EssilorLuxottica has inked a joint-venture deal with Chalhoub Group to open a network of eyewear stores in the Arabian Gulf states. The deal aims to establish a strong regional presence and achieve unparalleled customer service levels, combining the experience, technology and reputation of EssilorLuxottica’s brands with the Chalhoub Group’s in-depth knowledge of local consumers and shopping experience know-how. The partnership will lead to the opening of multibrand and monobrand stores for EssilorLuxottica’s most popular brands, like Ray-Ban, Persol, Oliver Peoples and David Clulow, expanding the group’s presence in the Arab Gulf region.

The deal is a significant step for EssilorLuxottica as it aims to grow the visibility and quality of the eyewear category in the region, strengthening the relationship between local consumers and the group’s premium brands. It will also help the Chalhoub Group make its mark in the fast-growing eyewear retail sector, taking advantage of the group’s luxury retail expertise. David Clulow, a UK-born multibrand eyewear retailer well-known among Middle Eastern consumers living in London, will open new stores offering an even more exclusive shopping experience, unrivalled service and the latest industry novelties.

“As we expand into the eyewear category, we are entering a new vertical that has significant potential for growth and innovation with a high demand from our regional luxury consumers. EssilorLuxottica is a partner of choice with their fashionable, elegant products, and brand portfolio; their core values of helping people to ‘see more and be more’, alongside their growth ambition in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, complements our group’s purpose to inspire and delight customers,” said Patrick Chalhoub, president of Chalhoub Group.

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For over six decades, Chalhoub Group has partnered with luxury brands and created luxury experiences in the Middle East. Striving for excellence as a hybrid distributor, the group has strengthened its distribution and marketing services by developing a portfolio of eight proprietary brands and over 300 international brands from the luxury, beauty, fashion and lifestyle sectors. It has recently expanded its range to include new categories like luxury watches, jewellery and eyewear. Chalhoub Group provides luxury experiences via over 750 physical stores, online shopping and apps.