Lulu opens Xpress store at Al Khawaneej Endowment Mall project in Dubai
Project links commercial activity with funding for mosque upkeep and community programmes
UAE – A new retail outlet operated by LuLu Group has opened at Khawaneej Gate in Al Khawaneej-2, forming part of a development created by the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation to generate income from endowment assets.
The launch of the Lulu Xpress branch is part of the Al Khawaneej Endowment Mall project.
This initiative combines neighbourhood retail services with revenue streams to support social programmes across Dubai.
According to the foundation, the retail space was built within a development funded by endowment investments that aim to generate long-term income while also providing everyday services to residents in the surrounding districts.
The store opening ceremony was attended by Essa Abdullah Al Ghurair, chairman of the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, alongside Ali Mohammed Al Mutawa, the foundation’s secretary general, and Yusuffali M. A., chairman of LuLu Group.
Officials at the event said the development represents the foundation’s effort to expand endowment projects that combine property development with commercial partnerships with private-sector operators.
Endowment-based development model
Al Ghurair said the organisation is working to establish modern endowment projects capable of generating steady financial returns to support the maintenance of mosques and wider community initiatives in the emirate.
He also stated that the foundation intends to increase collaboration with private companies to develop additional endowment-backed commercial sites and expand the role of these assets in funding social programmes.
Mutawa added that the foundation is continuing to invest in new developments that leverage endowment resources while adapting projects to meet current urban and economic needs in Dubai.
Retail expansion
Meanwhile, Yusuffali said the partnership between LuLu Group and the foundation may extend to additional retail locations connected to similar projects that the Awqaf organisation plans to develop in the region.
The new Lulu Xpress branch occupies approximately 19,800 square feet and includes departments for groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood, bakery products, and much more.
The outlet has also been fitted with self-checkout counters and a dedicated parking area, features that the operator said are intended to support faster transactions and easier access for shoppers visiting the store.
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