Carrefour, one of the Middle East’s most recognizable supermarket brands, has exited four countries in less than a year.
The exit from Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait has raised questions about whether UAE-based conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) is pivoting to its own grocery brand, HyperMax. MAF, which introduced Carrefour to the region in 1995 and holds exclusive rights to operate the chain across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, has given no explanation for the closures. Official statements only thanked customers and confirmed exit dates.
But even as Carrefour outlets shut down, HyperMax has rapidly filled the gap. In Bahrain, MAF announced six HyperMax stores following Carrefour’s September 14 exit. In Jordan and Oman, where Carrefour operations ended earlier, HyperMax already has 44 outlets. Together, the brand now operates 60 stores across three markets.
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Positioned as a locally rooted retailer, HyperMax highlights partnerships with farmers, producers, and SMEs.
Although MAF has not formally declared that HyperMax will replace Carrefour across the region, its swift rollouts in markets vacated by Carrefour suggest a quiet transition that could reshape the Gulf’s grocery retail landscape.
