# Waitrose to Open 5,000 sq ft Store at Dubai's Uptown Place Ahead of Q1 2028 Launch

> Waitrose will open a 5,000 sq ft store at DMCC's Uptown Place in Dubai, the first confirmed retail tenant in a development adding 560,000 sq ft of offices.

- Published: 2026-11-03T15:59:10+00:00
- Section: Partnerships
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-03/waitrose-dmcc-uptown-place-anchor
- Source: [TradingView](https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2026-11-03:newsml_Zaw7GKKxw:0-zawya-dmcc-signs-up-waitrose-as-anchor-retailer-at-uptown-place/)

## Key takeaways

- Waitrose becomes the first confirmed retail tenant at Uptown Place, DMCC's commercial development in Uptown Dubai.
- The Waitrose store will span over 5,000 sq ft and open ahead of the development's Q1 2028 opening.
- Uptown Place will deliver over 560,000 sq ft of LEED Gold-certified Grade A office space across 36 floors in two towers.

DMCC has signed Waitrose as the first anchor retailer at Uptown Place, its commercial development in Uptown Dubai, with a store of over 5,000 sq ft set to open ahead of the project's Q1 2028 opening. [TradingView](https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2026-11-03:newsml_Zaw7GKKxw:0-zawya-dmcc-signs-up-waitrose-as-anchor-retailer-at-uptown-place/) carried the announcement on November 3, 2026.

## Waitrose's First Retail Anchor at Uptown Place

The agreement makes [Waitrose](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0003fn2/waitrose) the first confirmed retail tenant at Uptown Place, which will deliver over 560,000 sq ft of Grade A office space across two towers. The development comprises more than 560,000 sq ft of LEED Gold-certified commercial space across 36 floors, alongside 82,000 sq ft of retail space in 18 individual units.

The store is designed as a smaller-format convenience concept built around a full food-to-go deli offer, with a curated range of everyday essentials and meal solutions. Sunil Kumar, CEO of Spinneys, said: "Partnering with DMCC to bring Waitrose to Uptown Dubai marks an important step in expanding our presence across Dubai's most dynamic mixed-use hubs."

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, said: "Welcoming Waitrose as the first retail anchor at Uptown Place marks a significant step in the development of Uptown Dubai." Bin Sulayem said Uptown Place will take DMCC's Grade A office portfolio beyond one million square feet.

Uptown Place offers flexible floor plans of up to 17,600 sq ft, four-metre ceiling heights, solar-control glazing and 1,600 dedicated parking spaces. DMCC said the development is actively signing tenants ahead of its anticipated opening in Q1 2028.

## Waitrose's UK Investment Programme

According to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), Waitrose operates over 350 shops across the UK and reported revenue of £8.5 billion for the year to January 2026, up 7% year-on-year. The records describe a multi-year investment programme of more than £1 billion covering refrigeration upgrades in over 100 stores, new store openings, refurbishments and technology deployment.

## Earlier Waitrose Expansion Moves

Waitrose opened its first new supermarket in eight years in Cricklewood, north London, in October 2026 as part of a £1 billion investment plan, The Guardian reported. The same month, Thegrocer reported that Waitrose is adding 80 new lines to its No.1 premium own-brand range, bringing it to over 840 lines. In November 2026, Thegrocer reported that Waitrose confirmed a travel retail partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail making its range available in three Relay stores at Bristol Airport from next summer.

## Waitrose's Bristol Airport and Store Trials

The Bristol Airport Relay stores are due to carry the Waitrose range from next summer, and seven new canned craft products are scheduled to launch in 100 stores on November 9, 2026, according to Thegrocer.

## Companies in this story

- [Waitrose company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0003fn2/waitrose) · website: http://www.waitrose.com

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