eyewa opens its first physical store in the UAE ahead of a rapid 100 store roll out plan

Eywear retailer eyewa has announced the opening of its first store in the UAE at City Centre Mirdiff today.

This inaugural launch forms part of a brisk MENA-based growth push that will see the homegrown retail brand launching 100 outlets in key locations across the region by 2023.

These ambitious expansion plans have been made possible thanks to a Series B funding round of USD $21 million, which was announced in June this year and co-led by Kingsway and Nuwa Capital, with participation from French partners, Endeavor Catalyst, Derayah, Palm Drive, and Hardy Capital. Not only will this development extend the company’s market reach exponentially, it will secure their position as a truly omni-channel brand, offering the same seamless customer service, attention to detail and commitment to quality across all touchpoints.

The aesthetically beautiful, ergonomically designed open-plan 150 square metre flagship store in City Centre Mirdiff is the work of French designer Pierre Brocas and architect Nada Oudghiri and has a pared-back, modern art gallery-like feel to it, with eyewear of course being the star attraction. Boasting interactive screens, hanging installations and a striking colour palette that reflects the brand’s contemporary vibe, a visit to an eyewa store is intended to feel like an interactive experience rather than merely a shopping expedition.

Anass Boumediene, Co-Founder of eyewa, comments, “Today marks the beginning of an exciting journey for eyewa with our very first UAE store. This is just the start of our ambitious expansion plans, and we look forward to opening many more stores in the future, and welcoming our customers to them. At eyewa we truly believe in the power of omnichannel, and we are committed to fast track our physical store presence quicker than any other retailer has done in recent years.”

Customer service will fuse the cutting edge with the highly personal: in-store opticians will provide free eye exams; customers can avail free delivery on store orders that require processing and also have the option to return online purchases in person. Highly trained stylists and specialist sales advisors will meanwhile utilise iPads to showcase not only the eyewa range, but assist customers in selecting flattering styles and colours perfectly suited to their looks and lifestyles.

The first UAE store join eyewa’s collection of regional retail outlets, with four stores currently open in KSA and with six more to open within the next month in the Kingdom.