Latest news with #Ghanim
Gulf Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Rising star Ghanim eyes UAE League title
Following the footsteps of his father, the former UAE national team star and referee Omar Mohammed Zubair Al Marzooqi, Ghanim Omar Mohammed Al Marzooqi is swiftly carving a name for himself as one of the UAE's most promising handball prodigies. Ghanim is the second son of Dubai Police Major Omar Al Zubair, whose deep-rooted love for sport clearly left its mark on his children. Both Ghanim and his elder brother chose the same path, embracing the beautiful game. While his older brother eventually stepped away from the court due to the demands of his challenging job, Ghanim remained devoted — carrying forward the family's sporting legacy with passion. Ghanim's journey began at the age of four, inspired by his father's extraordinary career. Omar Al Zubair is a celebrated figure in UAE sports, having played for Al Nasr club from 1983 to 1998, before making history as the first Emirati, Arab, and Asian referee to officiate a World Cup final in handball. His presence at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as multiple youth and junior world finals, earned him some of the UAE's highest sports honours. Omar Al Zubair's achievements have earned him top honours, including the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Sports Creativity and the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Award for Sports Excellence. Outside sports, he runs a Majlis to celebrate achievers and inspire young people. 'My journey in handball sport began in 2010 when I was just four years old. At first, it was just something fun to try, but from the moment I stepped onto the training pitch, I fell in love with the game. That love has only grown stronger over the years,' said the 19-year-old Emirati player. From 2010 to 2024, Ghanim played for Shabab Al Ahli club, rising through the youth ranks and becoming a key figure in the team's development structure. One of the most unforgettable moments in Ghanim's career came in 2019, when he won a championship representing Shabab Al Ahli. His talent soon earned him a place on the U-17 UAE national team, representing the country in the Asian Championship in Bahrain, where he displayed both technical skill and tactical maturity beyond his years. In 2024, Ghanim embarked on a new chapter by joining Al Wasl club for a year, embracing fresh challenges and opportunities to refine his skills and broaden his experience. However, his heart remains with Shabab Al Ahli, and he is set to return to his home club upon completing his one-year stint. 'My dream is to play for the UAE senior national team and help bring home all the major titles — not just for the country, but also for Shabab Al Ahli, the club I want to stay with for many years to come. 'My biggest goal is to lead Shabab Al Ahli to glory by winning the UAE Men's Handball League and the prestigious Asian Handball Championship,' he said. 'It's been over seven years since our club last lifted the league title, and that gap is something I carry with me every time I step on the court. I want to be part of the team that brings it back — not just for the club's legacy, but also for the fans, the community, and everyone who believes in the spirit of Shabab Al Ahli. 'Winning both domestic and continental titles is not just a dream; it's a mission I am fully committed to,' he added.
Gulf Business
14-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Majid Al Futtaim to launch over 30 new stores in GCC
Image credit: Supplied photo Majid Al Futtaim has announced an ambitious expansion of its luxury retail portfolio for 2025. The regional pioneer in shopping malls, communities, retail, and leisure across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia reported a record-breaking 2024, with a 26 per cent growth in its lifestyle business. Read- This expansion will be anchored by renowned Italian brands—Eleventy, Corneliani, and Poltrona Frau—with a series of store openings planned across key locations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Launch of new stores As part of its strategic growth agenda, Majid Al Futtaim will open over 30 new stores across the region, spanning both luxury and high street brands. The expansion includes five standalone Eleventy stores, the regional debut of Corneliani, and the first Poltrona Frau store outside the UAE, to be launched in Saudi Arabia—showcasing Majid Al Futtaim's commitment to strengthening its footprint in the luxury retail sector. 'In a region where customers have an abundance of choice, our ambition is to curate a portfolio of luxury brands that offer something truly distinctive. By introducing brands like Eleventy, Corneliani, and Poltrona Frau, we are bringing new dimensions to the luxury market—combining timeless craftsmanship with modern sensibilities that resonate with the refined tastes of our customers,' said Fahed Ghanim, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle. Ghanim added, 'At Majid Al Futtaim, our work with luxury brands has been deeply rooted in THAT Concept Store, which has been instrumental in identifying and nurturing brands with strong market potential. Eleventy's journey—from its initial shop-in-shop to standalone stores—is a testament to our strategy of testing, scaling, and growing global luxury brands. This approach enables us to continuously evolve the retail experience and deliver distinctive offerings that resonate with our customers.' Five standalone Eleventy stores set to open The five standalone Eleventy stores are scheduled to open in 2025 at key locations including Solitaire Mall in Saudi Arabia, Mall of the Emirates, and Marsa Al Arab—all of which opened this month—with Dubai Mall and The Grove (UAE) to follow later this year. Known for its sustainable practices and premium materials, Eleventy reflects a growing consumer preference for quality and understated sophistication, under the 'Made in Italy' banner. This expansion builds on Eleventy's existing regional presence, which includes a shop-in-shop at THAT Concept Store, a pop-up at Mall of the Emirates, and its first standalone location at Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, opened with Majid Al Futtaim in November 2024. Strengthening partnership with Poltrona Frau Majid Al Futtaim is also strengthening its partnership with Poltrona Frau, the iconic Italian luxury furniture brand, by opening its first store outside the UAE at Centria Mall, Riyadh, in May. Poltrona Frau achieved remarkable growth in 2024, with revenue increasing fivefold following the launch of its second UAE store at Mall of the Emirates. Corneliani makes regional debut in Saudi Arabia Italian menswear brand Corneliani made its regional store debut in April at Solitaire Mall in Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1930, Corneliani is one of Italy's oldest independent luxury brands, renowned for its meticulous craftsmanship and presence in over 70 countries. With the launch of its first standalone store in the Middle East, Majid Al Futtaim is bringing Corneliani's timeless suits and sophisticated casualwear to a broader audience in the region. 