Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first restaurant in Dubai, UAE, in partnership with the Alshaya Group, a leading international franchise retail operator.
Located at The Beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), the new unit is in a marquee location along the beachside boulevard, spanning over 6,000 square feet.
A second location will open in the region at the Dubai Hills Mall in the coming months.
Chipotle’s initial expansion into the Middle East began when the brand opened its doors in Kuwait in April 2024, which was the first time Chipotle had entered a new country in more than 10 years. Last month, Alshaya Group opened a second Chipotle restaurant in Kuwait, located at The Walk Mall in Ardiya.
"The early results at the Chipotle restaurants in Kuwait have exceeded our expectations, making it one of the top performing brands in our portfolio, and we are more confident than ever that the fast-casual concept has immense growth potential in the Middle East,” says John Hadden, chief executive officer, Alshaya Group.
In North America, Chipotle currently owns and operates over 3,500 restaurants and is targeting 8% to 10% growth per year for the foreseeable future with at least 80% of locations offering a Chipotlane, the chain’s version of a drive-thru. Chipotle plans to open between 285 to 315 new restaurants this year, with a long-term target of reaching 7,000 locations in North America.