The Luxury Network, the world’s leading luxury marketing group, has announced its plans to establish an office in the UAE as part of its global expansion strategy.

The firm is pioneering the concept of affinity marketing for luxury brands in the emirates.

Established in the UK in 2007, The Luxury Network has rapidly become the world’s leading Affinity Marketing group with offices in Beverly Hills, Moscow, Milan, Hong Kong and now the UAE. Its current membership portfolio boasts some of the world’s most exclusive luxury brands, including: Bentley, Aston Martin, Selfridges, Holland & Holland, Koenigsegg, Tatler, Barclays Wealth, Smythsons, Sunseeker Yachts  and Royal Ascot to name just a few.

The Luxury Network will generate Affinity Marketing initiatives to help luxury brands operating in the region thrive amidst current economic challenges.

“Our role is to create, facilitate and mediate unique partnerships between premium brands to promote synergies, business development and strategic alliances,” said Kevin Rose, founding partner, The Luxury Network.

UAE managing director Shraddha Barot said the UAE office is aiming to sign up only the top luxury brands in the region – to maintain the exclusivity and to ensure affinity marketing initiatives are optimised.

“It is essential that we have non-competitive brands in the network, so we carefully select brands who will have the privilege and opportunity to join this elite community,” she continued.

Barot says the UAE network will be officially launched in the first quarter of 2010 and a few select brands have already been allowed to join.

“We also plan to make the UAE our regional headquarters, where we hope to manage offices across the Middle East and North Africa. Currently, we are looking to sign joint venture agreements in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt and Lebanon.”-TradeArabia News Service