Marks & Spencer Middle East is part of Al-Futtaim Group. The world’s first Arabic store signboard was put up in the Dubai store, located at the Al-Futtaim Centre in January 1998 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence – UAE. Al Futtaim has worked in partnership with Marks & Spencer since 1997 with M&S headquarters based in Dubai, UAE.
They have a total of 28 stores across the Middle East including the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar with more planned throughout the region. Rapid development throughout the 1940’s and 50’s saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE.