Marks & Spencer is to open its first store in Egypt within the next year.

The department store chain will open a shop in the Egyptian capital Cairo in Dandy Mega Mall, then a second store in Cairo Festival City in spring 2012.

Both new Marks & Spencer shops will open in conjunction with the retailer’s Middle East partner Al Futtaim. The first shop will be 2,600 sq m and offer fashion, beauty and homewares. The second store will be its flagship and trade over two floors in a total of 4,400 sq m.

Egypt is an increasingly popular international market for British retailers. Maternity specialist Mothercare has traded there for some time, while New Look and Debenhams have opened there recently.