MANAMA: IKEA Bahrain, the BD47million Middles East’s largest showroom, opens its doors for business on Wednesday the 5th of September.
Globally acclaimed Swedish Home Furnishing giant, IKEA, has officially inaugurated its much-awaited store in the Kingdom. Located in Salmabad, the IKEA Bahrain store is the largest IKEA Store in the region.
The project brings the totally new concept of home furnishing to the Kingdom of Bahrain with around 1000 direct and indirect job opportunities, Saud Al-Sulaiman, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghassan Ahmed Al Sulaiman Furniture Trading Co. Ltd., told the pre-opening Press conference on Tuesday.
He said he was very proud of how the construction of the store had progressed since the Ground-breaking Ceremony, which was held on 30th October 2016.
IKEA Bahrain’s opening-cum-press conference was held under the patronage of HRH Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
IKEA Bahrain is the largest store in the Middle East and North Africa, with the store covering a retail area of 37,000 square meters and offering more than 8500 home furnishing products under one roof.
The store was inaugurated by HE Shaikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Deputy Prime Minister, who also took the tour of the showroom and took a keen interest in the presentation and wide range of furnishing and home decoration products.
“Since its inception in 1943, IKEA has successfully created affordable home-furnishing solutions for the many people. Our partnership with the brand began in the year 1983 and we have worked closely to expand into new markets. The Kingdom’s business-friendly nature and potential made the move to Bahrain an easy decision for us,” the CEO said.
He added that IKEA Bahrain will offer customers a range of over 8,500 products providing home furnishing solutions; combining function, quality, design, value and sustainability.
The impressive two-storey structure set on a total retail area of 37,000 square meters that includes a showroom, market hall and self-serve section. The facility will also include 50 room settings showcasing inspiring home furnishing solutions, a restaurant with a capacity of up to 650 seats and 1200 parking spaces.
“IKEA Bahrain will have something for everyone, from home furnishing to food. With the opening of the store, people in Bahrain will easily have access to affordable home furnishing solutions,” Al Sulaiman, said.
The extensive recruitment process for the store began in September 2017 during which IKEA visited several universities and institutes within the Kingdom. Following the recruitment, co-workers had to undergo rigorous training to prepare themselves for the official opening of the store.
“We have been working very closely with the Ministry of Labour and are happy to announce that we have provided 320 jobs to the local market. We are also very proud of our significant contribution to Bahrainization, with 66% of our co-workers being Bahrainis,” he added.
During the opening ceremony, IKEA Bahrain expressed its gratitude towards the government of Bahrain and various authorities who contributed to the completion of the project.
“We received immense support from several ministries including the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Roads Planning and Design Directorate, Electricity and Water Authority, and the General Directorate of Civil Defense,” the CEO said.
The inauguration was attended by over 200 guests including Ministers and members of the Crown Prince’s Court, His Excellency Deputy Premier’s Office, Al Sulaiman Group members, business community leaders, partners and consultants.