It is time to stock up on Beluga caviar, Hebridean gravlax and pruneaux d’agen – Fortnum & Mason is coming to Dubai.
The British luxury grocer and retailer – which counts Prussian princesses, earls and a smattering of monarchs among its clientele – will open a three-storey outlet near Burj Khalifa in February.
"Dubai is the second most important retail centre in the world after London," Fortnum's chief executive Ewan Venters told British newspaper The Sunday Times yesterday. "It makes obvious sense."
“This is a momentous event in the history of Fortnum’s. When the chance came along to secure such a fabulous site in such an important destination, it was just too good to resist.”
The shop will house a dining salon, where English afternoon tea will be served, and an ice-cream parlour, which will offer that most quintessentially British of desserts: the Knickerbocker Glory, an ice cream sundae that is served in a large tall glass.
Its ground floor will stock items including tea, biscuits, jam, sweetmeats and chocolates.
The Dubai shop is Fortnum & Mason’s third store, and its first outside Britain.
The outlet will be operated in conjunction with Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), which operates the Middle Eastern franchises of a number of brands in several industries.
Fortnum & Mason would be perfectly suited to Dubai, said David Macadam, the chief executive and vice chairman of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres. “[Dubai is] an amazing tourist destination, and local people are keen shoppers who recognise important brands,” he said.
“Low tax rates help, but great infrastructure is the most helpful.
“Everything for tourists is so well organised – from flights to customs to taxis to multi-lane roads to parking. You don’t find that in many other locations.”
As an example, Mr Macadam cited the Louis Vuitton store in The Dubai Mall, which “trades among the highest in the world in terms of sales density and success”.
Mr Venters said the mix of Fortnum’s traditions “and the vibrancy of Dubai will be a powerful combination”.
Mr Venters was appointed the chief executive of Fortnum & Mason in August last year.
The company opened its second store in Britain in November last year, having previously operated a single outlet for the preceding 307 years.
Founded in the exclusive London neighbourhood of Piccadilly by a footman to Queen Anne in 1707, Fortnum’s has long touted its wares to the scions of British aristocracy.
In 1863, Fortnum & Mason was appointed grocer to the Prince of Wales, the title traditionally held by male heirs to the British throne.
When a group of British explorers set out to climb Everest in 1922, Fortnum’s supplied the intrepid adventurers with 60 cans of quail in foie gras and 48 bottles of champagne.
They did not make it to the summit.
Fortnum & Mason is famed for its decadent hampers, branded with the firm’s “F&M’” imprint. Its Imperial Hamper, which retails for £5,000 (Dh30,000), contains a family-sized quantity of “aged balsamic vinegar, white truffle oil … caviar, foie gras with truffles, Florentines, and rare and special Panama Esmeralda coffee”.
These hampers are familiar sights at Royal Ascot, and the Royal Henley Regatta – events central to the social calendars of British aristocrats.
Jonathan Knight, the chief executive of AKI’s retail division, said: “Fortnum & Mason is recognised worldwide for offering luxury products and services. And we are thrilled that these will now be available to the residents of Dubai and the UAE, and to the millions of visitors to the area. We look forward to a strong and enduring relationship with Fortnum & Mason.”
With more than 50,000 millionaires and 17 billionaires in the UAE, according to recent reports, Fortnum & Mason can expect ample demand for its extravagant hampers.
abouyamourn@thenational.ae
What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Australia (15-1): Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson.
Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Company%20Profile
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UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Business Insights
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