Jordan-Based Eat Plans 25-Unit Regional Expansion

April’s opening of a flagship store for Azkadenya in Dubai marks the first step in an aggressive regional expansion drive by Jordan’s Eat Restaurant Group.

The new Azkadenya outlet, located in a shopping mall in the city’s high-end Jumeirah district, is part of Eat’s plan to open 25 new regional outlets of the Arabic casual-dining chain by 2020.

Eat CEO/Owner Omar Tabbaa told the press his company had signed a joint venture with UAE-based Gourmet Gulf to expand in Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Egypt.

Azkadenya serves a Levantine menu in colorful, pop-art-themed outlets often compared with the Hard Rock Café chain. It debuted in Amman and Irbid three years ago and plans are underway to open a Saudi Arabia location in 2016.