Dubai, UAE, May 15, 2014

Bulgari, one of the world's most prominent jewellery houses, is pleased to announce a joint venture with Al Tayer Insignia. The joint venture, covering the United Arab Emirates, will be headquartered in Dubai, and will take the brand's longstanding relationship with Al Tayer Insignia to a stronger level of collaboration.

As a result of a franchise relationship with Al Tayer Group spanning over twenty two years, Bulgari currently counts five points of sales in the UAE.  With two stores located in Abu Dhabi, at The Avenue at Etihad Towers and The Galleria at Al Maryah Island, three stores are spread across key locations in Dubai - Mall of the Emirates, The Boulevard at Jumeirah Emirates Towers and The Dubai Mall.  Mr. Luis Gasset, currently Managing Director for Bulgari Middle-East, will take up the role of General Manager of the newly created joint venture.

Part of Al Tayer Group, a UAE-based diversified business conglomerate, Al Tayer Insignia represents over 30 of the world's most renowned luxury brands. The company currently employs over 1,800 people and has continued to experience healthy growth over the past few years. Headquartered in the UAE, it also has operations in Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.

Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari Group, said: "I am very satisfied to see this 22 years partnership further evolving and allowing Bulgari to develop more aggressive strategies in a key area such as the UAE, where the brand at present enjoys a leading position. Together with ventures already set up in Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, this new agreement will guarantee effective control  of distribution across most of the Middle-East region, thus confirming our commitment in pursuing  brand enhancement and sales growth".

"As our first mono-brand luxury venture in the UAE in 1992, Bulgari has been a key partner in our growth over the past two decades. The brand has seen phenomenal success in the market and we are delighted with this strategic development that will further strengthen our partnership. We look forward to the continued success for the brand in the market," said Khalid Al Tayer, CEO - Retail, Al Tayer Group.

"We are very happy to be taking this important step further into the UAE market, where Bulgari has established such a strong presence over the past two decades.  Our aim is to build further on that success and offer our customers an enriched experience with the Bulgari brand", said Luis Gasset, General Manager, Bulgari UAE.

-Ends- 

About Bulgari
Part of the LVMH Group, Bulgari was founded in Rome in 1884 as a jewelry shop and quickly established a reputation for Italian excellence with exquisite craftsmanship and magnificent jewelry creations. The Company's international success has evolved into a global and diversified luxury purveyor of products and services ranging from fine jewels and watches to accessories and perfumes, with an unrivalled network of boutiques and hotels in the world's most exclusive shopping areas.

About Al Tayer Group
Al Tayer Group is a diversified regional business established in 1979 with its headquarters in Dubai, UAE. Since its inception, the Group has grown rapidly and currently operates in 12 countries in the Middle-East and beyond, with over 8,000 employees. It has built leading operations in multiple sectors, including automotive, contracting, distribution, retail and services.

For more information on Al Tayer Group, please visit www.altayer.com
Media Contacts:
BVLGARI
Fidaa Baddour
Tel: +971 4 368471
fidaa.baddour@bulgari.com

Al Tayer Group
Sugam Bhasin
Tel:+971 4 201 155
sbhasin@altayer.com

© Press Release 2014