Dentons has advised Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), a major UAE-based trading house, in respect of the franchise and development agreement for the first ever Fortnum & Mason store outside of London.

The 9,400-square foot, three-storey store opened in March in the Dubai Mall area. It is prominently positioned by the fountains near the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper. The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping destination in the world by visitor count, reporting 72 million visitors in 2013.

Babette Märzheuser-Wood, partner in Dentons' international franchise practice and head of the UKMEA franchising and licensing team, commented: "This transaction is illustrative of the voracious appetite of consumers in the Middle East and other emerging economies for luxury brands from Europe and America. We were delighted to have advised AKI on this landmark transaction."

The Dentons team was led by Babette Marzheuser-Wood and included Katie Aitken-Quack, lawyer in the firm's TMT practice.

Fortnum & Mason were advised by Osborne Clarke.