'Eleventy's philosophy of understated elegance and commitment to sustainability resonates strongly with the sophisticated Middle Eastern consumer. We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Majid Al Futtaim, whose visionary approach to luxury retail is shaping a new standard focused on customer needs,' said Marco Baldassari, Co-Founder and Menswear Creative Director at Eleventy. 'Since partnering with Majid Al Futtaim more than two years ago, we've focused on strategic growth and elevating the customer experience. The revitalisation of our flagship store in Jumeirah and our debut at Mall of the Emirates were key milestones. We're now excited to bring this momentum to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with our first store in Riyadh—further strengthening our presence in the GCC,' added Nicola Coropulis, CEO of Poltrona Frau. Continuing momentum in 2025 Majid Al Futtaim's expansion in luxury retail builds on a record-setting 2024, which saw a 26 per cent increase in revenue and a 31 per cent surge in digital sales across its lifestyle portfolio. StLast year also saw the opening of 17 new stores across the region, bringing the total to 87—featuring flagship locations for brands such as lululemon, Psycho Bunny, Shiseido, Crate & Barrel, and CB2, alongside 27 e-commerce platforms. Looking ahead, 2025 is poised to be another milestone year, with plans to open 30 new stores across the region—including seven in Saudi Arabia, a key market for the group.
Trade Arabia
10-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Majid Al Futtaim to launch 30 new lifestyle stores in 2025
Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping malls, communities, retail, and leisure pioneer in the region, has announced an ambitious expansion of its luxury retail portfolio for 2025. Following a record-breaking 2024, which saw a 26% growth in its lifestyle business, the expansion will be anchored by renowned Italian brands Eleventy, Corneliani, and Poltrona Frau, with a series of store openings planned across key locations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. As part of its strategic growth agenda, Majid Al Futtaim will launch over 30 new stores, spanning both luxury and High Street brands across the region. The expansion will include five standalone Eleventy stores, the regional debut of Corneliani, and the first Poltrona Frau store outside the UAE in Saudi Arabia, said a statement from Majid Al Futtaim. The five standalone Eleventy stores are set to open in key locations in 2025, including, Solitaire Mall in Saudi Arabia, Mall of the Emirates, Marsa Al Arab, which all opened this month, with Dubai Mall and The Grove in the UAE to follow later in the year, it stated. Known for its commitment to sustainable practices, Eleventy reflects the growing consumer demand for quality and subtle sophistication, all under the 'Made in Italy' banner. This growth builds on Eleventy's successful presence in the region, which includes a shop-in-shop at THAT Concept Store, a pop-up at Mall of the Emirates, and its first standalone location in Marina Mall Abu Dhabi opened with Majid Al Futtaim in November 2024, it added. "In a region where customers have an abundance of choice, our ambition is to curate a portfolio of luxury brands that offer something truly distinctive," remarked Fahed Ghanim, the CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle. "By introducing brands like Eleventy, Corneliani, and Poltrona Frau, we are bringing new dimensions to the luxury market - combining timeless craftsmanship with modern sensibilities that resonate with the refined tastes of our customers," stated Ghanim. Majid Al Futtaim, he stated, was further strengthening its partnership with Poltrona Frau, the iconic Italian luxury furniture brand, by introducing its first store in the region outside the UAE at Centria Mall, Riyadh, in May. Poltrona Frau, a key brand within Majid Al Futtaim's portfolio, achieved remarkable success in 2024, with its revenue increasing fivefold following the launch of its second UAE store at Mall of the Emirates. Italian luxury menswear brand Corneliani also made its regional store debut in April at Solitaire Mall, Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1930, Corneliani is one of Italy's oldest independent luxury brands, renowned for its meticulous craftsmanship and presence in over 70 countries. With the launch of its first standalone store in the Middle East, Majid Al Futtaim brings Corneliani's timeless suits and sophisticated casualwear to even more customers across the region, said Ghanim. Marco Baldassari, Co-Founder and Menswear Creative Director at Eleventy said: "Eleventy's philosophy of understated elegance and commitment to sustainability resonates strongly with the sophisticated Middle Eastern consumer." "We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Majid Al Futtaim, whose visionary approach to luxury retail is shaping a new vision with a growing focus on customer needs. Together, we aim to redefine luxury retail by offering timeless craftsmanship, sustainable practices, and innovative experiences," he added. Nicola Coropulis, CEO of Poltrona Frau, said: "Since partnering with Majid Al Futtaim more than two years ago, we have focused on strategic growth and elevating the customer experience across the region." "The revitalisation of our flagship store in Jumeirah and our successful debut at Mall of the Emirates have been key milestones in our journey," noted Coropulis.
