Carrefour

France-based retail giant Carrefour is set to build a 30,000 sq ft facility in Dubai Investment Park, according to a report from Gulf News.

The facility is scheduled to open by late next year, and will include a 10,000 sq ft food court and a 12,000 sq ft area dedicated to food and household products.

Stephane Duretz, Carrefour's general manager for expansion, commented: 'Carrefour market currently operates 12 stores in Dubai with more outlets due to open this year, and plans for expansion are huge.'

Meanwhile, UAE-based developer Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) Holding, regional franchise holder for Carrefour, is to expand the chain into Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, according to Arabian Business News, with plans to open up to ten hypermarkets and 15 supermarkets by the end of the year.

The company is also looking increasingly at the region's smaller shopping malls, the report mentioned, as the concept of neighbourhood shopping grows in popularity throughout the Middle East.