DUBAI -- The largest IKEA store in the Middle East was inaugurated at Dubai Festival City(DFC) by Bruno Beijer, Swedish Ambassador and Abdulla Al Futtaim, chairman, Al Futtaim Group.
IKEA, a member of Al Futtaim Group, is the first retail outlet within DFC to be opened to the public and is spread over an area of 24,500 square metres offering 6,500 products at low prices.
Speaking at the opening, Omar Al Futtaim, chief executive officer, Al Futtaim Group, said "IKEA's store marks the opening of the first retail outlet in Dubai Festival City, Al Futtaim Group's 'city-within-the-city' that aims to capture the finest from across the city and put it together in one place. The new size and facilities at IKEA surely echoes that endeavour and is set to bring to families within the UAE a whole new shopping experience at the Al Futtaim Group it has been a tradition to provide our customers with the best brands and services and the new IKEA store endorses that commitment.''
Recent statistics shows that the number of visitors to IKEA store increased by 14 per cent to almost 454 million and the turnover grew to more than Eur 14,5000 million.
According to an official from IKEA, "The new store has 54 room sets for customers to envisage exactly how their homes can look. We offer a varied range from Swedish, Scandivian, Modern and Country which caters to the cosmopolitan market in the UAE and the region.
The regularly refreshed room-sets will provide customers inspiration which can be further complemented with the huge self-serve area from where individuals can, in reality, take home 90 per cent of the products the very same day.''
Bringing to life IKEA's globally known mechanical sales concept, all products have been tagged with prices and comprehensive product information, simplifying a customer's selections process.
The product price tags additionally indicate the self-serve areas, many of which have been flat-packed to further assist in price reduction of the products whilst making it easier to cart and self-deliver.
With stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, IKEA UAE won the 'Best Integrated Communications in 2004' award from Gulf Marketing Review among all retail companies in the UAE.
BY MOUSHUMI DAS CHAUDHURY
© Khaleej Times 2005
