Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011
Gulf News
Outlet is one of the largest stores in the region
Abu Dhabi: Ikea UAE, part of Al Futtaim Group, opened its flagship store yesterday on Abu Dhabis Yas Island.
The store covers 33,000 square metres and is one of the largest stores in the Middle East.
Ikea is known for its reliability and credibility and its products are environmentally friendly, said Magnus Scholdtz, the Ambassador of Sweden, at a function to mark the stores opening.
This will help boost Swedish-UAE relations, he added.
Ikea UAE anticipates nearly 1.3 million visitors to the store in the first year of operation.
Expansion
Speaking at the function, Omar Al Futtaim, vice-chairman of Al Futtaim Group, said: Today we are given the chance to offer the UAE consumer a splendid range of Ikea products at reasonable prices. I stand here and commit to continued development and expansion of the relationship with Ikea in the future.
Like Ikeas core principles, the Al Futtaim Group is fully committed to offering customers an unrivalled choice of the worlds best brands with exceptional standards of customer service, he added.
The opening of the Ikea store was also attended by Ahmad Al Sayegh, chairman of Aldar Properties, among others. In February last year, Aldar Properties and Ikea UAE broke ground for the Yas Island store.
Swedish delicacies
The Ikea store on Yas Island will have 1,450 parking bays for its visitors who will be served by 35 cash tills at the back of a total sales area of 19,150 square metres.
The cash tills include refund and exchange desks as well as Ikea food and beverage counters. Alongside the market hall and showroom furniture areas there will also be a 450-seat restaurant serving popular Swedish delicacies.
The Ikea Yas Island store is bigger than the store in Dubai Festival City and it is three times larger than the Abu Dhabi Marina Mall store, which closed on Monday.
Mile Franicevic, general manager, Ikea UAE, Qatar and Egypt said the full-fledged concept store has a depth of range.
Sweden-based Ikea is the worlds largest home-furnishing retailer.
Ikeas most popular furniture items in the UAE are cupboards, beds and bedroom equipment.
Do you shop at IKEA? Do you take quick trips or do you take your time and enjoy all the facilities it offers? Would you take a day trip to the Yas Island store? Tell us at readers@gulfnews.com
By Himendra Mohan Kumar, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
