Our History

Popular Swedish home furnishing and lifestyle retailer IKEA opened a new concept in Al Ain to bring convenience to its customers. The new showroom allows customers to view and order IKEA products and for items to be collected a few days later.

Al-Futtaim acquired CMC Motors Holdings Ltd in East Africa and is appointed distributor for Morgan Cars in the UAE. IKEA opens at Cairo Festival City, Egypt and M&S opens flagship store at Kuwait The Views. New brands BCBG Maxazria, Gaudi, The Kooples, Sandro and Maje are added to our retail portfolio.

Appointed sole distributor for IVECO in Saudi Arabia and Al-Futtaim Leasing is established in the UAE. Al-Futtaim Vehicle Rentals opens in Qatar and the first showroom for Lotus opens in the UAE. IKEA opens at Doha Festival City, Qatar, and British fashion brand F&F is launched in the UAE.

Acquired GUESS in Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Acquired Esprit in Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and ACE launches in Abu Dhabi at Yas Island. Al-Futtaim Auto Centers, Al-Futtaim Automotive Academy and Al-Futtaim Interiors are established in the UAE.

Appointed sole distributor for Volvo construction equipment in Saudi Arabia and Al-Futtaim Marine is established in the UAE as a division of FAMCO. Al-Futtaim Finance forms in the UAE and Select Auto established. 35,600 sqm IKEA store opens at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Al-Futtaim’s Automotive division launches an innovative and forward-thinking employee and customer engagement programme, placing the customer at the heart of everything we do.

Associated Motorways is acquired in Sri Lanka and Robinsons, Singapore’s oldest and best-loved department store chain, is acquired in Singapore and Malaysia.

Flagship Marks & Spencer store opens as an anchor tenant at Dubai Festival City – the largest outside the United Kingdom at the time.

A dedicated big box showroom for ACE opens at Dubai Festival City, bringing a wide variety of new products and services for fans of home improvement and do-it-yourself.

The Marsa Automotive Park opens at Dubai Festival City, featuring state-of-the-art showrooms for Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Chrysler. A 25,700 sqm IKEA store opens as an anchor tenant at Dubai Festival City Mall which is nearing completion.

Marks & Spencer opens for the first time in the UAE and PLUG INS, a multi-brand consumer electronics and IT retailer, is established to serve the UAE market.

Popular American toy retailer Toys R Us launches in the UAE and a partnership with Doha Marketing & Services Company (DOMASCO) is established in Doha, Qatar.

Al-Futtaim brings one of the most popular and internationally renowned car rental brands to the UAE.

Al-Futtaim acquires Al-Ghazi Tractors in Pakistan and opens the very first IKEA store in Karama in Bur Dubai.

Al-Futtaim Motors is appointed by Toyota Motor Corporation to be the exclusive distributor for their new prestigious card brand Lexus in the UAE.

Al-Futtaim is appointed to represent Chrysler’s popular American automotive brands in the UAE including Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM and SRT.

Appointed sole distributor in the UAE for Volvo Trucks and Buses and opens the first Hino showroom in the UAE.

Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO) is appointed as the sole distributor for Volvo construction equipment in the UAE.

Nile Trading & Engineering Company established as the distributor for Honda vehicles in Egypt and Al-Futtaim Logistics is established in the UAE.

Toyota Egypt Group is founded to represent Toyota in the Egyptian market.

Al-Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO) is established in the UAE to handle Volvo trucks and buses. The Volvo passenger car brand joins Trading Enterprises.

Oman Marketing & Services Company (OMASCO) is established in Muscat, Oman as a joint venture between Al-Futtaim and local Omani partners. Al-Futtaim Engineering is formed to capitalise on the Emirates’ burgeoning infrastructure expansion.

Trading Enterprises is formed to handle the distribution, sales and service for popular Japanese auto manufacturer Honda in the UAE.

Throughout the 1960s, Al-Futtaim continued to expand its automotive and trading businesses.

1955 saw the first delivery of Toyota BJ Jeeps and Toyopets arrive on the banks of Dubai Creek, marking the start of the automotive industry in the UAE. The subsequent formation of Al-Futtaim Motors began a new chapter in driving the nation.