Saudi Gazette ReportDAMMAM — Cenomi Facilities formally unveiled Westfield Dammam on December 1, marking the arrival of the globally acknowledged Westfield model in Saudi Arabia for the primary time and signaling a serious shift within the Kingdom’s retail and way of life panorama. The transformation of Nakheel Mall into Westfield Dammam is the primary milestone in Cenomi’s long-term strategic partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), establishing a brand new global-standard buying vacation spot within the Japanese Province. The reveal happened exterior the mall’s essential façade in Dammam, the place visitors gathered in anticipation of the co-branded launch. Attendees have been welcomed by stay Saudi musicians performing a mixture of up to date and conventional Khaleeji compositions, creating an environment that mirrored the central theme of the night — the convergence of Saudi cultural identification with Westfield’s worldwide retail presence. Alison Rehill-Erguven, CEO of Cenomi Facilities, opened the ceremony with remarks highlighting the importance of the transformation, noting the mall’s evolution since its 2019 opening and its strategic significance inside Cenomi’s 21-destination portfolio. “Nakheel Dammam has develop into a real retail and way of life vacation spot within the coronary heart of the Japanese Province,” she stated. “Its efficiency and its central place made it the proper selection for our first official Westfield co-branded vacation spot. Right now marks a key milestone in our journey to redefine the retail expertise in Saudi Arabia and introduce lots of the world’s main first-to-market manufacturers to the Kingdom.” Rehill-Erguven emphasised that the partnership is pushed by ambition quite than necessity. “We’re already the chief,” she stated. “This partnership permits us to deliver worldwide greatest practices, international operational requirements, and new shopper experiences to Saudi Arabia at a pivotal second within the nation’s evolution.” Following her remarks, Anne-Sophie Sancerre, URW’s Chief Buyer and Retail Officer and member of the group’s Govt Committee, addressed the viewers. She expressed appreciation for the help of presidency entities and companions concerned within the mission, together with Sheikh Fawaz, Engineer Salman, Dr. Abu Majid Aluqair, and the Saudi Tourism Improvement Fund. “We’re proud to announce the primary rebranded Westfield buying heart within the Kingdom,” she stated. “Westfield has discovered a house in Saudi Arabia and one of the best accomplice to thrive within the area.” Sancerre highlighted robust curiosity from worldwide retailers observing the Kingdom’s market development and openness. “The launch has already generated international consideration,” she famous. “Retailers are desirous to enter Saudi Arabia, and the Westfield partnership gives a degree of belief and credibility that accelerates their decision-making. This may have a serious affect on our guests — for Saudi shoppers and for vacationers who will come to expertise a brand new, differentiated providing.” Because the stay ensemble resumed enjoying, anticipation constructed forward of the principle reveal. A big digital countdown appeared on the façade earlier than a curtain dropped to unveil the illuminated “Westfield Dammam” signage, prompting applause from visitors and signaling the official begin of the following section of Cenomi’s retail technique. The rebranding of Nakheel Mall is the primary implementation of Cenomi’s unique settlement with URW, which provides the Saudi developer rights to the Westfield model and entry to the worldwide retail group’s in depth tenant community. URW operates 66 buying facilities worldwide, together with 40 below the Westfield model, attracting a mixed 900 million guests yearly. Rehill-Erguven famous that entry to URW’s community is among the most important parts of the partnership. “We now have entry to tenants that aren’t but within the Kingdom,” she stated. “With the Westfield partnership, these manufacturers achieve confidence quicker — and they’re going to come sooner.” Chief Technique Officer Sami Itani described the collaboration as “a pairing up of two champions”—Westfield’s international management and Cenomi’s market dominance in Saudi Arabia. He confirmed that the Dammam rebrand is simply the start of a multi-year transformation throughout the corporate’s nationwide portfolio. Instant modifications have already been launched to align the mall with the Westfield identification, together with refinements to the tenant combine, upgrades to operational requirements, and enhanced buyer providers. Lots of the new manufacturers arriving within the coming months will likely be getting into the Japanese Province — and in some instances the Kingdom — for the primary time. “It’s a journey,” Itani stated. “We’ve got a 10-year roadmap that may progressively elevate the patron expertise throughout all our locations.” Trying forward, the Westfield model will increase to Jeddah within the second quarter of 2026, serving because the flagship vacation spot within the western area. A Riyadh location is about to observe within the second half of 2026, establishing a nationwide community of worldwide aligned retail locations. Cenomi Facilities presently operates 21 way of life locations throughout 10 main cities, with greater than 4,200 shops and practically 1.3 million sqm of gross leasable space. The combination of Westfield inside this ecosystem positions Cenomi as each a regional chief and a rising international participant in retail growth. All through the night, the message from Cenomi and URW was clear: the launch of Westfield Dammam will not be merely a rebrand however a part of a broader transformation in Saudi Arabia’s shopper panorama. Executives emphasised that Westfield locations are outlined by ongoing activations, immersive experiences, and steady programming. “There’s at all times one thing taking place in a Westfield mall,” Sancerre stated, noting that the model’s operational mannequin aligns carefully with the Kingdom’s quickly evolving leisure and tourism sectors. Because the occasion concluded, visitors mirrored on the importance of the transformation. The countdown show and the sweeping reveal of the brand new signage symbolized not solely the completion of a branding milestone but in addition the start of a brand new section within the nation’s retail evolution — one formed by international partnerships, elevated shopper expectations, and a rising worldwide presence. Business observers say the launch comes at a pivotal second for Saudi Arabia because it accelerates growth throughout way of life, retail, and leisure sectors below Imaginative and prescient 2030. For worldwide guests aware of Westfield places in London, Paris, and Los Angeles, the model’s entry into the Kingdom provides familiarity and belief, additional supporting Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a worldwide tourism vacation spot. With Westfield Dammam now formally launched, work will proceed on enhancements to tenant choices, buyer expertise, and long-term programming. For Cenomi Facilities, the milestone represents the beginning of a decade of transformation as the corporate positions itself on the forefront of a altering regional retail panorama.
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