Alaraba Group

In the middle sixties, Adnan Al Tahhan established in Kuwait the Green Company, a small business for imported European clothes from Italy, France and Spain among others. This small establishment made then a big success in the Kuwait market. In 1986, and after achieving this success, Mr. Tahhan established ALARABA GROUP in Damascus. As a closed market, the Syrian economy prohibited import. In 1987, the company decided to deal with locally made Syrian products through its first, three-storey, 850 square meters store, in the Al Hamra street, in Damascus. This store is now considered one of the largest stores in the Al Hamra Street, the downtown top business centre in the city. Under the commercial name ALARABA, this store provides children and ladies ware and lingerie. In 2001, the company closed their business in Kuwait and decided to concentrate on the Syrian market. This step followed Mr. Tahhan's sons shifting back home to manage their business there. They were encouraged by the economical developments in the country and the expansion of the European franchised Syrian products. Rather than targeting expansion in the Syrian market, doomed to overture in importation during a short period, this trend increased competition opportunities in the Syrian market.