Footwear and sportswear retailer Footasylum has signed an international expansion partnership with global fashion and lifestyle retail group Apparel Group, marking its first move into physical retail outside the UK.

Under the partnership, Footasylum will work with the Dubai-headquartered group across wholesale, ecommerce and franchise channels to accelerate expansion across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Plans include opening 40 Footasylum stores over the next five years across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

Describing the partnership as a “major step forward”, David Pujolar, CEO of Footasylum, said: “In recent years, we’ve begun to build a growing international presence through wholesale and ecommerce, and this agreement significantly accelerates that momentum in the Gulf region.”

By partnering with Apparel Group, Footasylum gains immediate access to one of the region’s largest retail networks, advanced omnichannel and marketing capabilities, and a customer base of more than 14 million Club Apparel members.

Apparel Group operates over 2,500 stores across 14 countries and manages a portfolio of more than 85 international brands. Its capabilities span brand development, retail technology, shopfitting and partnerships with major shopping malls across the region.

Neeraj Teckchandani, Chief Executive Officer of Apparel Group, said the deal aligned with the group’s strategy to expand its brand portfolio across the GCC.

“Footasylum’s unique position in streetwear and youth-centric fashion aligns exceptionally well with the dynamic tastes of shoppers across the GCC. By combining Footasylum’s authentic brand identity with Apparel Group’s regional expertise, omnichannel infrastructure, and deep understanding of local market behaviour, we see a strong opportunity to deliver meaningful value to customers and partners alike.”