First store opens on Pearl-Qatar
The Pearl-Qatar saw the opening of its first boutique today and for the festive season a Christmas market has been launched on the Boardwalk of Porto Arabia.
With the motto 'Parisian chic - Middle East style', the store - Cugini, which was founded in Saudi Arabia and plans other branches throughout the Middle East, offers a selection of unique clothing and accessories by exclusive up-and-coming designers.
In the coming months a number of exclusive luxury name stores will be opening on The Pearl-Qatar, with famous names including Armani and Hermes.
Eric Lebrun, Executive Vice President of Assets Management at The Pearl-Qatar, explained:
'The environment of The Pearl-Qatar provides exclusivity for luxury brands. We have launched The Pearl-Qatar actively and for almost two months it has been accommodating thousands of visitors on a daily basis.'
Cugini stores were founded in early 2006 by two Saudi cousins ('Cugini' is Italian for cousins).
The Cugini Qatar store's owner, 27-year-old Qatari Heba Mohammad Al-Okar, says:
'Timing wise this is considered the best moment, because this is when the new fashion lines are coming out and it's a major holiday season. First of all I believe in the potential of Qatar. Then I believe in the concept of The Pearl-Qatar. It's going to be better fun and shopping than St Tropez and Cannes. This is a wonderful place for its trendy way of life.'
Cugini's founders Thuraya and Abeer Bin Ladin, said, 'Other than our main brands, which are exclusive to Cugini, the team is always in search of new up-and-coming designers to ensure our clients are at the cutting edge of fashion. Our love for clothes and fashion gave us the drive to go out and hand pick some great collections for trend setters to wear. We select our products from exclusive shows and designers and we love what we select.'
Hussam Ahmed, General Manager of Retail at The Pearl-Qatar, said: 'The object of The Pearl-Qatar was to create this environment and now it is looked at as providing an international lifestyle for residential retail and hotels. The best design, the best fit-out, the best merchandise. There is no doubt that we are number one in the Middle East in terms of lifestyle. We are not a shopping mall we are a shopping lifestyle experience. We are creating and inspiring the culture of the designer brands.'
A festive Christmas market opened on the boardwalk late last week.
Source: AMEInfo
I've just returned after a couple months of hols and thought I would take a late night drive to check out the new digs. Definitely still a lot of construction. The 'gate guard' told me that visitors hours are between 8 am - 10 pm. Any one been recently? Is it worth the trip? Is that were the W hotel is?
A fool and his money are soon parted.
-Thomas Tusser
someone will tell me what good about it? wat they make for funnnnnnnnnn over there?
http://www.cugini.com.sa/
Pope Atlantis sunk and came to the Palm Islands in Dubai :D
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Lebanon... the love of my soul!
I visited the Pearl (which looks fantastic)on Friday afternoon around 4.30pm to see the Christmas Markets. There were two little wooden stalls that were CLOSED;( I went to the information desk to ask if the Christmas Markets were starting as advertised in the brochure the lady handed me. The lady said I think so. We stayed for until 5.30pm a still nothing was happening. Does anyone know what is happening and when it will begin?
Does anyone seriously think 30000 people are going to live there. By the time its finished there won´t be 30000 people left here who could afford it if they wanted to.
I read these kind of release stories and wonder who on earth makes these things up.
just eat another pie
Are pets allowed inside? Can I bring my pup for a walk at the Pearl? Well, I have to try. I'm off to The Pearl now.
cheers,
paul
Hannud said: A mini market
It all depends on the operators, how flashy they are......
Since the Pearl is going to be a secluded area of high living standards, when I drive in my car to the mini market and I honk my horn; Would a mermaid run out side and take my secluded order of bread and milk to go?
So I wasn't the only person who found this statement totally ridiculous then?
'It's going to be better fun and shopping than St Tropez and Cannes. This is a wonderful place for its trendy way of life.'
I'm not sure what the 'way of life' is at the Pearl that is peculiar to the Pearl. Is it... living in an apartment...? Having nice shops downstairs...? Having no Mosques nearby...? What, exactly, is the 'way of life' that she was referring to?
