Miss Ann Thrope

Festival city used to be regularly pretty crowded for a couple of years after it opened and before Dubai Mall really got going. It had the only M&S apart from Wafi and quite a few first-in-Dubai stores. HyperPanda was also a pretty decent supermarket in its day. Once the new Ikea opens it will probably further propel Festival City down the slope to being another Wafi.

Meow

Pedant alert There was a M&S in Deira before there was one in Festival City. I used to walk there.

I imagine the footfall with increase at Festival City now that they have John Lewis.

Miss Ann Thrope

Yeah I guess I'm not the best one to be chatting about malls: you know how I love to shop and spend money!

M&S in Deira? You mean City Centre or Al Ghurair? I vaguely remember one in City Centre come to think of it - Al Ghurair had BHS I guess??

I didn't know there was a John Lewis in Festival City - I hope it's not such a non-event as Waitrose here.

NorthernLad

It just opened, British Mums website have forgotten all about Brexit, falling oil prices and global terrorism...now John Lewis is open, all is good in the world.

Yes! John Lewis is the same price as back home! And we reveal all... - British Mums

Disclaimer - I only know about this as it came up on a random Facebook feed.

scrubbedexpat141

Nice try.

Millhouse

I clicked the link and read the comments... "do they sell wallpaper"

you know you have made it when you are buying John Lewis wall paper.

scrubbedexpat141

You just summed up my aspirations in life. John Lewis wallpaper and a Crate and Barrel sofa.

GET ME TO THE RANCHES

weasel decentral

I prefer to paint my walls and ceilings brilliant gloss white, lit with the soft undertones of a multitude of 100w bulbs.

Millhouse

low energy 100w equivalent bulbs, ones with that office-blue tinge to them.

scrubbedexpat141

PLastic covers on the sofa?

weasel decentral

Plastic patio chairs and the TV is set up on the box it was delivered in.

scrubbedexpat141

Pile of plastic cutlery in the wrappers from deliveries 'just in case'?

Meow

Neither. This M&S wasn't in a mall. It was a few streets away from Al Ghurair, by a Toys R Us in a row of shops. It even had a cafe for a while. I left Deira in 2009 and I think it closed down not long after.

scrubbedexpat141

Two things linked?

Meow

I only went occasionally but it was always empty so I probably represented 10% of their customer base!