Marka: Committed to pursue ‘high standards’

Our Correspondent / Emirates Business

Marka is the UAE’s first publicly traded retail operator focusing exclusively on the Fashion, Hospitality and Sports segments. Founded in 2014 and listed on the Dubai Financial Market, Marka PJSC, is a world-class company headquartered in Dubai. Their mission is to enhance the retail experience of customers by operating exciting and unique fashion, hospitality and sports brands.
Marka strive to achieve this by creating strong partnerships with renowned global names that have developed a reputation for quality. Ultimately, Marka’s overall objective is to consolidate their position as the leading company in the mid-to-high range retail and hospitality sectors in the Middle East. Passionate about retail, they develop relationships with leading global fashion, hospitality and sports brands to deliver the very best products and services. Marka’s operational strategy is based around franchise agreements, unique retail concepts and carefully considered acquisitions with the most exciting and dynamic brands from around the world.
Marka’s world class management team, led by Nick Peel, CEO, Marka, combines with the decades of experience of international retail market. Peel is a retail veteran whose 25-year career spans multi-channel retail, operations, property, commercial, digital and brand experience, the majority of which has been in senior management and board level positions.
He deems, “From the very onset of its formation, Marka’s strategy has been one of ambitious expansion. Across the three segments of Marka Sports, Marka Fashion and Marka Hospitality, we continue to embed our recent acquisitions and focus our efforts on building value for our shareholders. Marka continues to make significant progress on our business plan, which positions us towards a positive outlook for the 2016 fiscal year.”
His experience includes blue-chip companies such as Arsenal Football Club, Land Securities, Scottish Media Group, Rangers Football Club, John Menzies, Wm Morrison, and Halfords Group. Prior to joining Marka, Nick was the UK Operations Director and Country Manager for McArthurGlen, overseeing six designer outlet shopping centers. “Since our inception, we have proven our commitment to expanding our retail and hospitality footprint and in doing so, have enhanced the region’s retail industry. Furthermore, we have confirmed plans to enter into Qatar during the second half of 2016,” he added.
He has worked with leading brands including Polo Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein and Burberry.
Fashion
Marka Fashion is dedicated to
introducing the very best fashion brands to the ever-increasing number of style gurus and couture lovers in the region. They work only with partners who are passionate about delivering different and
exciting fashion to the region’s
fashion landscape.
Hospitality
Marka Hospitality is driven by the passion to delight their customers. The main motive that aspires Marka’s hospitality team is to bring the best hospitality brands to the region
and developing in-house concepts to offer unique food and beverage
experiences.
Sports
Marka Sports has its sights set on offering the most diverse and unique range of sports retailing in the Middle East. They are partnering prestigious global sporting brands as well as with local players to meet the never-before-seen demand for sports retailing.

Company Philosophy
Since the inception in 2014, they have been focused on building the best retail operating company in the Middle East.
Excellence: In selecting and working with our partners, suppliers and employees, we evaluate every decision based on whether it enables us to pursue and attain excellence. Half measures will never do.
Fairness: From our internal processes and the customer-facing operations of our brands, fairness to customers, partners, employees and communities is the foundation of all our activities.
Transparency: As a listed company, we have a commitment to our
shareholders, partners and regulators to be transparent in our operational and financial activities. This includes upholding the highest
standards of corporate governance over and above what is required by law.