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IKEA will open its first store in Bahrain within ‘the next three years’ at a ‘premium destination mall’ in Manama.
As reported recently in GulfWeekly original plans to open this year were shelved but the desire to open up a branch in the kingdom remained strong.
Ghassan Ahmed Al Sulaiman Furniture Trading Co Ltd, IKEA Saudi Arabia, says it will soon cross the sea into Bahrain and open a 30,000sq/m flagship store.
The exact location has not been revealed but the company says the land has already been purchased and the first initial design phase finalised and submitted.
Just like the rest of its stores in the region, IKEA Bahrain will provide customers with a ‘full range of products and inspiration’ on how to ‘tastefully design and style’ their living spaces, the company says.
Saud Ghassan Al Sulaiman, CEO of IKEA Saudi Arabia, said: “Our expansion into the Gulf is part of our vision, to serve customers throughout the region and follow the needs of the market, as well as provide our home furnishing competency, and while still serving the growing Saudi market, we are committed to expand our services into the Gulf by opening our first branch in Bahrain.”
Since its establishment, IKEA has expanded throughout neighbouring Saudi Arabia, with a total of three stores, in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran.
IKEA’s plans are not solely limited to Gulf expansion, but will also be closer to home as well, with 10 more stores planned in the coming years.
The Dhahran store in the Eastern Province, at such close proximity to Bahrain, will continue to serve the Saudi market as well as the Bahraini market until the launch of the store in Manama.
To thank their customers and express their gratitude, IKEA Saudi Arabia has launched an exclusive offer in the month of August of 15 per cent off purchases of SR1,000 or more, which can be redeemed from September until December 2014. Both Saudi and Bahraini residents can enjoy this offer at all IKEA Saudi Arabia stores.
