Fortnum’s opens new store in Dubai
Fortnum & Mason has confirmed that its first overseas store has opened in Dubai.
The desert city will be able to buy all the usual Fortnum’s treats – from tea and sweetmeats, to condiments and hampers.
Known for being traditional and luxurious, it hopes its offer of a "taste of England" will appeal to locals, businessmen and holidaymakers alike.
Emulating the London flagship store, it totals 9,400 square feet and lies opposite Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Fortnum’s has installed a Tea Salon on the first floor, with its Ice Cream Parlour at the top of the building.
Both eateries boast outdoor terraces, with views out over the famous Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa.
The opening comes hot on the heels of Fortnum's second ever store at St Pancras International train station, which it opened last November.
Chief executive Ewan Venters has called the opening a “momentous event” in the store’s history:
When the chance came along to secure such a fabulous site in such an important destination, it was just too good to resist.
We feel the mix of Fortnum's traditions and the vibrancy of Dubai will be a powerful combination. Also, there's the fact that tea, for which Fortnum's is renowned, is the drink of choice for many people in the Middle East.