With regard to the Middle East, the New York-based retailer says a group of businesses there have formed Style Avenue Middle East to own and operate a total of four stores in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Specifics for two of the stores are now known.

The first store will be located at Bur Juman Centre in Dubai. The 80,000-sf store will open in February 2004, offering exclusive designer and contemporary apparel, shoes, and accessories; fine and fashion jewelry; cosmetics and fragrances; children's apparel; and gifts for the home. A smaller Saks Fifth Avenue "satellite" store is scheduled to open in the Landmark Shopping Center in Doha, Qatar in fall 2004. This store will offer designer handbags, accessories, cosmetics and fragrances, fine jewelry, and a small collection of designer and contemporary sportswear.

In Japan, Saks has signed a licensing agreement with Specialty Fashion Associates Japan Incorporated--a joint venture that includes leading fashion specialty store groups, a commercial facilities developer and retail consulting companies--to own and operate between five and 10 stores in major cities in Japan. The first Saks Fifth Avenue store there is scheduled to open in Tokyo in fall 2005. The 54,000-sf store will include offerings from established and emerging Japanese, European, and American designers. Details of the remaining stores have not been firmed up.