Sahara Centre signs up premier retail brands of the Al Futtaim Group

The Al Futtaim Group will unveil Marks & Spencer, the UK's leading clothing retailer and Toys 'R' Us, the international toy store at Sahara Centre - marking their entry into Sharjah.

Speaking at a joint press conference to announce the tie-up with the Al Futtaim Group, Raymond J. Casey, Managing Director, Sahara Centre said: "The addition of these two world-class retailers reinforces our position as the dominant mall in the marketplace."

"Marks & Spencer is a perfect complement to Sahara Centre's excellent fashion offering, while Toys 'R' Us will act as a key anchor to our first-rate entertainment level. We're welcoming them into the growing fold of world-class retailers, who have chosen Sahara Centre as their destination of choice."

The 23,000 square foot Marks & Spencer will open in the second quarter this year, enticing customers with collections spanning clothing for the family, cosmetics, toiletries and food. Meanwhile, the 15,000 square foot Toys 'R' Us outlet, opening with the mall on February 20, will offer shoppers a full-scale toy store extravaganza with international toy brands including Barbie, Lego and Fisher-Price, as well as exclusive own-label brands, Jessica, You & Me and Bruin.

Jim McCallum, Retail Director, Al Futtaim, said: "We have chosen Sahara Centre as the vehicle to introduce Toys 'R' Us and Marks & Spencer to the Sharjah marketplace, giving us the opportunity to operate in a strong regional mall environment for the first time. In fact, this will be the first time Toys 'R' Us is opening a store within a mall in the UAE."

"Toys 'R' Us and Marks & Spencer have proved to be hugely successful in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Toys 'R' Us is a real treasure-trove for children and families, and the Sahara Centre store will retail everything, from toys to babies' furniture. In Marks & Spencer, shoppers will be delighted with the choice of clothing for the whole family and a range of cosmetics, toiletries, ladies fashion accessories and foods."

Sahara Centre, which, comprises approximately 500,000 square feet of retail space, of which over 90 per cent is already leased, will also introduce several premier local, regional and international retail brands for the first time in the region. Additional anchors for Sahara Centre include Debenhams, THE One, Century Cinemas and Adventureland, the largest indoor entertainment complex in the Middle East.

"With a strategic location at the entrance to Sharjah between the two large consumer markets of Sharjah and Dubai, its strong tenant mix and pleasing retail and leisure environment, Sahara Centre, we are confident, will emerge as one of the premier shopping destinations in the UAE," added Casey.