Despite the fact that I have worked in fashion for the best part of 25 years, I am not quite what you would call a shopper. Rather than meandering for miles, I want my shops corralled tightly together – and even then, my limit is a couple of hours before I am off in search of food and other distractions.
Apparently, I am not alone in this and, as far back as 1995, one company recognised there was plenty of room for improvement when it came to engaging with retail customers.
Called Bicester Village, this concept was – and remains – an outlier in retail. Launched by the Value Retail company, it essentially offers discounted goods by big-name brands. But to create a more upscale, personalised experience, it scrutinised how malls, department stores, high streets and upscale shopping districts catered to different kinds of customers, and then cherry-picked the best elements from each for its curated location an hour's drive from London.
Offering a multitude of different shops, like a mall, it has a strong identity and a curated offering, like a department store. The charm of wandering through high-end shopping districts, meanwhile, has been replicated as small streets to window-shop in – minus the traffic. And, finally, it taps into the familiarity and convenience of a local high street with a site layout small enough to be easily covered on foot.
Twenty eight years later, the concept has been expanded to 11 locations across eight countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the UK and China. Operating under the collective umbrella of The Bicester Collection, each village is situated close to a major gateway city, such as Barcelona, Munich, Dublin, Paris, Shanghai and Milan.
In spite of my non-shopping credentials, I find myself at the outlet in Fidenza Village, which is an hour from Milan and a short drive from the charming town of Parma. Like its counterparts around the world, Fidenza has been carefully orchestrated to ensure even people with the attention span of a toddler (ie me) have plenty to entertain them.
Alongside a who’s who of high-end fashion brands – Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Loro Piana, Versace, Ralph Lauren and Prada, to name just a few – offering discounts of up to 60 per cent, there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and food trucks scattered between, including one selling Italian gelato.
After enjoying gnocchi fritto at Signorvino restaurant, we set off explore the village. One of our party unearths a coveted Vivienne Westwood pearl necklace, while another snaps up a teddy bear winter coat, despite living in Qatar. I unexpectedly stumble upon a shop selling Miss Haversham-style taffeta dresses for as little as €35 each. I buy an armful.
We are invited to The Apartment, an upscale private space found in each Village. Despite the name, this is not a living space, but rather a place to hang out and relax, enjoy a coffee and take in the hand-painted murals. With a separate entrance, this members-only enclave is filled with vintage furniture, original artworks and even has its own signature perfume, Rosso Nobile by the Florentine house Dr Vranjes.
Having taken over two decades to fine tune its approach, the Bicester Collection has hit on a recipe that clearly resonates with local residents and overseas tourists alike. In 2019, it welcomed 45 million visitors globally, while the British site alone attracted 7.3 million people, earning it the moniker of being the most densely packed shopping destination in the world. With Chinese tourists meanwhile, Bicester is the second most visited location in the UK, after Buckingham Palace.
Part of this success is down to the extra services offered as standard, including hands-free shopping, where purchases are picked up and stored for the day, and The Concierge, a dedicated space to relax in, grab some information, store shopping or have items gift wrapped. Open to anyone, it is just one of the perks available.
A personal stylist can be booked, also for free, while overseas visitors can ship purchases home, thanks to a special discounted rate with DHL. Visitors to Fidenza Village can also make use of the on-site tax refund desk.
As part of an ever changing programme of events and art, UK's Bicester Village has an Elton John pop-up this summer, filled with limited-edition items and eyewear designed by the singer himself, while the artist Steve Messam has created a site-specific installation of inflatable sculptures to be dotted throughout the village.
La Roca Village outside Barcelona, meanwhile, will host emerging fashion talents at the Creative Spot x Barcelona Fashion Forward concept store, as part of an on-going mentorship programme, while Madrid’s village, Las Rozas, is staging a contemporary art fair for the second year running, showcasing seven regional artists.
Despite a strong focus on making shopping straightforward and rewarding, the collection does not offer e-commerce. Instead, customers are actively encouraged to reach out directly to the stable of 160 stores, and ask for help tracking down particular items, which can then be paid for online, and shipped. The thinking behind this is refreshingly simple – in an age of anonymous online transactions, Bicester Collection wants to foster good old human-to-human connections.
This slightly old-fashioned, people-centric philosophy clearly resonates with brands and clients. Shoppers are visiting in record numbers, drawn by the lure of bargains, enhanced by upscale value-adds, while brands trust the group to draw a crowd that is looking for discounts, yet will jump at the chance to bag a full price, new release item.
Case in point, at the Fidenza store, Stella McCartney has its signature Falabella bag. On one wall are past season versions now heavily reduced, while, on another, is the new, fresh-off-the-runway bag at full price. Despite the dichotomy, Fidenza clearly attracts clients who are looking for both.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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”
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.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
HAJJAN
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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UAE squad
Ali Kashief, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdelrahman, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Mohmmed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Eisa, Mohammed Shakir, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Adel Al Hosani, Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah), Waleed Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai) Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Mahrami (Baniyas)
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
