Popular Australian brand to make its Middle East debut in UAE

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 1 September 2015: Marka PJSC (DFM: MARKA), the first public joint stock retail operator focused on the Middle East's growing retail sector, is set to launch the fashion forward brand 'City Chic' in the UAE. The popular Australian brand, which caters to fashion-conscious fuller figured women seeking the latest catwalk designs, will be rolled-out across the UAE and the wider GCC region by Marka's dedicated fashion division, Marka Fashion.

City Chic will bring glamour, elegance and flattering cuts, across dresses, tops, outerwear, denim, intimates, and swimwear to the plus-size woman, bucking the plus-size fashion trend of conservative basics - items like plain T-shirts, in stretchy materials and dark colors.

Nick Peel, CEO of Marka stated: "City Chic is a fashion powerhouse and a global leader in its market of plus-size fashion. This is an important and growing retail segment and we are delighted to partner with them to address this important gap in the GCC's fashion scene."

Phil Ryan, President of City Chic said: "Plus-sized women around the world demand unique and glamorous options, and in the Middle East and the UAE women are very fashion forward and seek the latest retail experience. City Chic appeals to fuller-figured women in the UAE and GCC, as they will be able to choose current styles that complement their shape."

Marka will launch three City Chic stores in the UAE before the end of 2015, with the first opening in Dubai at Festival City Mall. Since its inception in 2014, Marka Fashion has launched internationally renowned fashion brands in the UAE including Laurèl, Weill and Essentiel Antwerp.

City Chic is under the umbrella of Australian Retail Conglomerate, Specialty Fashion Group who acquired the brand in 2006 and quickly grew the label in Australia from 6 to 79 stores in four years.  Today, City Chic boasts 100 stores across Australia, New Zealand and South Africa with an exceptionally successful international online shopping offering. In the USA, City Chic has 7 and is stocked in 50 Nordstrom and 91 Macy's stores across the country.  With these achievements behind them, City Chic is set to be as big a success in the Gulf market as they are across Australasia and North America.

For more information visit www.citychiconline.com or follow City Chic UAE on Instagram: @CityChicUAE

About Marka PJSC
Marka PJSC (DFM: MARKA) is the first public joint stock company focused on the growing retail sector in the UAE. Incorporated with a capital of AED 500 million and headquartered in Dubai, Marka is a premier retail operator targeting the mid-to-high-range and luxury segments. Since incorporation in 2014, Marka has partnered with leading global brands in the retail and hospitality sectors, pursuing a growth strategy focused on acquisitions, franchise agreements and unique home-grown retail concepts.

Marka is committed to offering value to its customers through high quality products and services at optimum cost, simultaneously generating value for its shareholders and giving back to the communities in which it operates.

For further information about Marka and to learn more about its brands, visit www.markaholding.com.

For Further Information please contact:
Riham Musleh
Senior Account Manager
Cicero & Bernay Public Relations
Tel: 04 -334 29 66
Email: riham@cbpr.me

© Press Release 2015