First Official Arsenal Store opens in Bahrain

Arsenal has opened its first official store in the Middle East in Bahrain City Centre.  Having already announced the opening of an Arsenal Soccer School in the city later this year, the official store represents another major step into the Kingdom of Bahrain.  

The Arsenal Store in Bahrain City Centre will be the first of several club retail outlets to be introduced throughout the GCC and arrives at a time when the region's interest in English football is at an unprecedented high.  Outlets in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar are envisioned for the near future as well as an official online Arsenal store dedicated to satisfying the GCC's demand for Arsenal merchandise.

The online portal will support both English and Arabic content and will deliver customers' orders within 48 hours. Mr. Abdul Wahid Kooheji, of IBG, Arsenal's Soccer Schools and Retail Partner, said, "Arsenal has one of the most passionate and loyal followings throughout the GCC and the stores will represent another means to express that passion in this part of the world. We believe that the introduction of the Arsenal Stores alongside Arsenal Soccer Schools will allow the Club's local following to become more engaged with their club and further promote the beautiful game throughout the region".

The Arsenal Store located on the upper level of Virgin Megastores will offer fans many of the same products sold at Arsenal's flagship stores in London.  Men and women's fashion lines including clothing designed by George Davies exclusively for Arsenal, training apparel, accessories and memorabilia are among the hundreds of products that will be on display.

Fans and football enthusiasts alike are invited to visit the store which will be open seven days a week on the 3rd level of Bahrain City Centre. Mr. Ivan Gazidis , Arsenal Chief Executive Officer said, "The Club truly appreciates the level of support it receives from the Middle East and this represents another opportunity for us to reach out to those supporters in a compelling way. We're delighted to be bringing the first official Arsenal store to the region. We hope the launch of the Arsenal Store in Bahrain will mark the first of many stores across the GCC and we look forward to serving the rest of the region through our GCC shopping portal."

[Thursday, June 11, 2009]

Print this page Email to a friend