RIYADH: Eyewear enthusiasts in the Middle East will soon find more outlets of the optical store Doctor M as Magrabi Retail Group, one of the region’s leading optical retail chains and owner of the lifestyle brand, is planning a major expansion drive.
Launched in Saudi Arabia in 2021, Doctor M has a strong presence in the Kingdom with 27 stores spread across Riyadh, Jeddah and other cities, as well as 150 employees.
The eyewear retailer plans to increase Doctor M stores in the Middle East to over 50 by launching branches in Egypt, Qatar and the UAE.
“We are undertaking Magrabi Retail Group’s largest-ever investment into Doctor M to expand its presence and meet growing consumer demand in the Middle East. With a doubling of store count, we aim to broaden our offering and cater to diverse lifestyles across the region,” Yasser Taher, the group’s CEO, told Arab News.
He added: “This strategic move reflects our vision which is re-envisioning the world of eyewear to empower the lifestyles of millions while championing inclusivity and positive social impact.”
Furthermore, Doctor M will enable the company to reach more customer segments with its affordable price ranges, appealing to a younger generation with dynamic lifestyles.
“Throughout this expansion, we remain dedicated to delivering and maintaining our excellent customer experience and medical services,” added Taher.
The expansion is backed by an extensive campaign highlighting some of the influential artists, sportsmen, entertainers, fashion icons, and scientists driving Saudi Arabia’s growing urban environment.
The campaign evokes a sense of enthusiasm and excitement by capturing the positivity and vibrancy of the new Saudi vision, which is vital to the Doctor M brand.
“The group’s strategic investment into Doctor M, timed with our store expansions, perfectly aligns with this vision, as it enables us to broaden our reach through our lifestyle banner and further solidify our dominance in the market,” said Souha Hasan, vice president of mainstream businesses of the group.
She added: “The ambitious Saudi 2030 vision serves as a great source of inspiration for individuals and companies alike, and I take immense pride in stating that Magrabi Retail Group is at the forefront of driving growth within our sector.”
Magrabi Retail Group to double Doctor M stores across the Middle East
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Magrabi Retail Group to double Doctor M stores across the Middle East
QatarEnergy announces force majeure following Iran attacks: statement
DOHA: Qatar’s state-run energy firm on Wednesday declared force majeure following attacks on two of its main facilities that halted liquefied natural gas production and as Iran pressed missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.
“Further to the announcement by QatarEnergy to stop production of liquefied natural gas and associated products, QatarEnergy has declared Force Majeure to its affected buyers,” the company said in a statement.
QatarEnergy invoked the clause, which shields it from penalties and potential breach of contract claims from clients, after stopping LNG production on Monday.
Iranian drones attacked two of the company’s main production hubs in Ras Laffan Industrial City, 80 km north of Doha and in Mesaieed 40 km south of the Qatari capital, Doha’s ministry of defense said at the time.
The Gulf state is one of the world’s top liquefied natural gas producers, alongside the US, Australia and Russia.
On Tuesday, QatarEnergy said it would halt some downstream production of some products including urea, polymers, methanol, aluminum and others.
Qatar shares the world’s largest natural gas reservoir with Iran.
QatarEnergy estimates the Gulf state’s portion of the reservoir, the North Field, holds about 10 percent of the world’s known natural gas reserves.
In recent years, Qatar has inked a series of long-term LNG deals with France’s Total, Britain’s Shell, India’s Petronet, China’s Sinopec and Italy’s Eni, among others.
