Majid Al Futtaim, the company that runs Carrefour across the Middle East, has opened its first premium Carrefour Market in the UAE. The store sits inside Jumeirah Park Centre in Dubai, a retail hub developed by Dubai Retail.
The outlet spans more than 2,200 square metres. It is built as a prototype, the model Majid Al Futtaim wants to copy for its next generation of premium supermarkets. The company plans to roll out the concept across several more stores during 2026.
A layout built around food
The clearest change is how much room the store gives to food. Fresh and ready-made food now covers 38% of the total sales area, up from 25% in older stores. That shift puts prepared meals, fresh produce, and grab-and-go options at the centre of the shopping trip.
The store also carries more than 900 new products. Over 300 of those are imported ranges, giving shoppers access to items that are harder to find in a standard Carrefour.
Inside the new store
The outlet features Carrefour's first BakeHouse Café, described as a neighbourhood café serving freshly baked goods, specialty coffee, and casual dining. It is a clear move to keep customers in the store longer.
Other additions include an expanded fresh market section, a redesigned health and beauty area with dedicated K-Beauty bays, a larger pet care offering, and a food-for-now deli. The floor plan was streamlined to make the store easier to move through.
Who attended the opening
Ahmed Galal Ismail, chief executive officer of Majid Al Futtaim Holding, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He was joined by Dries D'Hooghe, managing director of Retail UAE at Majid Al Futtaim Retail.
Representatives from Dubai Holding were also present. They included Fareed Abdelrahman, managing director of Retail Destinations at Dubai Holding Asset Management, and Matthew Smith, executive director of leasing at the same unit.
What comes next for Carrefour in the UAE
The opening is part of a wider 2026 growth and transformation plan for Carrefour across the UAE. Majid Al Futtaim said it will keep investing in store modernisation, premium market concepts, and customer experience across both Carrefour Market and hypermarket formats.
The next premium stores are due to open during 2026, though Majid Al Futtaim has not named specific locations or dates.
