The journey
The 1980s bring a priceless nostalgia as the world grooved to top hits like the Chariots of Fire, Dolly Parton's 9 to 5, Endless love. Major events made milestones such as Dubai's First Grand Prix - the biggest motor racing event that hit the region with racing and classic cars being a major part of the attraction, and Trade Centre was the only tallest building in Dubai boasting its pride of bringing world together under one roof.
While the UAE was opening doors to the world to open businesses, Al Ghurair family had a vision to build a futuristic modern shopping centre right here in the Middle East, which would transform Dubai and the rest of the region's shopping culture as never before. Al Ghurair Centre was established in 1981 as the First Shopping Mall in the Middle East region and the Emirate of Dubai. With no time, just like the city of Dubai, it grew in popularity, setting new retail standards along the way.
Welcoming global brands
The expansion of Al Ghurair Centre in 2013, included more than 150 commercial outlets, raising the total to 250 and adding some of the big brands such as Marks and Spencer, Adidas, Carrefour, Emax, Bath & Body Works, Damas Jewellery, Omega, Rivoli, Centrepoint, Apparel Group, Landmark Group, Etisalat, Du, Mashreq Bank, premium & popular dining concepts, office space, serviced-apartment complex, a 5-star hotel and many other attractions.
The family shopping destination hosts food and beverage options such as Paul Café, Manoushe Street, Yakitate, IL Forno, KFC, Papa roti, Tim Hortons, as well as the region's first McDonald's in the Middle East which was opened at the Centre.
"Over the past 40 years, we have evolved and upgraded ourselves staying relevant in the changing retail landscape of Dubai. We have consistently attracted the best and new brands coming into the emirate," says Ronald Andrew Coakley, Vice President - Mall, Al Ghurair Centre.
What are retailers have to say
"The Al Ghurair Centre is an important landmark for us at McDonald's. In 1994, the centre welcomed our first-ever McDonald's restaurant in the UAE and we've been providing feel-good moments for families ever since. Looking back, it was the perfect location to open our restaurant enabling us to offer iconic sandwiches like the Big Mac to loyal customers and tourists alike. Over the years, our restaurant at Al Ghurair evolved with our brand and we were able to introduce innovative services to improve our customers' experience while enjoying their favorite meals," said Walid Fakih, General Manager, Mc Donald's.
I'm sure since then the restaurant has brought together many families and friends to celebrate milestones and key occasions and we look forward to being part of these experiences for years to come. From the entire McDonald's family, we are proud to be part of these celebrations and we wish the Al Ghurair Centre a happy 40th anniversary. We look forward to our continuous growth together."
We at Almondo Trading decided to start our business in Dubai in 1987, we were looking for a strong start in a good location in this fast-growing lovely city, and there was no stronger place to start your business than the first mall in Dubai, Al Ghurair Centre.
At that period, Al Ghurair Centre was the only place in the city and the nearby cities containing the best brands in the world with the best entertainment options as well. We have a great relationship with the mall management, we shared our success and we shared our tough times as well, the last example of our great relationship with the management was the crisis of Covid-19, as the mall management supported us as much as they could.
As we all know, the city of Dubai now has hundreds of shopping malls, all of them opened their doors after Al Ghurair Centre, but only a few of them could stay strong and popular, and Al Ghurair Centre is one of those places.
In the end, we should say that Al Ghurair Centre's success story was written by all the people who worked hard or still work for this place, from the smallest worker to the owners of this centre, so we would like to congratulate ourselves and them on this great occasion, the 40th-anniversary celebration of the Al Ghurair Centre.
Keep up the Good Work says Muhammed Massouti, General Manager and Owner of Almondo Trading.
Complementing retail sector
Shortly after opening the first 100 stores of retailers, Al Ghurair Centre set the standard for retail shopping in Dubai as a whole. Today, Dubai is the #1 shopping destination in the world which started from this first retailer shopping centre. Shoppers can treat themselves to a comprehensive mix of retail brands ranging from fashion to home décor, accessories to Jewellery, and much more. The shopping centre also boasts a specialised section of traditional local brands covering various merchandise including abayas, shaylas, textiles, and Arabic perfumes.
The centre is a vibrant shopping hub with a multitude of indoor and outdoor dining options presenting a wide variety of cuisines, along with an 18-cinema theatre by Reel cinemas, thus making it a must-see destination in Dubai.
Celebration in offing
At Al Ghurair Centre, life plays out in new and amazing ways, with a fine medley of shopping, dining, entertainment, and a lot more. As we commemorate the 40 Year celebration of Al Ghurair Centre this year, visitors will see a whole line up of events, exciting offers, giveaways such as different offers from retailers for over 40 days with social media campaigns on Tell us your Al Ghurair Centre Story; your memorable moment at the Centre; Return your Sindbad coin campaigns and a lot more for visitors to discover and look forward to in the coming months," explains Coakley.
Stay connected
In 2020 Al Ghurair Centre launched its own Rewards app powered by the Entertainer, enhancing customer experience and making it a priority. The Al Ghurair Centre Rewards app is to make sure families get the best possible prices and offers from all of our retail stores within the mall.
Visitors should keep an eye out for the latest events, exciting competitions, and offers on the mall's social media platforms @alghuraircentre. Visit https://www.alghuraircentre.com/ for more details.