Mac McClelland, president and chief executive of The Luxury Marketing Council, Middle East, talks about how Dubai can tap into the growing demand for high-end goods from Chinese tourists. He is also the founder of Center House, a consultancy that helps brands do business here.
More and more Chinese visitors are heading to Dubai as a holiday destination. What are luxury brands doing to prepare for them?
According to Dubai Duty Free, last year Chinese made up 4 per cent of their shoppers and accounted for 11 per cent of all purchases, which amounts to US$170 million. If you have more Chinese coming to the UAE, it is easy to raise that number just from Chinese tourists alone. Brands here are preparing, but it is not restricted to hiring Mandarin-speaking employees. They are focusing on staff that have knowledge across the brands and products, and the ability to be conversant on all kinds of products such as perfumes and accessories.
What are the luxury shopping habits of Chinese visitors?
Brands need to understand the motivation of the Chinese customer; they come to buy watches ranging from luxury brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Chopard and also brands close to a luxury brand such as TAG Heuer. So they are hitting both luxury and consumer markets. They also purchase a lot of Islamic art. But mostly they buy watches, handbags and gold rather than cut stones. And they go to those shops where they know they will get the genuine products.
How discerning are Chinese tourists when they shop for luxury products?
Affluent Chinese consumers are armed with a lot of market and product information, unlike the majority of shoppers who go to a mall and if they like it, they buy it. But Chinese shoppers come prepared, [knowing] where they can get the exact model of a handbag they are looking for.
What other nationalities should the brands prepare for?
Brands were preparing themselves for Russian-speaking tourists 20 to 25 years ago. But with the crowd still coming, brands now want to know how they can fine-tune their offerings. The next wave of luxury consumers will be Africans.
Tell me more about The Luxury Marketing Council?
The council was founded in Manhattan 19 years ago, and I opened the council in Dubai in 2008. It is a membership-based organisation and brands are the members. Globally there are 1,100 brands presented by 5,000 people. Here the membership is 20.
What activities do you organise?
Breakfast meetings and meet-ups at places such as Ruth's Chris Steak House, Zayed University, Greenline Yacht Interiors or Crowne Plaza, some of whom are our members. We will launch a chapter in Abu Dhabi by early 2014, and eventually in all Arab countries as well as Turkey, Iran and Pakistan.
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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
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Name: Almnssa
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Founder: Areej Selmi
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Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
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Total funding: Self funded
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Pakistan: Sarfraz (c), Hafeez, Imam, Azhar, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Saad, Yasir, Asif, Abbas, Hassan, Afridi, Ashraf, Hamza
New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner
Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
