GO Sport have confirmed its new store at Mall of the Emirates will be its biggest in the world, a spokesperson for the French company’s Middle East franchise, Al Mana Group has confirmed. The megastore will be the company’s fifth outlet in the United Arab Emirates, complete with the department store’s popular range of high quality sporting equipment. There will also be a series of special zones that will be dedicated to helping customers of all levels to find, feel, and live their passions for sport.
Among the list of hands-on features will be cycling and running areas, and a colossal 10-meter tall volcano-shaped climbing unit that will aim to compliment the ultimate sports retail experience created in store. “When it comes to combing retail with sport few retail destinations in the region can rival the appeal of Mall of the Emirates. You only have to look at how popular Ski Dubai has become and how much of an integral part of people’s mall experience it is,” said Andrew Fairall, general manager of Al Mana Fashion Group. “While the GO Sport store will be very unique, we wanted to create a similar retail space, a place that goes beyond retail. We want a place where people can come and discover or rediscover their favourite sports.”
“In this regard, the climbing unit is a fantastic addition and we expect it to be a big hit with customers. It has been designed with all ages and levels of ability in mind. The hollow volcano shape will appeal to younger ages, while climbing holds on the inside and outside will mix things up a little in terms of user experience.”
The opening of the store is scheduled for early November and follows the successful launch of the first GO Sport store in Saudi Arabia after Al Mana Group acquired the licence for the retail chain in the Kingdom. “As two of the most influential economies in the world, we are delighted to strengthen our presence in both UAE and Saudi Arabia. The growing retail markets in both of these countries and the region’s evolution as a modern sporting hub were big factors in our decision to expand the GO Sport portfolio,” said Fairall.
Despite his openness, Fairall remained tight-lipped regarding more specific details about the store launch. “We want to keep the launch a surprise for now,” he said. — SG
