Shoppers on a roll in Dubai

Dubai - Emirate has one of the highest levels of retail floor space per capita

Dubai ranks fourth among the top 50 major global cities for retailing, according to JLL's Destination Retail report released on Wednesday.
One-third of the top 15 global retail cities are located in the Middle East, with Dubai placed fourth, Kuwait City finishing within the top 10 at nine, Abu Dhabi at 11 and Jeddah and Riyadh tied for 12.
The JLL report is in line with a recent study by CBRE that ranks Dubai as the second most important international shopping destination globally for the fifth consecutive year, closely behind London, which retained the number one position.
According to the 2016 edition of the 'How Global is the Business of Retail?' by property advisor CBRE, Dubai has a presence of 57 per cent of international retailers, second to London at 57.9 per cent and followed by Shanghai at 54.4 per cent.
The JLL report shows how 50 major global cities have risen to the top of the list for mainstream, premium and luxury retailers' expansions.
While the list is dominated by cities in Asia Pacific, those in the Middle East are coming on strong, propelled by an ever-increasing array of international retailers.
Dubai's history of "shopping tourism", which has included hosting the world-renowned Dubai Shopping Festival for over two decades, has seen the emirate become a hub for major retail brands. It also has one of the highest levels of retail floor space per capita globally.
"Retail will continue to be a key pillar of the Dubai economy, and this report shows its strategy of attracting leading international retailers is working," said Andrew Williamson, head of Retail, Mena for JLL.
"As Dubai looks to welcome 20 million visitors by 2020, retail will play a crucial role in drawing in visitors from all over the globe. The city has an impressive history which is unmatched in the region when it comes to retail. And its position globally can only be enhanced given the high quality retail space on offer to the world's best loved brands," he said. While London stands at the forefront of international retailing as a global retail powerhouse, and the number one retail market, Asia Pacific outranks all regions with 18 cities making the cut driven by sheer market size
Cities in the United States make up just over one-quarter (26.4 per cent) of the top 50 cities, with only one city (New York 5th) in the top 15.
"Structural change is sweeping the retail industry as technology and e-commerce platforms become more sophisticated; however, demand for the right physical space, in the right location, is stronger than ever," said James Brown, Director of Global Retail Research for JLL.
"Borders are becoming less of an issue for retailers pursuing opportunities overseas and we're seeing the global retail landscape shifting fast to accommodate the change."
JLL's report examines the presence of 240 international retail brands and 140 international cities, including the drivers of their growth, opportunity and barriers, and also ranks and assesses the vitality and attractiveness of cities.
The report said London has the highest presence of international retailers compared to its global peers, and edges out Hong Kong in terms of international luxury brand presence. "London continues to be a magnet for new brands thanks to its unique blend of market size, maturity and high degree of transparency. The UK capital has a long history of success, driven by a diverse base of locals and tourists, and many retailers regard London as the entry point to Europe, including recent entrants J.Crew, Ac'teryx, Club Monaco, Kit and Ace, and John Varvatos," said the report.
The Middle East's top cities, including Dubai, Kuwait City, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Riyadh are emerging as business and travel hubs, and are increasingly catching the eye of global retail brands. The cities' strong in-place tourism plays an important role in increasing the flow of foreign money, a key driver for retail spends. The markets each have large quantities of affordable retail space, supported by franchise structures, which present viable options for international retailers and reduce their operational risk at entry. Additionally, the domestic retail market in the Middle East is not as mature as other regions, allowing international brands to enter without too much competition from domestic brands. JLL's report found that pent up shopping demand across the region has spurred some of the highest sales volumes for retailers.
According to the report, Dubai has a presence of 57 per cent of international retailers, second to London at 57.9 per cent and followed by Shanghai at 54.4 per cent. During the course of 2015, Dubai attracted 38 new international brands, with high profile retailers including All Saints and Old Navy. The majority of the brands in Dubai originates from Europe (62.6 per cent) and the US (60.6 per cent), with a lesser number from Asia and the Middle East; potentially attributed to the economic situation in the home markets.
- issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com