Majid Al Futtaim Holding

The pioneer that brought malls, Carrefour, and snow in the desert to the Middle East.

UAE Today Editorial  |  Business & Retail

If you have ever shopped at Mall of the Emirates, skied indoors in the desert, or picked up groceries at Carrefour in the region, you have experienced the work of Majid Al Futtaim. This Dubai-based group has become one of the Middle East’s great retail and leisure pioneers, transforming how millions of people shop, eat, and play. Understanding Majid Al Futtaim reveals how bold ideas turned everyday experiences into world-class destinations across the region.

The Birth of a Retail Pioneer

Majid Al Futtaim Holding was founded in 1992 by the Emirati businessman of the same name, with a vision to bring modern shopping and leisure to a fast-growing region. What set the company apart was its ambition: rather than simply building shops, it created destinations that combined retail, entertainment, and hospitality under one roof. That pioneering spirit quickly made it a household name across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond.

Malls That Became Landmarks

The company’s shopping malls are among its most famous creations. Mall of the Emirates, opened in 2005, redefined the shopping experience in the region and remains one of Dubai’s premier destinations, welcoming tens of millions of visitors each year. Alongside its City Centre chain and other flagship malls across the region, Majid Al Futtaim has turned the shopping centre into a complete lifestyle destination — a place to shop, dine, watch films, and be entertained.

Snow in the desert.  —  Perhaps no attraction captures the company’s daring quite like Ski Dubai, the indoor ski resort inside Mall of the Emirates. Along with its VOX Cinemas screens, Magic Planet family entertainment centres, and other leisure venues, it reflects a simple philosophy: make the impossible possible. These experiences have become defining features of life and tourism in the region.

The Carrefour Powerhouse

Majid Al Futtaim is also the exclusive operator of the Carrefour hypermarket and supermarket brand across much of the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. Serving hundreds of thousands of customers every day through a vast network of stores, Carrefour has become a cornerstone of everyday life in the region. The company has invested heavily in e-commerce and digital tools, ensuring its retail business keeps pace with changing shopping habits.

Beyond Shopping

The group’s interests reach well beyond malls and supermarkets. Its portfolio spans hotels connected to its destinations, fashion and home retail representing leading international brands, family entertainment, consumer finance, healthcare, and facility management. Master-planned communities add residential living to the mix. This diversity has made Majid Al Futtaim a broad and resilient pillar of the regional economy.

A Regional Icon

More than three decades after its founding, Majid Al Futtaim stands as one of the Middle East’s most recognisable and influential companies. By daring to reimagine retail and leisure — and by consistently delivering world-class experiences — it has shaped the way an entire region shops and unwinds. Its legacy is written into the malls, cinemas, and even the ski slopes that have become part of everyday life across the Middle East.

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