Primark celebrates fifth Middle East store with debut in Bahrain in partnership with Alshaya Group

Primark celebrates fifth Middle East store with debut in Bahrain  International fashion retailer Primark has today opened its first store in Bahrain, located at City Centre Bahrain, in partnership with leading international retail franchise operator Alshaya Group. The opening marks Primark’s 20th international market entry, and third country in the Middle East following Kuwait in 2025 and UAE earlier this year.

With thousands of customers attending the opening event, the flagship Primark store in Bahrain offers over 43,000 sq. ft of shopping space, set over two floors, employing over 320 colleagues.

The opening was attended by H.E. Micheál Smith, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to the Kingdom of Bahrain and Mr. Khalifa Bin Braik, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, and was led by John Hadden, CEO at Alshaya Group.  

Opening day celebrations included entertainment, giveaways and activations designed to create a memorable shopping journey for customers as they experienced Primark for the first time in the Kingdom.  

The celebrations also marked the traditional acknowledgment in Bahrain of the national day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the same day.  

H.E. Micheál Smith, Ambassador-designate of Ireland to the Kingdom of Bahrain, commenting at the opening said: “I’m delighted to attend the opening of the first Primark store in Bahrain, as one of my first engagements in the region. I’ve no doubt that this iconic Irish brand will continue to excite customers and I’d like to congratulate Alshaya Group on their partnership with Primark. Go n-éirí leat agus gach rath ort (an Irish phrase meaning - good luck and every success to you).”

Eoin Tonge, Primark CEO, said: “It’s fantastic to see Primark open its doors in Bahrain and reach the milestone of our 20th international market. We’re excited to build on the momentum we have seen in our stores in Kuwait and the UAE, as we bring Primark to more customers across the region. Our partnership with Alshaya Group is going from strength to strength and we look forward to seeing Bahraini customers experience Primark for themselves.” 

John Hadden, CEO, Alshaya Group, added: "As we approach a year since we opened our first Primark store in Kuwait, we are thrilled to open our fifth store here in Bahrain as we continue our partnership with Primark to bring the much-loved brand to the region. The response to the store has been amazing - thank you to our customers in Bahrain and from Saudi Arabia for joining us at the fantastic opening, and H.E Ambassador Smith for his support, and to our partners at Majid Al Futtaim.” 

Khalifa Bin Braik, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management said: “We are delighted to welcome Primark to Bahrain for the very first time at City Centre Bahrain, bringing one of the world’s most recognised fashion brands to our customers in the Kingdom. This opening also marks the third Primark store to launch across Majid Al Futtaim destinations in partnership with Alshaya Group, following City Centre Mirdif and Mall of the Emirates. It reflects our continued focus on bringing sought-after international brands and new experiences to our markets and is another important milestone in a growing partnership that will see Primark expand further across our portfolio in the region.”

The opening in Bahrain will be followed in a few weeks’ time by Primark's first-ever store in Qatar on 29th October in Doha Festival City.

Looking ahead, Primark's expansion across the GCC is set to continue into 2027, with the first Primark in KSA set to open in March 2027. A new location in Kuwait at Aventura Mall and a second store in Qatar at Villaggio Mall are also set to open, further strengthening the brand's presence across existing markets and bringing Primark to even more communities throughout the region.