Apple opens a store inspired by Emirati culture

By Rhiannon McGregor 03 : 05 : 2017 Retail : Architecture : Culture

Dubai – The kinetic shop front takes a placemaking approach to re-invent the traditional shopping centre experience.

Apple's new store is located in The Dubai Mall, one of the busiest retail environments in the world, with around 80m visitors annually. It is described by design agency Foster + Partners as a ‘highly innovative response to the culture and climate of the Emirates’.

The design of the Apple Dubai Mall is a modern interpretation of mashrabiya – a traditional Arabic architectural element. Its Solar Wings provide shade for the outside terrace during the day and open in the evening to reveal the distant Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain.

‘The Apple Dubai Mall is an exceptional architectural and social experience for visitors, bringing to the fore new ideas about the evolving role of Apple flagships in the community,’ says Stefan Behling, senior executive partner at Foster + Partners.

The Big Picture

Apple is deviating from its instantly recognisable store format to seamlessly integrate with the physical and cultural landscape of Dubai
In line with our Civic Brands macrotrend, the store aims to create ‘inspirational civic spaces for all’, according to Foster + Partners