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Chalhoub's move to d3 will help inspire emerging talent and encourage new innovative retail concepts
Dubai, UAE: Dubai Design District (d3) is pleased to announce that Chalhoub Group, one of the region's leading partners for luxury, fashion and beauty brands, will be relocating its head office operations to d3, by taking two buildings at the site.
With a growing workforce of 11,000 employees spread across 14 countries, the Chalhoub Group operates around 600 retail stores for its own retail brands such as Wojooh, Tanagra and Level; and it acts as a franchise partner for global brands including Louis Vuitton, Sephora, Fendi, Michael Kors, Lacoste and CH.
The move to d3 represents a significant commitment from Chalhoub, and it supports d3's vision to create a sustainable, innovative and thriving ecosystem for the region's design industry, where creative talent can live, work and play. By becoming part of d3's community from the outset, Chalhoub will be bringing with it 60 years of retail and luxury experience, which emerging talent and other visitors to the pioneering creative community can learn from and be inspired to establish their own business concepts.
The UAE is an established global retail hub, expected to be valued at over AED 120 billion in 2014, according to the research firm Euromonitor. The Emirate already has a particular strength in the luxury segment, but experts suggest there is increasing demand for innovative, best in class, and unique retail concepts as the consumer's spending power grows, along with the region's population and local tourist numbers. These trends position d3 perfectly as a unique retailing destination and as a breeding ground for creative innovation, making the announcement that Chalhoub will be joining the community even more significant.
According to research undertaken by Bain, a leading research company, the global fashion market is growing at 10% over the last seven years with the Middle East featuring in the top 10 worldwide ranking with a market value worth €5.6B in 2012. Within that, the UAE is the largest fashion market in the Middle East representing 50% of the total market and Dubai, with its mix of high-end international retailers, commanding about 30% of the entire regional luxury goods market.
Dr Amina Al Rustamani, Group CEO of TECOM Investments, the master developer behind d3, said: "We are delighted to welcome the leading and pioneer retail "Chalhoub Group" to d3. Chalhoub is hugely experienced in driving the fashion and design industry forward, and has made a significant contribution towards achieving Dubai's vision of becoming the global hub for retail as well as creative businesses and talent.
"With extensive investments in the design sector across the region, Chalhoub's presence at d3 will strengthen the community, offering inspiration for emerging talent and encouraging the creation of new business concepts in line with Dubai's growing retail opportunity.
"We are honoured to have such a fantastic array of design and fashion brands, creative talents and entrepreneurs joining d3. They are signing up to be part of a living, breathing and thriving design ecosystem, and they are actively helping to propel Dubai's global position as a hub for design, innovation and creativity."
Patrick Chalhoub, Co-CEO of Chalhoub Group said: "We are excited that the Chalhoub Group will become part of the d3 story from its very beginning. We chose d3 because of its commitment to creating a truly integrated design community in Dubai, which will be home to innovative brands and creative talents.
"As a market leader with extensive regional expertise in the promotion of luxury and retail across the Middle East, we look forward to growing with d3 and nurturing emerging regional talent so that it can shine on an international scale. We are excited about playing a role in driving the Emirate's ambition to be a global centre for design and innovation."
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Dubai Design District
Nicola Hooper: +971 55 886 2254 or nhooper@bellpottinger.com
Yasmine Kassem: ykassem@bellpottinger.com
The Chalhoub Group
Rachel El Helou - Events & PR Specialist +971 (0)4-804 5000 or rachel.elhelou@mailmac.net
ABOUT DUBAI DESIGN DISTRICT
Dubai Design District, better known as d3, is dedicated to fostering the growth of the Emirate's design, fashion and luxury industry. It offers businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals a creative community that will be at the very heart of the region's design scene.
d3 is the newest of TECOM Investments' freezone business parks - with 11 buildings currently under construction. Once complete, d3 will be a purpose built environment catering to the full value chain of the design, fashion and luxury industry - and all with the vision of creating a world class creative community that engages, nurtures and promotes local, regional and global design talent.
d3's facilities will include everything from cutting-edge design institutes to residential, hospitality, retail and office space. The District will be characterised by distinct public areas, unique street furniture and shaded walkways. The development will include a Creek-side esplanade with international and boutique hotels, a pop-up shop area, amphitheatre and a convention centre.
Located close to Mohammed Bin Rashid City and adjacent to Dubai's Business Bay, d3 is a short distance from the city's arterial highways and two international airports. The District is in sight of the Creek, Dubai's historic and mercurial trading epicentre, Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping complex.
d3 will be the most connected design, fashion and luxury destination in the world - with Dubai being only eight hours flight time from 90 per cent of the countries in the world.
Guided by the objectives set out in Dubai Fashion 2020 - a strategic plan to harness the full growth potential of the fashion industry - this creative community will support Dubai's goals for a more diversified knowledge economy.
ABOUT CHALHOUB GROUP
The Chalhoub Group is the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East since 1955. As an expert in retail, distribution and marketing services based in Dubai, the Group has become a major player in the beauty, fashion and gift sectors regionally.
By blending its Middle East expertise and intimate knowledge of luxury, the Chalhoub Group is building brands in the region, by offering service excellence to all its partners and a unique experience to its customers through its passionate teams.
With a growing workforce of more than 11,000 people, implemented in 14 countries, as well as operating over 600 retail stores, the Group's success is attributed to its most valued asset: highly skilled and dedicated teams. Professionalism and passion are what fuel the Chalhoub Group's competitive edge in today's market.
By being committed to implementing sustainable practices into their business, the Chalhoub Group was awarded in 2014, for the second consecutive year, the CSR Label from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and has been accepted as a new member of the United Nations Global Compact Community.
© Press Release 2015
