We were the first to tell you about Lululemon's long-awaited entry to the Middle East and now we can report the date and location for the first store in Dubai: company representatives confirm it will open on September 28 in the new wing of the Mall of the Emirates. The event should be a big splash, too, as the Canadian yoga, fitness and lifestyle-wear retailer has a history of attention-getting stunts to promote their openings.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for select Lululemon togs for sale elswhere: for example, at a small shop in Physique57 in Dubai. And here's what we're still wondering about the upcoming store: how big it will be, how the prices will stack up to other locations and whether this first Lulu, as it is fondly known, will host yoga classes and serve as a hub for the local community, the way its almost 300 stores elsewhere in the world do. And of course, we need to know where Majid Al Futtaim plans to open the rest of the 15-20 Lululemon stores planned for the region over the next five years.
Although we hope Abu Dhabi gets a branch hot on the heels of Dubai, we do have it on good authority the capital will get one by March 2018 in Al Maryah Central mega-mall, scheduled to open across from The Galleria.
amcqueen@thenational.ae
