Abu dhabi: As part of efforts to support Egyptian exports and enhance cooperation with major regional retail chains, the Egyptian Commercial Office in Dubai, led by Minister Plenipotentiary for Commercial Affairs Manal Abdel Tawab, along with Commercial Attach© Hussein Abdel Moneim Hussein, Deputy Head of the Office, held an expanded meeting with the Board of Directors of Lulu International Group at their headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The meeting discussed ways to boost the group's imports from Egypt and reviewed recent developments in its operations within the Egyptian market and its expansion plans for the upcoming period.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Executive Director of the Group Ashraf Ali emphasized the strategic importance of the Egyptian market to Lulu International Group, noting that Egypt is the group's second-largest market after the United Arab Emirates. He explained that the group currently operates four hypermarket branches in Egypt, with plans to increase the number to seven in the current phase.
He added that the group exports from Egypt to Lulu Hypermarket branches in the UAE. Egyptian exports to the Lulu chain in the UAE amounted to approximately USD 60 million in 2025, while the UAE's total imports from Egypt by the Lulu Group reached about USD 150 million in the same year. These included dairy products, cheese, foodstuffs, fruits and vegetables, as well as home textiles such as bed linens and towels.
On another note, the group's Executive Director reviewed the expansion plans in the Egyptian market, referring to his recent visit to Egypt leading a delegation from the company's Board of Directors to participate in the Food Africa exhibition last December. This visit resulted in the signing of agreements with four local Egyptian suppliers to meet the needs of the company's branches in Egypt and the Gulf countries.
He explained that the group is currently developing three new hypermarket branches in Obour, 6th of October City, and the New Administrative Capital, which will contribute to creating approximately 1,000 new job opportunities. This will increase the total number of Egyptian employees within the group's operations in Egypt and the Gulf to roughly 5,000.
He also pointed to the signing of an agreement with Modon Real Estate to make Lulu Hypermarket the exclusive brand for its projects in the Ras El Hekma area, noting that both companies are owned by ADQ, which holds a 20% stake in Lulu International Group.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of ongoing coordination and cooperation in the coming period to boost the access of Egyptian products to regional and international distribution networks and to strengthen Egypt's role as a key hub for supply and export in the region.
In this context, Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Abdel Aziz El Sherif, First Undersecretary of the Ministry and Head of the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS), affirmed that this meeting comes within the framework of the Commercial Representation's strategy aimed at deepening partnerships with major regional and international distribution chains and maximizing the utilization of Egypt's productive capacities. He noted that cooperation with Lulu International Group represents a successful model for directly linking Egyptian products to Gulf markets, contributing to increased Egyptian exports, supporting value chains, and opening new horizons for Egyptian suppliers and exporters-particularly in the food industries, agricultural crops, and home textiles sectors. He added that the network of ESC offices will continue to work with strategic partners to support expansion plans in the Egyptian market and enhance Egypt's position as a regional center for production and export.