High-end retailers continue to set their hopes on Dubai and the folks at Temperley London, who recently announced that for the first time since 2003 they will not stage a runway show for Fall 2009, are the latest to bring their brand to Dubai. On December 15th Temperley London will open the doors to their first store in the Middle East.
The boutique is 2,500-square-feet and is located in the Dubai Mall. The store’s design is described as grand in WWD with an elaborate marble floor, original 19th century French antiques, custom-made chandeliers and Temperley London fabrics.

The Temperley London store in Dubai offers ready-to-wear, including Black Label, accessories, and a bridal boutique and there is a luxe VIP area. A spokeswoman for Temperley London told WWD that customers in the Middle East “tend to buy more Black Label pieces and have garments made for them.”
The store offers exclusive products for the Dubai location such as embroidered Abbayas, existing styles in new colorways, exclusive beachwear and specialty skin handbags. This will be the first of two stores that Temperley London plans to launch in the United Arab Emirates with further development planned for the region in 2009 in partnership with the Dubai-based Alabbar family. Salama Alabbar will oversee Temperley London’s Middle East expansion through a new company, Symphony LLC.

Founding partner and chief executive officer of Temperley London Lars von Bennigsen was quoted as saying that the company has been bullish about expanding in the Middle East and that “over the past few years we have seen explosive growth in the region and we expect to be able to build a significant presence there. Partnering with the Alabbar family is a fantastic opportunity as they have established themselves as a driving force in the region and represent a solid and powerful partner for the long term.”
In 2010, Bloomingdale’s is set to follow suit with their own store in the Dubai Mall, along with Viktor & Rolf, in partnership with Villa Moda, who plan to open units in Dubai and other cities in the region, and Christian Dior who plans to unveil its second store in Dubai.
Images courtesy of the Fashion Spot forums.
