinneys stores in Egypt

Talabat has partnered with Spinneys in Egypt, offerings customers delivery from 14 of the grocery retailer’s stores in the country.

Shoppers across Sheikh Zayed, 6th of October City, Al Haram, New Cairo, Maadi, Mokattam, Nasr City, Sherouk City and Alexandria can order from Spinneys using the platform’s website or mobile application.

“As an established retailer serving millions of Egyptians every day since 1924, we are excited to be joining the talabat platform as we aim to bring Spinneys even
ME Retail News •

Lenskart opens sixth regional store in Dubai Mall

Eyewear retailer Lenskart has opened a store in Dubai Mall, marking its sixth in the UAE and the Middle East.

The opening is part of the retailer’s regional expansion plans, into which it invested AED185 million last year.

The store houses a 3D trial machine powered by artificial intelligence and virtual face mapping, giving customers personalised suggestions from over 7,000 frame designs.

Shoppers can also test the effectiveness of sunglasses in the store’s sunroom, which replicate outdoor l
ME Retail News •

UAE-based importer of Korean skincare to venture into retail

Mamoso K-beauty, UAE-based sales agency and importer of Korean beauty products, has announced its plans to partner with business operators to open brick-and-mortar stores in the UAE and across the region.

Amid the region’s growing demand for Korean skincare products, the sales agency aims to unite Korean manufacturers with wholesalers and distributors in the region and reduce costs of imports and transactions.

“As the first Korean manufacturer sales agency and importer of KBeauty products in t
ME Retail News •

Dubai Shopping Malls Group hosts back-to-school raffle draw

Dubai Shopping Malls Group has launched its digital back-to-school raffle campaign, as part of its participation in Dubai Summer Surprises.

Until September 4, customers can win cash prizes when spending as little as AED 100 at Arabian Centre, Al Ghurair Centre, Al Barsha South, Al Barsha Mall, Al Bustan Centre, Al Quoz Mall, Al Warqa City Mall, Bay Avenue, Central Mall, Crown Mall, Dubai Outlet Mall, Etihad Mall, Jebel Ali Mall, Reef Mall, Marhaba Mall, Serena Market Place, Times Square Centre
ME Retail News •

Cairo Festival City Mall ties up with Sympl

Al Futtaim’s Cairo Festival City Mall has joined forces with Egypt’s first buy-now-pay-later platform Sympl to introduce flexible and attractive interest-free, delayed payment methods.

The tie-up will benefit customers who want to postpone paying without interest charges when shopping at affiliated merchants at the mall.

The partnership is in line with Al Futtaim Group’s strategy to capitalise on consumers’ preferences for digital shopping experiences, while enhancing its e-commerce features.
ME Retail News •

Sharjah to ban single-use plastic bags and materials from 2024

Sharjah will ban single-use plastic bags and materials from January 1, 2024, to help promote more eco-friendly reusable alternatives and combat environmental pollution.

Ahead of the move, all sales outlets in the emirate will charge customers a minimum of 25 fils per single-use bag from October to disincentivise plastic consumption and encourage recycling.

To clamp down on plastic use, Sharjah’s executive council is encouraging all stores to focus on reusable products, such as high-density pol
ME Retail News •

Majid Al Futtaim malls see AED14.4 billion in revenues in H1 2022

Majid Al Futtaim, regional operator of shopping centres, has reported AED14.4 billion in retail revenue for the first half of this year, marking a 9 per cent increase from the same period of last year.

The group attributed the rise in revenue to growing footfall amid increased tourism, rises in consumers’ purchasing power and relaxed restrictions following Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Although the operator recorded a 9 per cent decrease in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amor
ME Retail News •

Noon’s back-to-school sale offers up to 80 per cent discounts

Online retailer Noon is hosting its back-to-school sale until August 31, offering shoppers deals at checkout and discounts of up to 80 per cent.

Students’ lunchboxes and schoolbags from several brands, such as Skiphop and Eazy Kids, are available for under AED109.

After discounts of up to 75 per cent, educational devices for children, including toy laptops, liquid-crystal display writing tables and soft books, are priced lower than AED50.

Shoppers can also find bulk discounts on products. Sta
ME Retail News •

Bliss Flower Boutique celebrates Emirati Women’s Day with metaverse entry

In celebration of Emirati’s Women’s Day on August 28, UAE-based florist Bliss Flower Boutique has partnered with World Online Festival to list items on the metaverse – virtual-reality space where users can purchase digital items.

