The Danish shoemaker Ecco is developing a collection of sandals for the Middle East.
It will be the company's first regionally focused collection, and it is aimed at the rapidly growing incomes and populations of countries across the region.
Ecco, in business for about 50 years, has had a presence in the Middle East for about a decade.
"Today we are offering a global collection - the same styles everywhere in the world," said Aija Karklina, the Dubai-based marketing manager of Ecco Middle East. "But there is one segment where the Middle East is different from the rest of the world, which is in Arabic sandals," she added.
The brand is planning to create its sandal collection for Arab consumers for the next spring/summer season. Stores in other regions will be offered the opportunity to sell the sandals, although they will be aimed primarily at the Middle East market. "Here in this part of the world, we can see that this would be an area where we can really develop ourselves and grow," Ms Karklina observed. She said the brand was established in the comfort category, as well as children and sports.
"But this is for Ecco as always, we are looking for new challenges, where else we can go, how else we can develop ourselves and a [sandal] range is extremely good for us to continue to grow and reach a new audience."
Few international brands have gone so far as to create collections for the lucrative Middle East market, although many have opened stores in the region. Harry's of London, an upmarket shoe brand, opened a store in Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi last year, adding to its other international stores in Japan and Kuwait.
Ecco's growth in the UAE reached double digits last year.
The company has 12 stores in the country with more to follow in the capital."We are stepping up from year to year and we are having constant increases because also our collections are getting more attractive.
"We are opening new stores, so all these factors together helps to improve business and achieve sales increases," Ms Karklina said.
The brand is "settled" in Dubai, she said, where it has a presence in all of the main malls.
"Abu Dhabi is an area where we can still grow. Today we have three stores in Abu Dhabi and we are going to open more," Ms Karklina said.
Ecco's 13th UAE store is slated for the capital's Mall at the World Trade Centre; the mall is scheduled to open early in the second half of this year.
A 14th store is to follow in Yas Mall when it launches next year.
gduncan@thenational.ae
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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The specs
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Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
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Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
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Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
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Brief scores:
Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf
Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)
Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17
Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)
Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
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The%20Caine%20Mutiny%20Court-Martial%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWilliam%20Friedkin%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKiefer%20Sutherland%2C%20Jason%20Clarke%2C%20Jake%20Lacy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
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Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
