Macy’s to Set Up First International Department Store in Abu Dhabi

Macy’s has confirmed its plans to open a 205,000 square-foot four-level department store in Abu Dhabi by 2018. The store will mark the company’s first branch outside of the USA.

The store will be located on Al Maryah Central in Abu Dhabi and is scheduled to open along with the UAE’s second Bloomingdale’s (which first opened in The Dubai Mall in 2010), also on Al Maryah Central.

“I just think Abu Dhabi is booming. There is an already built-in consumer,” said Terry Lundgren, Macy’s chairman and chief executive officer in an interview with WWD. “We are going into the center of Abu Dhabi, which has been developed.”

The Macy’s store in Abu Dhabi will offer similar products to those in America. However, the assortment of items will certainly be tailored to local preferences.

Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, which will span 230,000 square feet, will anchor a four-level atrium of retail galleries. The total retail and entertainment property will encompass 3.1 million square feet, and include restaurants, a 20-screen movie theater, health club, hotel and residential towers, according to the company’s officials.The area will also provide air-conditioned access to the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi and will have a scenic waterfront outdoor promenade aligned with restaurants.

One of Macy’s partners in the project is Al Tayer, one of the Middle East’s biggest luxury conglomerates which operates also operates the first Bloomingdale’s outside the USA in The Dubai Mall.