From a single boutique in Damascus, Syria, to the Middle East’s leading luxury group, the Chalhoub family has built an empire through resilience, reinvention and enduring partnerships.
1950s to 1970s: Foundations
1955: Michel and Widad Chalhoub open the first Christofle boutique in Damascus. A family business is born, launching a vision to bring international luxury to the Arab world.
1965: The company operations relocate to Beirut, establishing a broader regional presence as the company expands beyond Syria.
1975: The family moves to Kuwait amid the Lebanese civil war, bringing 30 employees. Anthony Chalhoub joins, marking the entry of the second generation.
1979: Patrick Chalhoub joins the family business. The company reaches 100 employees as growth accelerates across the Gulf.
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1980s to 1990s: Building the Empire
1980: Tanagra launches in Kuwait — the group’s first owned concept store, curating refined lifestyle and gift experiences. The shift from distributor to retailer begins.
1982: The first Louis Vuitton boutique in the Middle East opens in Kuwait, establishing a partnership model that would define the Chalhoub Group’s future.
1989: Faces (originally Wojooh) debuts as a pioneering beauty concept store, reimagining how the region experiences cosmetics retail. Today 85 stores across the Middle East.
1990: Headquarters relocate to Dubai following the Gulf War — the fourth major relocation in 35 years. The UAE becomes the group’s permanent home.
1991: Chalhoub enters Saudi Arabia, beginning what would become the group’s largest and most strategically important market.
2000s: Scaling Partnerships
2001: Anthony and Patrick named co-chief executive officers; founder Michel Chalhoub becomes chairman, formalizing the leadership transition to the second generation.
2006: The Sephora partnership begins — a relationship that nearly ended two years later when LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton considered exiting the region. Chalhoub’s persistence saved the partnership, which thrives today.
2010s: Innovation and Diversification
2012: Level Shoes opens in Dubai Mall — a 96,000-square-foot experiential destination that redefines luxury footwear retail globally.
2016: Ghawali launches, offering a modern reinterpretation of Arabian fragrance heritage. The brand marks the group’s move into original product creation.
2017: Chalhoub acquires Christofle, the French silversmith that launched Michel Chalhoub’s dream in 1955. The brand comes full circle — from first partnership to full ownership.
2020s: Global Ambitions
2025: Michael Chalhoub becomes CEO, marking the third generation of family leadership. The group reveals a strategic investment in Willy Chavarria, launches Makette, its first proprietary fashion brand, and prepares Level Shoes’ U.S. debut in Miami.
