World's largest Apple retail store may soon be built in Dubai
Edgar Daily reports that an upcoming Apple retail store planned for the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai may prove to be Apple's largest yet.
After regional media picked up on UAE-based job advertisements by the Californian company, we have insider knowledge that the Majid Al Futtaim owned mall will become home to Apple's first flagship in the Middle East.
Our undisclosed source said that the store – which will be the biggest Apple has ever built – was originally planned to replace the current cinema complex. The timing of the recent job adverts suggest the store could have a planned opening for the first quarter of 2015.
While it remains to be seen what the final store looks like, there are a few pieces of circumstantial evidence worth pointing out. As mentioned above, Apple last week posted a number of UAE-based positions for its retail unit. According to iFoAppleStore -- a site that tends to have its finger on the pulse of Apple retail -- hiring schedules on Apple's job board point to a possible Feburary 2015 unveiling.
What's more, you might remember that Tim Cook this past February traveled to the United Arab Emirates where he met with UAE Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
In a statement on the matter provided to Business Insider, an Apple spokesperson said:
The United Arab Emirates is an important country for Apple. We launched the Apple Online Store, UAE in 2011 and it's one of our fastest growing markets around the world. We look forward to opening a physical store in the region and sharing Apple's unique shopping experience and services that have been incredibly popular around the world in the near future.
