A look at Zara’s sustainable store in Mall of the Emirates

Global fashion brand Zara, which is part of the AZADEA Group portfolio in the UAE, reopened its store in Mall of the Emirates following several months of refurbishment and enlargement. The new flagship store is almost twice the size of the original one that opened in 2005. What’s more, as part of Zara’s commitment to have more sustainable stores, this one has been designed, built and managed to reduce the use of energy and water when compared to a conventional retail store.

To ensure that the store meets these criteria, it has photovoltaic panels installed on the roof, and it is connected to our centralised system which allows the brand to programme lighting, heating and air conditioning, among other things, to suit what a specific store needs at any given moment. With this approach, Zara is able to control and optimise energy consumption and limit its CO² emissions.

Additionally, the wood used throughout the store, as well as paper products including bags and labels, have all received PEFC or FSC seals, guaranteeing that the management process for the forest-sourced raw materials was conducted in a more sustainable way. It also develops reuse and recycling programmes that promote the circular economy and reduce waste and the first-time consumption of raw materials.

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The renovated store has new ‘boutique’ spaces for Zara’s most recent launches, such as Lingerie, Beauty, the Origins collection or Footwear and Accessories. These spaces have a distinctive design and furnishings and they are equipped with adjacent restocking areas for a personalised service. Over a single floor, the new store showcases the brand’s latest collections including lingerie – for the first time in a store in Dubai, a dedicated space for artistic performances, as well as a café with curated Zara Home coffee and tea ware.

The new store also reflects Inditex and Zara’s current strategy of opening bigger and better stores that feature the most efficient technological tools so that customers can ‘live’ the fashion experience in a spacious, innovative and welcoming environment. As such, Zara at Mall of Emirates is fully equipped with the most efficient technological tools to offer customers a unique fashion experience integrated with the brand’s online platform. Some of these services include an online shopping collection point with an automated storage area for up to 650 orders, an automatic online returns point and a large self-checkout area. Some other services of the store include a fitting room reservation service, a two-hour pick-up service for online orders, as well as the ability to search online for in-stock items at the store.