Retailer continues opening schedule today, unveiling its 32,000 square foot concept store in the Dubai Mall.
Brought to Dubai by Retail Arabia, which holds the exclusive franchise for Hamleys in the region, the store is located on the second floor of the mall.
Visitors enter into a mini replica of London’s Regent Street, complete with performers. Inside the shop is a decked out car-racing dome; a camel caravan; a Ferrari bike racing track; a gaming area and life sized doll’s houses.
Retail Arabia MD and CEO Nabil Daud, said:
“Everyone loves Hamleys; it’s the toy store kids dream about. Children come to the store and are able to play with those toys they’ve always wanted. To be responsible for bringing that dream to the Middle East is an honor for us at Retail Arabia. We have spent months preparing for this special day, getting ready to bring the Hamleys spirit to the children of Dubai.”
In celebration of today’s opening, the first 100 customers will receive a special goodie bag and the store will organize daily magic shows, face painting, balloons and cool toy demonstrations.
More than 600 new retail outlets will be open for trade at the Mall from 2pm today, many of which will be making their Middle East debut. Among the new retailers to the region are American high-end department store Bloomingdale’s, and supermarket chain Waitrose.
The mall’s general manager, Yousif Al Ali, said he expected about 30 million visitors in the centre’s first year of operation.
Today’s launch is part of a wider opening schedule, which last month saw the first stand-along store outside Regent Street in Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin (pictured). The Irish Hamleys occupies 37,000 sq ft over three floors in the centre’s Pembroke Avenue area.
Paul Currie, Hamleys trading director, said: “We are extremely excited to be coming to Dundrum Town Centre, a premium location for fabulous shopping and days out. A considerable portion of our overseas customers are Irish and we are looking forward to growing this customer base.”
