The Majid Al Futtaim shopping mall has opened the region’s first check-out free store, Carrefour City+ in the United Arab Emirates.
The store, located in the Mall of the Emirates, offers a contactless experience by using artificial intelligence, with customers using their phone to access the store and pick items before walking out without having to queue and pay at a physical cash register.
Store access and shopping payment is handled via the MAF Carrefour app, with every item picked up by the shopper added automatically to a digital shopping basket, with the transaction completed by walking out, eliminating the need for staff interaction.
The opening of the store, the first in the region, marks the continuation of a new, automated shopping experience that is becoming common in Europe and the US, with Amazon Go grocery stores opening in the US and UK.
Hans Weiss, chief executive officer, Majid Al Futtaim Retail, commented: “Carrefour City+ has been designed to make life easier by using technology to remove friction and enhance the retail experience.
“The store represents a huge leap forwards for retail in the UAE and region as Carrefour continues to innovate to meet the needs of the present whilst anticipating future shopping trends.”