Okay, I've visited The Pearl. It was pleasent enough. A nice way to burn 15 minutes, although once the shops open it might be nicer to spend longer there.
They are kidding themselves if they think that the traffic coming and going from there isn't going to be an absolute nightmare.
I live nearby and believe me, sometimes the line waiting to get into the pearl in the morning can stretch for 2 roundabouts. I think it will be a nightmare once 30,000 people live there.
Well Paul, they are definitely not considering a supermarket, but according to an employee at the Pearl with whom I had a meeting for shop renting, they are considering a mini market, with a few things that people might need in "Oups I forgot to get enough", but not Carrefour or Giant...none of the sort.
Even the design of the mini market is to be stylish and reflects luxury (hehe).
As for the brands, they are not accepting everybody, they are very picky you can trust me on that, they have a level to maintain and this place is not for everybody. But who is searching for HIGH will achieve HIGH.
lol
Then the spider cobs will settle first, the Salt stalagmites will grow from every building, then the pigeon castles will expand as observatories of the sky, then the local marine wild life will flourish again, claiming its full right to another forgotten Atlantis sunk, under the weight of the oceans currents and waves.
I went to see the pearl a couple of weeks back on that rainy Friday if you remember. Any how it was nice and promising, but as many said it's far from being even nearly finished. Add to that, since the economic crises started they delayed handing over the apartments to the owners. With the prices that they started at, they could've really sold the whole place out, but then they tripled the prices; which was really not cool and overpricy.
7-eleven in THE PEARL?
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veni, vidi, vici.
The Pearl is far from ready to receive visitors. The balustrades around the marina were not bolted properly when we went. A quick one bolt per rail was only done. They were all easily movable. Their are gaps for kids to fall through (an adults) at the little hump bit.
When 30,000 people as they claim eventually settle there, I wonder how the one way in and out route is going to be in the mornings. Yikes
k
It's good to go there and have a look. But it's not good to go there for the shopping yet, ad only one shop is open.
The road there is fine.
My Company is working with The Pearl Qatar Shops. My officemate said it's not good to go to Pearl atm because its not totally opened for all shops yet. and the Road is bad going there.
.what? me? not me.......
.m not a fashion addict, pramiz......lol
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There's nothing more pleasurable than the French Riviera. However, when completed, I'm sure The Pearl will climb the charts. After the construction of retail shops, restaurants, schools, luxury hotels and villas then it'd perfect just like d'Azur! I'm reckoning there's no chance for a supermarket to be constructed in the 'Most Glamorous Address in the Middle East' and most probably because it will eat a lot of space. But I am certain that residents who purchased a QR2.6M apartment will sure have no problem dining in the high-street.
Mallrat, there you go again.. :-P
cheers,
paul
.is there a balenciaga in the pearl? asked by a fashion addict....
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Well, it's not really built, is it? One small part is, but there's a helluva lot more to go!
And I don't think people will be thinking "mmm.... I need to go clothes shopping today. I know, I'll go to that one shop on the Pearl, rather than one of the malls with hundreds of shops!"
But like I said, someone has to be first and get the ball rolling.
i guess the reason they opened it was to get people visiting the Pearl, realising that it is actually built (seriously...who would have guessed?) and then thinking "hmm...this looks like a nice lifestyle...maybe I should move here".
basically...a strategy to move more apartments...
Do you know what brands in this store?
lol - what credit crunch indeed!
I'm not sure if I agree with his statement of this being the best moment, timing wise, to open the store. I'd have thought it would be better to wait until a few people had moved in, and there was something worth visiting the place for other than just a different view while you drink your chain store coffee. But I guess someone's got to get the ball rolling.
And this is a very bold statement to make: "It's going to be better fun and shopping than St Tropez and Cannes."
Are there any plans for a supermarket, or at least a decent convenience store, on the Pearl? Or are all the residents expected to eat in the inevitable over-priced restaurants (once they open)?
Great. What credit crunch? This is good news most especially to shopaholics. J/K! Good for Hermes and Armani. I'm sure they'll have a healthy market in Qatar.
cheers,
paul