Majid Al Futtaim reports “solid” half year performance

During the first half of the year, period ending June 30, 2023, Majid Al Futtaim has reported a 5% increase in consolidated revenue to AED18.9 billion, and EBITDA growth of 13% year-on-year to AED2.1 billion. Reporting growth across all its businesses, Majid Al Futtaim continues to maintain a healthy balance sheet with assets valued at approximately AED68 billion.

Commenting on the results, Ahmed Galal Ismail, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim – Holding, said, “Majid Al Futtaim is successfully balancing strategic growth with profitable and responsible execution. Our efforts to drive defined business objectives across our portfolio with a renewed focus on operational excellence and productivity are delivering sustainable, profitable growth and value to our stakeholders.

“The economic buoyancy of the UAE in conjunction with our internal focus to unlock the inherent power of our ecosystem has enabled the Group to deliver a solid half year performance,” he added.

Majid Al Futtaim – Properties: Net revenue increased 39% year-on-year to AED3.4 billion, while EBITDA grew 22% to AED 1.7 billion. This performance was primarily driven by UAE-based shopping malls and Tilal Al Ghaf residential real estate development. Footfall at shopping mall increased 12%, boosted by Mall of the Emirates recording its highest ever first-half footfall. Tenant sales grew 7%, with UAE-based malls making the largest contribution. Hotels remained steady with occupancy rates and RevPAR (revenue per available room) growing at 3% and 2% respectively.

Majid Al Futtaim – Retail: Driven primarily by the impact of currency devaluations across the Group’s footprint, overall revenue declined by 2% to AED14.1 billion with EBITDA dipping 7%. At a constant currency rate, revenue grew 8% and EBITDA grew 5%. Online performance of retail’s digital business remained strong, recording a 13% increase in revenue to AED1.2 billion in the first half of 2023. Over the same period, Majid Al Futtaim opened five new stores across the region, including two further Supeco low-cost, hybrid concept stores in Egypt. These efforts underline the Group’s continued work to meet the growing consumer demand for digital and omnichannel experiences.

Majid Al Futtaim – Lifestyle: Revenue increased by 31% to AED473 million and EBITDA improved by 300% to AED12 million over the first six months of the year. The lifestyle business opened 11 new stores in the first half of the year and entered two new categories: Luxury Home and Beauty. In January, the business introduced prestigious Italian furniture brand Poltrona Frau to the region, and in May opened the only Shiseido store outside of Asia. The new brands complement Lifestyle’s pre-existing portfolio of 8 leading franchise and 2 homegrown brands and provide additional opportunity to further the business’ consistent year on year double-digit growth.

Majid Al Futtaim – Entertainment: Revenue increased by 4% to AED822 million and EBITDA grew 39% to AED46 million, as the cinemas business continues to recover from delays and adjustments to its content pipeline. More broadly, Majid Al Futtaim’s entertainment business continues to expand its footprint across the region. In June 2023, the Group opened Snow Abu Dhabi, the capital’s first indoor snow park and the Group’s fourth snow destination, underscoring its commitment to deliver innovative, family-friendly and immersive experiences across the region.

Progress on sustainable impact

Majid Al Futtaim continues to lead the region in prioritising long-term sustainable growth aligned to science-based targets and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The Group remains on track to become Net Positive in carbon and water by 2040 and through its commitment to phase out single-use plastics, supported by Government-mandated taxation in the UAE, Majid Al Futtaim has achieved 82% reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic.

The Group, recognised as a pioneer in sustainable financing for the region, issued its $500 million green sukuk in June this year. Proceeds from the issuance will be directed to funding eligible green projects under its 2019 green finance framework. This marks Majid Al Futtaim’s fourth Green capital markets issuance underscoring its commitment to responsible financing and its overall ESG goals.

In June 2023, the Mall of the Emirates was presented with a LEED Platinum Award for Operations and Maintenance following its certification in late 2022, making it the largest mall in the world to receive such certification. The Group has also maintained its low risk ESG rating by Sustainalytics.

RetailME Bureau