Users attending the regional online audio talent event can purchase two of the florist’s best-selling bouquets, Mixed Berry Smoothie and Red Apple Pomegranates, as virtual charms for their digital portfolio.

In keeping with Emirati Women’s Day’s theme this year, ‘Insp
ME Retail News •

MoEngage collaborates with Alsaif Gallery to drive personalised engagement

Saudi-based home appliances and kitchenware brand Alsaif Gallery has partnered with MoEngage, an insights-led customer engagement platform to accelerate user growth and provide more personalised experiences.

The move is driven by the company’s goal to further boost retention rates and brand loyalty after seeing a positive response to expansion of its e-commerce business at the start of the year.

Alsaif Gallery’s e-commerce business saw 100 per cent year-on-year increase in 2020, with the mobil
ME Retail News •

Tamara raises $100 million in funding for expansion plans

Saudi-based buy-now-pay-later platform Tamara has secured $100 million in a Series B funding round to continue its expansion across the region.

Sanabil Investments, supported by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, led the investment round alongside Coatue, Shorooq Partners, Endeavour Catalyst and global payment platform .

The platform began its expansion in June, offering its services to consumers across the UAE.

With the investment, Tamara is also considering a listing on Saudi Arabia’s fi
ME Retail News •

Alo Yoga to open in Avenues Mall, Kuwait in November

Alo Yoga, Los Angeles-based athleisure and loungewear brand, will open a store in Kuwait’s Avenues Mall this November, in partnership with retail franchise operator Alshaya Group.

The opening comes as part of the brand’s global expansion plans.

Founded in 2007 by Danny Harris and Marco Degeorge, Alo Yoga stocks yoga trousers, leggings, capris, loungewear and accessories for men and women.

“The past few years have witnessed a steady growth in customers wanting to shop for athleisure styles, ke
ME Retail News •

Fashion brand LC WAIKIKI opens 36th store in GCC

Global fashion and retail conglomerate LC Waikiki, operated by the Apparel Group, has opened its 36th store in the GCC in Dubai Festival City.

The move is part of the brand’s impressive expansion plan here in the Middle East that saw its flagship store open in Dubai Hills Mall in March.

LC Waikiki specialises in clothing, footwear and accessories for men, women and children.

“Entering the Dubai market is yet another milestone for LC Waikiki and we are proud to do so with our partner Apparel G
ME Retail News •

EROS launches product exchange programme for back-to-school festival

Electronics retailer EROS has launched its back-to-school festival across the UAE, offering customers the option to exchange their products for new devices.

Students and teachers can save up to AED600 when trading laptops and AED200 when trading mobile phones.

Other electronic products, such as laptops, mobiles, tablets, headphones, wearables and smartwatches, can also be exchanged.

“Back-to-school spending is at an all-time high and a cause for concern for most parents,” said Mohammad Badri,
ME Retail News •

Dubai's Waterfront Market records 50 million visitors over five years

Dubai’s Waterfront Market celebrates its fifth anniversary this week, and more than 50 million visitors since its inception in 2017.

An extension of the Deira Fish Market, the Waterfront Market spans 120,000 square metres of the Deira Corniche.

Shoppers can find fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood, meat, poultry and dry goods and spices.

The market also houses money exchanges, business services, stalls, dining outlets, pharmacies and a LuLu Hypermarket.

“We are very proud to have w
ME Retail News •

Mall of Qatar and Qatar Airways launch mile reward programme

Mall of Qatar has joined forces with Qatar Airways Privilege Club to launch a special rewards programme.

The first-of-its-kind scheme allows club members to earn Avios air miles when shopping at the mall. Members will receive 1 Avios for every QR4 they spend, which can then be redeemed for fights.

To collect Avios miles, members need to present their Privilege Club number when buying a gift card to Mall of Qatar’s stores. Cards can be used at more than 500 stores and may be shared with friends
ME Retail News •

Al Meera teams up with Zippin to launch checkout-free stores in Qatar

Qatar’s Al Meera Consumer Goods Company is hoping to take the stress out of shopping – and even inject a little fun – with its new fully automated stores.

The country’s largest retail firm has partnered with Zippin, US-based provider of checkout-free technology, to help advance its expansion strategy and provide a technologically advanced service to its customers.

Its new stores will be powered by artificial intelligence, allowing customers to shop under a self-service concept, making their ex
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