1927

When it all began

Our story starts in 1927, when distinguished ophthalmologist Dr. Amin Magrabi opened the first clinic in Cairo, Egypt, officially establishing the MAGRABi entity.

1955

FIRST HOSPITAL

His son, Dr. Akef Magrabi, an ophthalmologist himself and a visionary surgeon, continued to invest in the field of eye care services and opened the first Sub-Specialist Hospital in the Middle East in 1955, paving the way for a series of groundbreaking milestones in ophthalmology.

1973

BREAKTHROUGH IN OPHTHALMOLOGY

Since its inception, the hospital has performed a number of ophthalmological breakthroughs, including the first:

• Corneal transplant surgery in the Middle East.
• Cataract surgery by ultrasound.
• Vision correction by radial keratotomy in the Middle East
• Laser refractive surgery in the Middle East.
• Robotic-assisted laser cataract surgery in the region.
• Intra-operational imaging.

1981

First Store

In 1981, the first MAGRABi optical store opened inside a hospital. Because of the store’s success, and through his innovative thinking, Dr. Akef branched out into MAGRABi Retail.

1987

STORE CONCEPT 1.0

In 1987, a standalone store was opened, officially establishing MAGRABi Retail Group as its own separate entity from the hospitals and expanding it into a chain of eyewear retail stores. As chairman of MAGRABi Retail and MAGRABi Group, Dr. Akef brought the MAGRABi name to international prominence across the MENA region.

1998

In 1998, the MAGRABi stores multiplied and expanded across Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

2003

In 2003, Magrabi also expanded to the UAE; it was there that the stores’ flat concept was awarded “Best Store Design”, earning the retail group the market leader position in the country.

2017

In 2017, after opening in multiple locations across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the stores underwent their first major rebranding, becoming more customer-centric and fashion-focused.

2020

ECOMM LAUNCH

After amassing great success and establishing itself as one of the leading eyewear retailers in the region, MAGRABi Retail Group launched its fully integrated e-commerce platform in 2020. Designed to be a luxury and style haven, the online store provides a sophisticated and comprehensive experience and invites customers to seamlessly explore, discover, and live the full MAGRABi experience online.

2021

STORE CONCEPT 2.0

In 2021, the MAGRABi stores across all locations and countries underwent another round of upgrades. The goal was to push customer centricity further and upgrade the stores’ positioning to a premium level.

2022

STORE CONCEPT 3.0

A year later, the concept was improved upon and rolled out with further elevated executions. This step was taken to parallel the strategic evolution the Group was implementing towards a luxury positioning.

2023

SIGNATURE CONCEPT

2023 saw the stores rebranded once again to embody the luxury lifestyle, becoming more immersive and personalized. The Group scouted out landmark locations and imbued them with an elevated look and feel, turning them into flagship stores that act as retail sanctuaries for the customers. They took the experience further by introducing the Private Viewing Lounge in select locations, making it a unique luxury in-store experience that offers high-end exquisite and rare eyewear to the discerning connoisseur.

2024

Today

In September 2024, MAGRABi Retail Group entered a historic partnership with Rivoli Group, the leading lifestyle retailer in the Lower Gulf. This merger is set to revolutionize the regional eyewear market, enhancing customer and stakeholder experiences and benefiting the industry as a whole.

The new “MAGRABi-Rivoli Enterprise” has set a new benchmark for service excellence and quality across the Middle East. A shared commitment to continuous investment in innovation and a multi-channel environment will seamlessly integrate specialty stores and digital channels, providing more sophisticated services in the luxury, premium, and lifestyle markets, with over 290 stores across multiple countries.