Footasylum to open 40 stores in the Gulf region

The sportswear retailer has unveiled a new strategic partnership with retail conglomerate Apparel Group to manage its expansion into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

As part of the deal, Footasylum will work with Apparel Group across wholesale, ecommerce and franchise to launch the brand in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

This includes opening the retailer’s first physical locations outside of the UK.

Footaslyum said Apparel Group has a proven track record in brand development, retail technology, shopfitting and mall partnerships that provide a “strong foundation” for its regional growth.

Footasylum chief executive David Pujolar said the partnership was a “major step forward” for the business. 

He said: “In recent years, we’ve begun to build a growing international presence through wholesale and ecommerce, and this agreement significantly accelerates that momentum in the Gulf region. 

“Through this collaboration, we will also be entering physical retail outside the UK for the first time, backed by a partner with unrivalled reach, deep market knowledge and strong operational excellence.

“By partnering with Apparel Group, Footasylum gains immediate access to one of the region’s largest retail networks, advanced omnichannel and marketing capabilities, and a customer base of more than 14 million loyal Club Apparel members.”