A flagship Boots store opened at The Dubai Mall, the city’s newest shopping destination situated next to Burj Dubai. The 400 sq m store is the 16th Boots branded outlet to be opened, owned and operated by M. H. Alshaya in the UAE. This opening marks an important milestone in the development of the Boots retail brand in the Gulf.




The store was officially inaugurated by Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of M. H. Alshaya Co., Boots franchise partner for the Gulf region, and Ornella Barra, Board Member and Wholesale and Commercial Affairs Director, Alliance Boots, who heads Boots International. The event was attended by senior managers from Alliance Boots and M. H. Alshaya Co as well as suppliers and other partners.




This flagship Boots store offers visitors the widest selection of internationally trusted healthcare, skincare and toiletries, all under one roof. Shoppers can choose from over 6,000 health and beauty products, including 3,000 own brands, ranging from cosmetics, skincare and toiletries. The store will also have dedicated health areas focused on healthy living. Professional pharmacists will offer expert advice on all pharmacy-related topics and there is a private consultation room available for patients. The store is also equipped with a special beauty counter for customers to receive makeovers from No7 beauty consultants.




Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of M. H. Alshaya Co., said: “The Boots retail brand has transformed pharmaceutical retailing in the region and the flagship store will showcase the most extensive range of medicines and cosmetics in The Dubai Mall. Boots Dubai Mall reinforces our presence in the region’s retail hub and also makes us part of one of the most iconic retail developments in the Gulf. Boots has always played a strong role in making healthcare available to everyone. One of the aspects that I look forward to developing is the unique way in which Alshaya can, with Boots’ support, help shape the primary healthcare services. Our dialogue with the federal and local authorities has been excellent, and I am convinced we can make a contribution to improving the healthcare of the nation.”




The new store adds to the rapidly expanding presence of the Boots retail brand in the Gulf and takes the total number of Boots stores in the region to 31. The first Boots stores in the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) market were opened two years ago in partnership with M. H. Alshaya Co. who, in addition to Dubai, has also opened outlets in Kuwait, Qatar, Sharjah, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.




Ornella Barra, Board Member and Wholesale and Commercial Affairs Director, Alliance Boots, said: “Alliance Boots has a strong commitment to helping improve overall health in the region by making healthcare more accessible and affordable. Choosing Dubai to open this landmark Boots store shows our confidence in the region’s retail sector and the strength of Dubai’s business leadership. The Boots retail brand has a growing presence in the Gulf, and I am sure that the flagship Boots store at Dubai Mall will provide consumers with the perfect one-stop shopping experience.”




Mohammed Alshaya explained: “The opening of our new store further demonstrates our commitment to bringing the unique product range and service concept of Boots to key retail locations in the Middle East. We will continue to work in partnership with Alliance Boots and its Boots International teams to pursue further opportunities in this market and grow the business to serve the region’s expanding communities.”




The award-winning Boots range of health and beauty brands include No7, the UK’s leading cosmetics and skincare brand; Soltan, the UK’s biggest-selling suncare range (also recently launched in four countries in continental Europe) and Botanics, the holistic range of skin, hair, bath and body products created in conjunction with the Royal Botanical Gardens in London.