Primark is finally making its long awaited debut in the Middle East, with its first UAE store opening at The Dubai Mall on 26 March 2026, in partnership with Alshaya Group. The move brings the beloved high street retailer’s value driven fashion to one of the world’s busiest shopping destinations, marking a major moment for Dubai’s mass market fashion landscape.
Three Primark flagships for Dubai in 2026
According to recent announcements, Primark will open three stores in Dubai in the first half of 2026, all operated under its franchise partnership with Alshaya Group. The first location at The Dubai Mall is set to open on 26 March 2026, followed by City Centre Mirdif in April and Mall of the Emirates in May, creating a fast rollout across some of the city’s highest traffic malls.
Eoin Tonge, Primark Interim CEO, said, “It’s been amazing to see the reaction to the opening of our very first store in Kuwait, which shows the potential of our brand in the Middle East. We are now delighted to announce the expansion of our franchise partnership with Alshaya Group with five stores due to open in 2026 in UAE, Bahrain and Qatar – beginning with Dubai Mall in March. Today is an exciting moment for us and our growth ambitions, as we move forward with plans to reach 21 countries.”
This rapid three store launch strategy positions Primark to capture different catchment areas across Dubai, from tourist heavy downtown footfall at The Dubai Mall to strong community and family traffic at City Centre Mirdif and Mall of the Emirates. For regional shoppers who have long associated Primark with trips to London and other European cities, its arrival in Dubai offers local access to the same mix of everyday basics, fashion drops, and homeware at budget friendly price points.
First Kuwait, now UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar
The Dubai expansion follows Primark’s first Middle East store at The Avenues in Kuwait, which opened in October 2025 under the same partnership with Alshaya Group. Building on that launch, Primark and Alshaya Group have now confirmed five stores for 2026 across the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, signalling a long term regional play rather than a one off flagship. Later in 2026, the retailer plans to open at City Centre Bahrain in Bahrain and Doha Festival City in Qatar, introducing the brand to two new GCC markets.
In its corporate announcement, Primark highlighted that these openings will take the brand to 21 markets globally by the end of 2026, up from more than 450 stores across 17 countries today, reflecting its ongoing international growth ambitions.
John Hadden, CEO, Alshaya Group, said: “We are incredibly proud of working with Primark to bring this most anticipated brand to shoppers across the region, and we are looking forward to opening in three countries with five stores this year. This is just the beginning as we work with Primark to grow the brand, after such a fantastic first opening in Kuwait. Next stop Dubai in March!”
What Primark brings to Dubai’s fashion scene
Known for its large format stores and high volume product mix, Primark offers womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, beauty, home and lifestyle products, alongside licensed collections and collaborations at sharp price points. In Dubai, the combination of flagship mall locations, tourism traffic, and a young, fashion conscious customer base gives the retailer a strong platform to compete with other value focused players while still feeling new to the regional market.
For Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and City Centre Mirdif, the addition of Primark strengthens their appeal as one stop destinations where visitors can shop everything from luxury to entry price fashion under one roof. As Primark and Alshaya Group move forward with their broader Middle East roadmap, the Dubai trio will likely act as a bellwether for future expansion across other GCC cities.
