Expected increase in store sales and restaurant attendance by up to 15%

Shopping centers prepare for the "new holiday" with special offers... and extending working hours

• Departments of commercial stores began preparing for the new system with special offers and discounts.

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Officials of commercial and retail centers confirmed that the new system of weekly work in the country, which granted a weekly holiday of two and a half days, will support commercial and retail activities, as well as the attendance of restaurants and cafes at rates of up to 15%.

They revealed to "Emirates Today" that the management of commercial stores began preparing for the new system with special offers and discounts during the weekend, as well as extending the working hours of the shops inside them, expecting changes in the behavior of consumers, in terms of high attendance at malls, and the concentration of shopping and purchasing operations during Fridays. And Saturday and Sunday, instead of Thursday night, and on Friday and Saturday nights.

working periods

In detail, Wajeb Khoury, director of Line Investment and Real Estate Company, which operates 11 commercial centers, expected that the new weekend would lead to the growth of retail trade and a rise in the number of shopping malls, which usually witness heavy crowds on weekends.

Khoury said that "commercial centers intend to extend the working period of the shops, especially on Sunday, expecting a change in the behavior of consumers, in terms of focusing on shopping and buying operations on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, instead of Thursday nights, Fridays and Saturdays."

positive effects

For his part, Mohamed Al-Hajj, CEO of Mubarak and Brothers Investments Company, which owns Deerfield Mall in Abu Dhabi, said: "We expect positive effects in the form of an increase in the number of shoppers who visit malls, and a tangible increase in retail trade."

Al-Hajj believed that the length of the weekend period would allow consumers more time to rest and visit commercial centers, pointing out that the decision to allow remote work on Friday supports retail trade, especially since business can be easily completed outside the office with high efficiency without affecting productivity. The first period will be experimental, as the commercial shopping centers will study whether extending the vacation period will require changes in the working hours of the shops inside the centers, or other issues related to shopping.

commercial activities

The official in the management of one of the major commercial centers, Ahmed Tawfiq, agreed that extending the period of the weekend, and allowing remote work on Fridays, support commercial activity in general, and work to increase retail trade, and frequenting restaurants, cafes and recreational games at rates ranging between 10 and 15%.

He stressed that shopping centers are currently discussing plans to deal with this decision, to achieve the maximum possible benefit for the centers and shoppers, at a time when shopping centers intend to increase the working period of the shops, and organize marketing offers during the holidays to attract shoppers and increase sales.

special offers

For her part, the sales official in one of the major stores, Maria Carlos, said, “Shop departments are preparing for the coming period with special offers and discounts during the holidays, as well as extending the working hours of the stores by an hour or two, expecting that the sales of stores and restaurants will increase by rates ranging between 5 and 15%. According to activity.

tangible growth

As for the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Lulu Group International, Nanda Kumar, he expected a significant growth in retail trade, supported by more time spent by consumers in direct and online shopping, through smart applications for outlets.

He continued, "We expect changes in the behavior of consumers, in terms of an increase in the number of outlets, and a change in the main shopping days, from Thursday at night and on Friday and Saturday, to Friday, Saturday and Sunday."

"The length of the weekend gives residents and tourists more time to shop freely," he said.

Major destinations for consumers

Retail trade expert, Davey Nagpal, considered that commercial shopping centers will benefit from extending the weekend period, as they are major destinations for consumers in general, which will lead to higher sales, and the attendance of restaurants, cafes and children’s play areas at a rate of between 10 and 15%, depending on the commercial activity.

Nagbal called on the malls to expand the offers of discounts and discounts, which attract shoppers during the holidays, to include various aspects of shopping and entertainment, stressing that the intensity of competition will increase between the shopping centers themselves, in addition to the high competition with electronic applications, to attract shoppers.

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