The first official grand opening of a Ferrari Store in the Middle East region took place yesterday in Abu Dhabi, the outlet is located at the renowned Marina Mall and is the 18th Ferrari Store in the world.

The first official grand opening of a Ferrari Store in the Middle East region took place yesterday in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari's President Luca di Montezemolo, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of ALDAR, Abdullah Abdel Rahim Al Fahim, Chairman of Al Fahim Enterprises and Ferrari's Commercial and Brand Director Dany Bahar, took part in the ribbon-cut ceremony. The store will be managed by FADAR, a joint venture company between Al Fahim Enterprises and ALDAR Properties.

Located at the renowned Marina Mall, it is the 18th Ferrari Store in the world. On a total floor space of 116 sqm, the Abu Dhabi store offers a broad array of Ferrari products, including apparel and accessories for men, women, and children, leather goods, memorabilia, publications, toy models and electronic goods - some of them exclusively on sale at Ferrari Stores.

The wide goods' selection is on display in a showroom that was designed to offer customers an iconic journey through the areas that characterize the Prancing Horse's boutiques: fan in the first section, the exclusive luxury section and vintage on the left side and the children's section on the right. True to the tradition of every Ferrari Store, on a scooped surface of simulated asphalt, cordoned off by a steel rope, there is an example of the Ferrari team's single-seater race car. At the entrance visitors are welcomed by the roar of a Formula 1 engine.

"Bringing the Ferrari brand to Abu Dhabi is a crucial element of our strategic partnership with the Prancing Horse, and today's inauguration of the Ferrari Store in Abu Dhabi is an important step on this journey" - commented Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of ALDAR. "Together with our partners at Al Fahim Enterprises we have created the joint venture company FADAR to manage the seamless roll out of the Ferrari brand to UAE consumers. We are confident that this central location at Marina Mall will offer excellent visibility and awareness prior to the park opening in 2009 on YAS Island."

"The opening of the Ferrari Store in Abu Dhabi marks our success with our partners, Ferrari and ALDAR to bring the full-fledged luxury experience to avid Ferrari fans" - commented Mr Mohammed Al Fahim, CEO at Al Fahim Enterprises. "With the opening of this Ferrari store, as well as the one in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, we will continue to replicate its success in the Gulf region."

The Abu Dhabi Store arrives after the opening of several point of sale in Italy (in Maranello, Rome, Milan, Venice, and the airports of Bologna, Milan-Malpensa and Rome-Fiumicino), as well as Barcelona airport, the stores in Las Vegas and Los Angeles (USA), in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing and Shenyang in China. Finally, a second new Ferrari Store in the Gulf region: 120 sqm at Rashid Mall, in the city of Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. An ambitious development plan foresees a total number of 40 mono-brand stores over the coming five years in Europe, America and the Middle and Far East. Imminent openings are Moscow (by the end of the year) and Singapore, Macao and Honolulu from early 2008 onwards.