Dubai news and archive

War in the Middle East: Dubai, a luxury capital on borrowed time

Dubai – Louis Vuitton, Dior, Louboutin... In Dubai's Mall of the Emirates, one luxury boutique follows another. A month into the regional war, their teams of unoccupied salespeople watch for customers or scroll through their phones out of boredom. Having just left Chanel, a rare customer who wishes to remain anonymous is adamant that people “...

Retail

Expansion strategy: Primark announces new openings in France and the Middle East

Fashion retailer Primark detailed the next steps of its physical expansion strategy during a press conference on March 18, 2026. Three new stores will open in France in 2026. The company has been present in the country since 2013. It currently operates 30 stores and employs nearly 7,000 people. This regional expansion will continue in 2026 with...

Retail

Primark to expand into three new markets in the Middle East

Budget retailer Primark has announced plans to expand into three additional markets in the Middle East, with five stores set to open this year alone, in partnership with retail franchise operator Alshaya Group. Expanding in the United Arab Emirates, Primark is set to open three stores in Dubai during the first half of 2026, with the first store...

Retail

Skims expands into UAE with Dubai store

Kim Kardashian’s Skims has entered the Middle East with the opening of its first store in Dubai. The launch was enacted alongside the brand’s regional partner, luxury retail group Al Tayer Insignia. For Skims, the opening marks a milestone in the brand’s global expansion. The company has set out to strengthen its presence in select regions, to...

Retail

Pacsun reveals location of first store outside US, preps domestic retail expansion

Pacsun has confirmed the opening plans of its first store outside of the US. The American youth retailer is due to open its inaugural international store in spring 2026 at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The news comes on the back of the company securing a regional partnership with Majid Al Futtaim, with which it is planning to open up to 20...

Featured

Fashion

5 Unexpected Emerging Fashion Capitals

When one thinks of fashion capitals, images of Paris, New York, Milan, and London immediately spring to mind. These Western cities, icons in their own right, are seen as the definitive and leading hubs each Fashion Week. However, new evidence indicates that the global fashion landscape is slowly changing, with new, upcoming fashion centers...

Fashion |Exclusive

Exclusive: Paraiso Miami Swim Week to hold first Dubai event in 2026

Paraiso, an organiser behind the annual Miami Swim Week, is preparing to venture into a new region. The platform has announced the debut of an United Arab Emirates (UAE) edition of its event dubbed Paraiso Dubai, set to take place October 2026. In a bid to build a “commercial bridge” between Miami and Dubai, Paraiso is looking to leverage...

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Business|In Depth

Spanish entrepreneurship in Dubai: ICEX recommendations

Following FashionUnited’s interviews with the Spanish founders of Dubai-based fashion and lifestyle brands Montroi and Coma, we now flip the coin on Spanish entrepreneurship in the emirate to focus our attention on how to start a business in Dubai from outside its borders. For this journey, we have the invaluable guidance of ICEX, the public...

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Business|Interview

Spanish entrepreneurship in Dubai: Coma

Continuing our series of publications on Spanish entrepreneurship in Dubai, following the interview with Enrique Hormigo, founder of Montroi, we now turn our attention to Coma. This Dubai-based fashion brand, boasting entirely local production within the emirate, was co-founded by Spaniards Mercedes Valencia and Cristina Alcedo. From Dubai to...

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Business|Interview

Spanish entrepreneurship in Dubai: Montroi

Invited by the Dubai Fashion Week organisers, FashionUnited travelled to the most cosmopolitan emirate of the United Arab Emirates. We wanted to discover how fashion is experienced there and to understand the social, business, commercial and economic realities attracting a growing number of foreigners and international brands. These brands and...

Retail

Primark to enter Middle East via Alshaya Group deal

Budget retailer Primark has confirmed plans to enter the Middle East via a new partnership with retail franchise operator, Alshaya Group. The duo, which had first announced their strategic partnership in 2024, are planning to open four stores across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The openings will start with a new store at The...

Featured

Retail

Gymshark to open first permanent store outside of the UK

British sports apparel brand Gymshark has announced it will open its first-ever permanent store outside the UK in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, later in the year. The new store will be located on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall, the second-largest mall in the world by total land area, which welcomes more than 54 million shoppers through its...