July 5, 2004 - Al Tayer Group, a leading and diversified Dubai based business group, has signed an exclusive licence agreement with Harvey Nichols Group for the UAE.

The upscale, UK-based Harvey Nichols department store will make its debut in Dubai's much - awaited Mall of the Emirates, scheduled to be opened in September 2005. Spread over 120, 000 sq. ft. the store will represent a diverse portfolio of exclusive brands in fashion, beauty and home dcor, and will include a gourmet food market and fine dining restaurants.

With the acquisition of the exclusive licence for the Harvey Nichols brand, Al Tayer Group continues the extension of its high-end lifestyle portfolio that includes some of the world's leading names in fashion, jewellery, beauty, fragrances and home dcor.

"We are delighted to announce our partnership with the world-renowned Harvey Nichols Group, at the prestigious Mall of the Emirates. It is our endeavor to make a firm commitment to bringing the best brands to the UAE and strengthen its image as the premier global destination for shopping and tourism," said Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman and CEO of Al Tayer Group.

The Harvey Nichols store at the Mall of the Emirates will be the second extension outside the UK, after an exclusive store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the partnership, Joseph Wan, Chief Executive at Harvey Nichols said, "We are pleased to be associated with a dynamic and distinguished group like Al Tayer, who shares our vision of creating a successful retail environment for luxury brands for a discerning audience. We see huge potential for the retail sector in the UAE, and are confident that Harvey Nichols will experience immense success with the Al Tayer Group."

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About Harvey Nichols Group
Harvey Nichols started in 1813 and is today the UK's premier fashion retailer, renowned both in the UK and internationally for the breadth and depth of its exclusive fashion merchandise. It offers many of the world's most prestigious brands in womenswear, menswear, accessories, beauty and home.

Harvey Nichols currently have stores in London, Leeds, Birmingham (small format store), Edinburgh and Manchester in the UK and a store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The London flagship store is located in the heart of Knightsbridge, London's most fashionable and exclusive shopping district. The store has a gross floor area of approximately 230,000 square feet.

In addition to its fashion retailing business, Harvey Nichols successfully redeveloped the top floor of the London flagship store to create a Restaurant, Bar, Caf, Wine Shop and Foodmarket which have become destinations in their own right. A similar concept operates from the top floors of all Harvey Nichols full-size stores.

Harvey Nichols launched its first stand-alone restaurant in 1996, the highly successful Oxo Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie, with spectacular views of the River Thames. A further restaurant, Prism, opened in the financial district of the City of London in 1999.

In April 1996, Harvey Nichols obtained a full listing on the London Stock Exchange and for the subsequent period of almost 7 years stayed as a listed company. February 2003 saw the return of Harvey Nichols to private ownership and Harvey Nichols Group Limited is now owned by the Hong Kong-based retail magnate, Dr. Dickson Poon whose retail businesses extend to North America, Europe, Japan, China and South East Asia.

© Press Release 2005