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World’s largest Apple Store due to open in Dubai in August, says UAE newspaper

We learned last August that Apple was planning to open its first retail store in the Middle East, with local media reporting shortly afterwards that the location was Dubai – and would be the world’s largest Apple Store. The Khaleej Times has now put a number on that, reporting that the store will be 50,000 square feet, and is expected to open this August.

Apple’s first store in the Middle East will be located at Mall of the Emirates and it will be the world’s largest retail store of the iPhone maker, sources have confirmed to Khaleej Times.

The store is under construction and it is expected to open doors to Apple fans in August 2015. The estimated 50,000-sq foot store is close to the new Fashion District in the mall with the main entrance most probably from level 2.

London’s Covent Garden store was the world’s largest Apple Store when it opened, occupying three floors totalling 40,000 square feet – making the Dubai store 25% bigger.

Tim Cook visited Dubai in February of last year, also visiting Abu Dhabi, where the Khaleej Times reports the newly opened Yas Mall is likely to host Apple’s second retail store in the UAE.

The United Arab Emirates is a natural home for Apple, as the 19th richest country in the world, and an increasingly popular premium tourist destination with an emphasis on luxury goods. The Mall of the Emirates counts 80 designer brands among its 700 stores, as well as two 5-Star hotels and an indoor ski resort.

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Comments

  1. dcj001 - 9 years ago

    “London’s Covent Garden store was the world’s largest Apple Store when it opened, occupying three floors totalling 40,000 square feet – making the Dubai store 20% bigger.”

    50,000 is 25% more than 40,000, not 20% more, as you stated.

  2. Anastacios Freddy - 9 years ago

    What about turkey? Last time I checked it qualified as the middle east LOL

    • They consider themselves as a european country, despite the fact that only 5% of Turkey is in Europe!

      • mahmudf2014 - 9 years ago

        So, what? At least we’ve democracy opposite to middle eastern countries. Even that one big thing is enough to make us european country. I don’t hate from middle eastern countries, i like them but most of the things are making Turkey different from them. Even our seasons are different. There is only one thing which connects us: Most of the people are muslim just like in the middle east. Almost all of them, %99, to be exact. Other than that, i don’t see any similarities. So this is why we were qualified as european, even though, only %5 of Turkey are in Europe.

    • mahmudf2014 - 9 years ago

      Are you still live in 1980s? I’m sure it was well before the foundation of the internet. Now we all have Wikipedia. You can check it from there. I’m quoting from Turkey’s Wikipedia page: “Turkey is a parliamentary republic largely located in Western Asia with the portion of Eastern Thracein Southeastern Europe” Also there is nothing to LOL.

  3. I will be the first in line!!!!!! Emiratis waited so long for this to happen….. FINALLY!

  4. yeyshonan.com - 9 years ago

    もし、超巨大モール型のアップルストアがオープンしたら、そりゃ行く価値はあるかも。
    一日だけじゃ回りきれない予想する、または一日中回っても飽きないかも。
    あそこの国のことだから、もう一つのテーマパークにするのでは?
    挙句の果てにiOS内蔵のF1カーか戦闘機まで披露するのでは?

  5. yeyshonan.com - 9 years ago

    Reblogged this on Ring of Chigasaki and commented:
    もし、超巨大モール型のアップルストアがオープンしたら、そりゃ行く価値はあるかも。
    一日だけじゃ回りきれない予想する、または一日中回っても飽きないかも。
    あそこの国のことだから、もう一つのテーマパークにするのでは?
    挙句の果てにiOS内蔵のF1カーか戦闘機まで披露するのでは?

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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