AME Info, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, retail briefs [AME Info, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates]

(AME Info (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 18--ABU DHABI SETS DEADLINE FOR GROCERY STORES TO COMPLETE RENOVATION: The government of Abu Dhabi has given groceries in the UAE capital a grace period of four months after the initial deadline has been granted to implement the store renovation programme, Gulf News has reported. "The grace period will allow those who lagged behind to register for the project before March 6," said the spokesman of the governmental committee for regulating the grocery stores in the emirate, Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa. "They will have to complete the renovation of their groceries no later than June 30 this year," he said. "Groceries that do not comply within this time frame will have to close shop," Al Reyaysa added.

KINGDOM HOLDING BUYS STAKE IN CHINESE ONLINE RETAILER: Kingdom Holding, the international investment firm of Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and a consortium of investors have bought a 1.5 billion rial ($400m) stake in Chinese online retail firm 360buy Jingdong, Reuters has reported. Kingdom Holding's investment in the deal came to 470 million rials, the firm said. "Our deal solidifies the strategic relationship between Saudi Arabia and China," Prince AlWaleed was quoted as saying in the statement, which did not mention the identities of the other investors in the consortium. According to its website, 360buy Jingdong is China's leading online retailer of consumer electronics.

EGYPT BANS SALE OF ALCOHOL IN NEW SUBURBS: Egypt's New Urban Communities Authorities has said the government will stop issuing licences for the sale of alcohol in some urban areas due to local complaints over security, Ahram has reported. The new measures will apply to recently-built developments on the outskirts of Egypt's major cities such as Cairo and Alexandria, said the vice-president of the government body. "It's not our decision. The cities' boards of trustees who are freely elected by the residents are demanding the closure of places which sell alcoholic products and have submitted numerous complaints of troubles the residents incur," Nabil Abbass told the daily. "The decision will affect only the residential areas of the new cities, while other areas, such as touristic, industrial and commercial zones, are still free from the ban," Abbass added.

APPLEBEE'S OPENS 14TH BRANCH IN SAUDI ARABIA: Arabian Entertainment Co, the franchisee of Applebee's in Saudi Arabia, has announced its expansion in the kingdom with the opening of a new outlet in the city of Qassim, Saudi Gazette has reported. The new Applebee's restaurant is the brand's 14th in Saudi Arabia and the city's first casual dining restaurant. The company's first restaurant in the country opened in Jeddah in 2003.

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