Debenhams shut its stores in Dubai Mall and Mirdiff City Centre, it feels like I lost a reliable friend

Dubai: I’m going to miss rifling through the racks at the expansive department store Debenhams.
It’s held me in good stead over the years — whether I was rustling up a matching polka-dotted dress for my daughter and me on her 2nd birthday, or pulling together an outfit worthy of the Dubai World Cup races at the very last minute.

Debenhams wasn’t just a store. It was retail therapy at its shimmery best.
It was where I turned when I needed a fascinator or a back-up party dress I could trust. It was the dependable friend who always had options — sparkly ones, flowy ones, even ones with adjustable waistbands when life called for it.

So imagine my heartbreak when, during my Eid Al Adha shopping spree, I overheard a whisper near the sale rack — the kind of gossip that stops you mid-browse:
“They say Primark or Ulta Beauty might move into Debenhams.”

Excuse me, what!

As someone who’s lived in this country for 19 years — and who considers “window shopping” a legitimate form of self-care — I froze.
Debenhams? The holy grail of last-minute gifting, occasion-wear, and “I deserve this” impulse buys? Gone?

Look, I love a chaotic Primark haul and a beauty stash from Ulta as much as the next person. Where else can you walk in for socks and walk out with a neon yoga mat, four candles, and a crop top you’ll never wear?

But this? This hits different.

You could sense something was off lately. Fewer mannequins.
Too many yellow tags.
That strange, retail twilight zone that says: this chapter is closing.

And now, the racks have spoken: Debenhams has reportedly shut its physical stores in Dubai Mall and Mirdif City Centre as part of its 2025 pivot to digital. The rumour — and yes, it’s still technically a rumour — is that Primark is moving in. An official statement is yet to be made on which store will take its place.

And I’ll be honest — I’ll be first in line when that budget bonanza opens. I’ll “just browse” and end up needing a trolley. But somewhere deep in my shopaholic soul, I’ll be yearning for Debenhams. For the soft carpeted fitting rooms. For the wide aisles and wedding guest section. For the comforting delusion that one outfit could change your life — or at least your day.

So here’s to Debenhams:
You helped us dress up, cheer up, and show up. And for that, we’ll always be grateful.

Goodbye, old friend.