APE Grupo has inaugurated its first flagship store in Dubai, a new milestone in the company’s international expansion strategy that strengthens its positioning in the United Arab Emirates, one of the key markets for the ceramic group.
The opening brought together more than 200 professionals, mainly architects and interior designers from some of the country’s most prominent studios, and became a meeting point for architecture, design, culture and brand.
The inauguration of APE Grupo’s flagship store in Dubai reflects the company’s strong growth in the region. Over the past five years, since 2021, APE Grupo has doubled its turnover in the United Arab Emirates, a country that currently accounts for 3.5% of the group’s global revenue.
This growth is complemented by the brand’s increasing presence in other Middle Eastern markets such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, where ceramics and contemporary design play a key role in major architectural projects.
Among the attendees was the Spanish Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Emilio Pin Godos, a native of Castellón, who accompanied APE Grupo at an opening that also symbolises the international projection of the Spanish ceramic industry.
The event opened with a speech by José Miguel Pellicer, CEO of APE Grupo, who recalled a well-known quote by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a key figure behind Dubai’s modern transformation: “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it and execute it. It is not something to be awaited, but something to be created.”
A reflection with which Pellicer linked the spirit of Dubai to APE Grupo’s strategic vision for the region.
Firás Atallah, APE Grupo’s Middle East Manager, also spoke, highlighting the role of the new flagship store as a reference space for architects, interior designers and specifiers.
Beyond its commercial dimension, APE Grupo’s flagship store in Dubai has been conceived as an experiential space, designed to convey the identity, creativity and culture of Spanish design from a contemporary perspective.
The event featured a live performance by guitarist Keco Fontana alongside flamenco dancer Irene Ferrero, in an artistic proposal that fused tradition and avant-garde.
The closing highlight of the event was the participation of artist Juan Ripollés, who painted a work live throughout the inauguration in his unmistakable style. A particularly symbolic intervention, as it marked two years since Ripollés last painted, turning the opening into a unique cultural experience for attendees.
With this first flagship store, APE Grupo reinforces its commitment to Dubai as a gateway to the Middle East and as an international showcase for its ceramic offering aimed at professionals in architecture, interior design and design.
The new store is thus consolidated as a strategic brand space, where innovation, design and culture come together in the service of major international projects.
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