Carrefour, a leading retailer, is set to open a new 5,780 sq m facility at BurJuman tomorrow (August 21).

It will be the first store to open for business in the mall’s remodelled North Wing as the ongoing renovation and expansion project at the shopping destination progresses towards completion, said a statement.

Leigh Regan, chief operating officer at BurJuman, said: “The opening of Carrefour marks the beginning of a new chapter for BurJuman, which is in the midst of an exciting phase in its development.

“Carrefour will serve as a key anchor tenant for the mall and is expected to be a high-traffic addition to our retail mix, reinforcing our position as a key player in Dubai’s retail and entertainment scene.”

The UAE’s retail sector is projected to reach Dh151 billion ($41 billion) by 2015, aided by rising population and high disposable incomes, according to a recent report released by Dubai FDI.

Leading the way is Dubai, where the Dubai Economic Council estimates the city’s retail sector to have become as big as the financial and real estate sectors in terms of value.

“The suburbs of Bur Dubai have evolved into thriving residential localities and the BurJuman area in particular is seen as a major commercial hub and transit point, creating a need for additional retail space and entertainment options within the area,” said Regan.

“BurJuman’s refreshed customer offering – beginning with this new hypermarket – aims to address existing and future demand by providing an all-encompassing family shopping and leisure experience that gives shoppers access to everything they need in one destination.”

Henri Changeux, executive regional director of MAF Carrefour UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, said: “Bur Dubai is one of the city’s most vibrant and densely populated areas and has long demanded the presence of a full-service Carrefour hypermarket in the vicinity. As the premier retail hub of Bur Dubai, BurJuman provides the perfect location to establish our presence within this high-growth market

“The new hypermarket will offer customers everyday low prices, fresh, high-quality food products and an extensive selection of consumer durables to a growing community.” - TradeArabia News Service