Apple’s two new retail outlets in the Middle East have managed to stir up a great deal of interest around the world. Not only because it’s the Cupertino-based company’s first venture into actually operating official retail space in this particular area of the world, but also because the store that’s set to be open in Dubai is purported to be Apple’s largest retail store in the world to date. After making the launch of the Dubai, and Abu Dhabi stores official almost two weeks ago, we can now have a glimpse into the Dubai space and see exactly what locals and tourists can expect to experience when the doors to the store finally open this coming Thursday.
The official retail Apple Stores are famed for being some of the most profitable retail spaces on the planet. There’s also the almost cult-like hysteria that seems to come attached to any store when it opens. When other outlets in malls around the world are empty, Apple Stores always seem to have a consistent footfall from those passing by and those highly interested in Apple’s products and services. Given the location of the new Dubai store in the Mall of the Emirates, it’s highly likely that the same level of interest and excitement will be shown.
It’s still being claimed that the new Dubai store will be the largest Apple Store in the world, overtaking the beautiful space that sits in the middle of Covent Garden in London, though the store itself does “look smaller than expected”.
The internal design of the new Dubai store is extremely similar to what we witnessed when the new Belgium based Apple Store opened last month. We’re seeing the same indoor trees that add color to the internal space, as well as the huge screen display that will be used to show off the company’s products.
The official opening of the United Arab Emirates’ first retail Apple Store is penciled in for this coming Thursday at 4pm local time, where local residents and those who happen to be touring the area can get a look at the new space first hand.
The Dubai outlet may be the first store of its kind in the UAE, but residents don’t have to wait long for the second offering. In fact, Apple is actually having an opening ceremony for a store in Abu Dhabi just three hours later on the same day at 7pm local time.
(Source: Gulf News)
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