Fourteen new international retailers occupying a total floor space of nearly 17,000 sq ft have opened their doors in Dubai’s Festival Centre – the award-winning retail precinct of Dubai Festival City.

Tom Miles, director – shopping centres, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate, said: “Despite the global economic slowdown, retailers have continued not just to internationalise, but to globalise and I’m happy to report that Festival Centre has become core to the recent retailer expansion activity witnessed around the world.”

“With location, leisure, access and value advantage, Festival Centre has always had an edge in the local retail market which has resulted in a dramatic increase in visitor profile and high value footfalls,” he added.

Among the international brands that are attracting high visitor turnout is Build-a-Bear Workshop, the globally recognised American retailer which opened its first store in the Middle East and MERC, the international symbol of classic British clothing.

Laura Ashley, Jerretelle Trading and Riverwood has also brought new fashion proportions to town, with Tamaris, Skin Food, Rossini Shoes and Agatha complementing with the accessories dimension.

Yogurberry and Bert’s Café will offer fine leisure dining while Palaces Jewellery and Zam Gems will add glitter to the Festival Centre sparkle.

For those looking at revamping their residences, fashionable home furnishing accessories brand Degrenne Paris is now available.  Plug-Ins has also opened its new Mobility store specialising in mobile phone devices and PDAs, adjacent to the larger core store. – TradeArabia News Service