Primark Sets Sights on Middle East Growth: Five Openings Slated for 2026

Primark is continuing its expansion in the Middle East, where it plans to open up to five stores this year. With its partner Alshaya Group, the low-cost fashion company will launch three stores in Dubai in the first half of the year, and will enter Bahrain and Qatar by the end of 2026.

With the new openings, Primark will reach an international presence in twenty-one markets. The company makes the decision to strengthen its presence in the Middle East less than a year after landing in Kuwait in October 2025, and intends to continue its expansion in the territory in the coming years, according to a statement.

Primark will land in Dubai Mall on March 26th; in City Centre Mirdif in April, and in Mall of the Emirates in May. In a second round of openings, the company will start operations at City Centre Bahrain and Doha Festival City in Qatar. All openings will be carried out by Alshaya Group.

Primark has 475 stores in 18 countries in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East and the United States

Primark’s interim CEO, Eoin Tonge, has highlighted the company’s “potential” in the Middle East and highlighted its arrival in 21 countries. Primark currently has more than 475 stores in 18 countries in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.

The company also has expansion plans in markets where it is already present, including the opening of a first flagship store in Manhattan, New York, scheduled for spring this year. This opening is part of Primark’s celebration of its tenth anniversary in the United States last year.

Primark has adjusted forecasts for the first half of 2026, in the face of a decline in sales. Specifically, the Irish fashion group reduced its like-for-like sales by 2.7% in the first 16 weeks of the fiscal year (to January 3rd, 2026), while it managed to grow by 1% in total sales, thanks to the opening of new stores.

Primark ended the last fiscal year with 1% growth to 9.489 billion pounds ($13.03 billion), with openings contributing 4% to sales growth. Operating profit stood at 1,120 million pounds ($1.53 billion), 1.8% higher than in 2024, having soared 53% twelve months earlier.