The global retail giant is now preparing to expand into the capital within the next year
After weeks of packed queues, viral TikToks, and sold-out pyjama shelves in Dubai, Primark is now preparing to make its Abu Dhabi debut.
The affordable fashion giant, which recently launched its first UAE stores in Dubai, is already accelerating expansion plans after what parent company Alshaya Group described as an overwhelmingly successful opening period.
According to reporting by Gulf News, the company is currently in discussions with major landlords in Abu Dhabi and expects the capital to welcome a Primark store within the next year.
The move comes after a remarkable launch period in Dubai, where Primark opened three large-format stores in less than two months, including branches at Dubai Mall, City Centre Mirdif, and Mall of the Emirates.
Demand quickly exceeded expectations, with shoppers queueing through malls and social media flooded with videos of customers racing to grab affordable fashion finds, accessories, beauty products, and the now-famous pyjama collections.
Speaking to news outlet, Alshaya Group CEO John Hadden said the response from UAE shoppers has pushed the company to expand faster than originally planned.
“We want to be more aggressive and grow quicker than what we originally planned,” he said, adding that Abu Dhabi is “certainly within the next 12 months.”
Primark has already welcomed around one million customers across its Dubai stores and sold approximately four million items since launch.
One of the biggest surprises? Pyjamas. Hadden revealed that roughly 10 per cent of all sales came from sleepwear alone, amounting to around 400,000 pyjama sets sold.
Part of Primark’s appeal in the UAE has been its European pricing model, with customers discovering that many items remain similarly priced to stores overseas despite being located in premium UAE malls
Hadden confirmed that many shoppers were familiar with the brand internationally but were still surprised by the combination of affordability, quality, and trend-led fashion once they visited in person.
Abu Dhabi’s biggest challenge may simply be finding enough space. Primark stores are known for their enormous footprints, requiring large-format retail locations capable of handling extremely high footfall and wide product ranges.
“We’re looking at locations at the moment, because it needs a big space and big space is difficult to find,” Hadden explained.
Beyond Abu Dhabi, Alshaya is also continuing regional expansion plans, with new Primark locations planned for Bahrain and Qatar later this year.
Meanwhile, the company is also investing further into the UAE through wider retail and property developments.
For Abu Dhabi shoppers, however, the headline is simple: one of the world’s most talked-about affordable fashion brands is officially eyeing the capital next.
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