Retail

With wholesale and retail trade making up 30.7% of the emirate’s GDP in 2011, Dubai has become the Middle East’s chief retail centre. The emirate is home to one of the largest malls in the world, has a massive domestic consumption of retail goods and boasts a reputation as a prime shopping destination among well-heeled tourists. Despite a hiccup in numbers after the 2008-09 global financial crisis, the sector bounced back quickly, and the emirate continues to work to promote its image as a shopping destination for visitors from both East Asia and the West. With rising incomes among locals and expats alike, record-breaking numbers at the DSF and DSS, and a steadily increasing supply of international brands, local retailers are optimistic about the future. This chapter includes interviews with Iyad Malas, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Holding; and Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice-Chairman, Dubai Duty Free.