Dine Brands International plans to open several Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar® and IHOP® restaurants in the United Arab Emirates.
The company announced in a Jan. 27 press release the opening of multiple restaurants, with the first coming to Dubai later this year.
The development stems from an agreement with established IHOP franchisee Mohamed Makawi, the release stated.
"Mohamed, as a long-time IHOP operator in the U.S., is an ideal franchisee to lead the new openings of Applebee's and IHOP restaurants in the UAE market," said Tony Moralejo, president, International, Dine Brands Global, Inc. "His passion for our brands, cultural understanding of the Middle East market, paired with his focus on creating exemplary guest experiences, position him to succeed in this new endeavor,"
Dine Brands International has opened approximately 3,440 restaurants across 16 countries, according to the release. The company hopes to continue expanding across North America, Latin America and the Middle East.
"For over 20 years, I've had the pleasure of developing the IHOP brand in the U.S.," said Makawi. "With this new venture, I look forward to gaining the support of the communities we plan to serve internationally."
Moralejo said he is excited about the potential the UAE market provides.
"We have seen success in this market through our ghost kitchen operations and are excited to be re-establishing brick-and-mortar locations for our two world-renowned brands," he said in the release. "The UAE is one of the fastest developing nations in the world, and the country's increasing tourism business and consumer demand for casual and family dining restaurants reaffirm it as an important growth market for Dine."