Pret a Manger will expand in the United Arab Emirates as part of a new agreement with long-term franchise partner Emirates Leisure Retail, which will see up to 20 new shops in the UAE in the coming years.
The announcement follows plans announced earlier this week to expand the sandwich and coffee chain in Spain and Portugal with new franchise partner Ibersol Group. It also follows an agreement announced in November last year to expand the Pret brand in Kuwait with One PM Franchising.
The agreement is part of Pret’s aim to double the size of its business within five years. The chain currently has shops in the UK, US, Hong Kong, France, Dubai, Switzerland, Brussels, Singapore and Germany.
Emirates Leisure Retail, a subsidiary of the Emirates Group, owns and operates over 300 restaurants, cafes, and bars across the Middle East, Australia, Asia, America, and Africa.
Pret CEO Pano Christou said: “We have a long-standing relationship with Emirates Leisure Retail, who have helped the Pret brand go from strength to strength in the Middle East.
“This new partnership builds on the great work achieved to date and is a further vote of confidence in the Pret brand across the globe.”
Andrew Day, CEO, Emirates Leisure Group, said: “We’ve been working with Pret for over seven years, and in that time, we’ve seen the demand in Dubai for Pret’s freshly prepared food and organic coffee grow every day.
“This extended partnership will help us meet that demand across the country.”
