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The US-based retail giant <\/span>Amazon signed an agreement Wednesday to start an online grocery store in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).<\/p>\n Amazon and Abu Dhabi\u2019s operator\u00a0Lulu Group<\/span><\/a>\u00a0will work together to develop an online grocery service that delivers products to customers in the UAE.<\/p>\n Customers can now buy grocery items and daily essentials from LuLu Group via Amazon. The shopping will be in effect on Amazon\u2019s Emirati website via Amazon.ae, according to a press release.<\/p>\n The move will augment Amazon\u2019s footprint in the Middle East. Amazon recently launched a\u00a0storefront for Egyptian handicrafts. Saudi Arabia\u2019s\u00a0Public Investment Fund<\/span><\/a>\u00a0also bought more shares in Amazon earlier this year, and its stock in the company is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n Muhammad Ali Al-Shurafa, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said: \u201cThis partnership is in line with the efforts of Abu Dhabi and the UAE to support private sector institutions and companies to innovate, provide modern and smooth services to the public, and develop their commercial businesses,\u201d according to Archyde<\/i>.<\/p>\n Yusuf Ali, chairman and\u00a0managing director of LuLu Group, told Archyde<\/i>: \u201cOur customers\u2019 needs are a top priority in all of our operations, and we are well aware of the importance of listening to customers and adapting our business models to provide them with an advanced shopping experience that meets their ambitious aspirations.\u201d<\/p>\n Ali added that he \u201clooks forward to connecting with millions of customers shopping on Amazon\u201d, according to Timeout Dubai<\/i>.<\/p>\n LuLu\u2019s partnership with Amazon comes despite the grocery store already having an online presence.<\/p>\n More and more services in the UAE are moving online as the country is seeking to be a\u00a0global high-tech hub.<\/p>\n