French retailer Carrefour will no longer operate in Oman, following the closure of its stores in Jordan in November, in a move that could be driven by shifting market dynamics and evolving customer preferences.
While Carrefour made the brief announcement this week in an Instagram post, Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim, which operates the French company's regional stores, did not comment.
However, Majid Al Futtaim also said this week that it plans to open its new HyperMax grocery stories across 11 locations in the sultanate.
The decision to open HyperMax stores is aimed at catering to local demands, focusing on fresh produce, value-for-money products and greater accessibility for consumers, Majid Al Futtaim said. The HyperMax grocery chain is wholly owned and operated by the Dubai company.
Growing competition in the region, with rivals including Abu Dhabi-headquartered Lulu Group and Dubai’s Spinneys aggressively expanding their footprint, could be a reason for the changes, an analyst said.
With the Dubai company's agreement with Carrefour Group set to expire this year, it “makes sense that Majid Al Futtaim decides to bet on a regional brand like Hypermax”, Lois Berman, head of research at Euromonitor International, told The National.
“Especially considering that direct competitors like Lulu and Spinneys are taking advantage of the capital raised during recent IPOs [initial public offerings] to expand rapidly across the region."
Majid Al Futtaim, one of Dubai's biggest private sector companies and the Middle East's largest mall operator, brought Carrefour to the region in 1995 and owns the rights to operate the brand in several countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
In May 2013, Majid Al Futtaim Holding bought a 25 per cent minority stake from Carrefour Group in its hypermarket business for €530 million ($546 million). At the same time, the Dubai company extended its exclusive franchise partnership with Carrefour until 2025. Majid Al Futtaim has not announced any updates to the deal since then.
Majid Al Futtaim Retail currently operates more than 450 stores in 14 countries, serving more than 770,000 customers daily and employing more than 43,000 people.
The Carrefour brand has also come under pressure from the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, because of the French corporation's partnership with retailers that operate within illegal Israeli settlements that gained greater attention amid Israel's war on Gaza.
The BDS movement claimed that Carrefour's decision to exit from Jordan was predominantly due to its global campaign to boycott the brand, which began in December 2022.
What will happen to other Carrefour locations in Middle East?
The launch of HyperMax in Oman and Jordan was a “strategic decision based on a thorough assessment of distinct market dynamics and a customer centric approach”, a representative for Majid Al Futtaim told The National.
The company emphasised the move intends to address the specific needs and preferences of local consumers, including access to locally sourced and cost-effective products.
When asked about the future of its other Carrefour outlets in the region, Majid Al Futtaim said it “regularly reviews and assesses its businesses to ensure alignment with evolving market dynamics", but did not disclose any further details.
“Our focus now is on the markets where we launched the new brand HyperMax,” the representative said.
Growing competition
The retail sector across the Middle East and North Africa is expanding, especially in the Gulf, where sales are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent to reach $386.9 billion in 2028 from $309.6 billion in 2023, Alpen Capital revealed in a report in September.
The growth is expected to be supported by an increase in population, rise in per capita income and boost in tourism activities, Alpen added.
This strong growth has led to listings from the likes of Lulu and Spinneys, which are raising financing to fund their expansion.
Lulu raised Dh6.32 billion ($1.72 billion) from its initial public offering in November, in what was one of the largest listings in the Emirates last year. The hypermarket chain operator priced its shares at the top of the indicated range, driven by strong investor interest.
Lulu, one of the largest supermarket chains in the Gulf, founded by Indian-born businessman MA Yusuff Ali in 1974, operates more than 241 hypermarkets and shopping malls in 10 countries including India, Egypt, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Spinneys started trading on the Dubai Financial Market in May, after an IPO that raised Dh1.37 billion. The supermarket chain, which launched in 1961, operates 75 grocery retail supermarkets under its own brand, as well as the Waitrose and Al Fair brands in the UAE and Oman.
Spinneys also entered Saudi Arabia in June by opening its first store in Riyadh. At that time, the company said customers can expect baked goods, meat and meal solutions produced on-site, and locally sourced produce.
The wave of retail expansion also includes efforts to foster local talent and entrepreneurship, to boost local start-ups by connecting them with global market opportunities. In September 2023, Majid Al Futtaim introduced the Launchpad X concept store – a collaborative commercial store for entrepreneurs.
Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Jetour T1 specs
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Palestine and Israel - live updates
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
