Sharjah Mega Mall to house 2XL outlet

French furniture and furnishings major 2XL is staging an entry into the UAE with an anchor store at Sharjah Mega Mall, due to open end-March.

Spokesman Georges Majica said the company is among the leading chains in Europe and offers a wide range of products and accessories for the house and the office.

"We will offer a fresh style of home furnishings never available before in the region," he added, adding that 2XL furniture is stylish and contemporary with a French flair of designing.

The outlet will open on the second floor of Sharjah Mega Mall and cover 25,000 square feet. While this outlet will entail a Dh14 million investment, the company has also set in motion ambitious plans throughout the country.

"We will have more than Dh50 million worth of investment in the UAE with one outlet expected to be opened in Meena Retail Centre in Abu Dhabi and another in Dubai in the near future," he said.

Gerard Taride, development director, added: "With more than 40 stores already established across Europe over the past 25 years, 2XL will aggressively expand throughout the UAE and the Middle East.

"There has already been immense interest shown for this concept throughout the GCC, and 2XL is currently exploring opportunities in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut and Cairo."

Annick Rousset, UAE manager, said the company had conducted an extensive survey of various malls in the emirate - and about the needs of various nationalities in the country - and chose to open their outlet in Sharjah Mega Mall because of its ideal location.

"We will also bring items here keeping in view the taste of nationals and people of various other nationalities living in the UAE," she added, while noting prices would be very competitive.

Raffi Ayad, vice president of Citadel Properties, the company behind Mega Mall, felt the opening of 2XL as one of the anchor stores would boost business at the mall, which has already started attracting a large number of customers because of the variety of quality stores and facilities.