Taco Bell to return to UAE after 14 years as Americana Restaurants plans Gulf expansion
Taco Bell is set to return to the UAE after 14 years under a new agreement with Americana Restaurants, with plans to expand the US fast-food brand into other Gulf markets. Americana Restaurants has signed an exclusive development agreement with Taco Bell UK and Europe, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, to relaunch the chain in the UAE before a phased expansion across the Gulf. Taco Bell is the coolest…
Americana Restaurants, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, and Taco Bell have announced a new agreement to return the fast-food chain to the UAE after a 14-year absence. Americana has signed an exclusive development agreement with Taco Bell UK and Europe to relaunch the chain in the UAE before expanding across the Gulf. Taco Bell's chairman, Mohamed Alabbar, described the brand as "the coolest brand in its category" and noted its appeal to a generation seeking great flavor, value, and attitude.
The company will first enter the UAE market, with the specific location and opening date yet to be announced. Taco Bell withdrew from the UAE in 2012, reportedly due to strategic misalignments and intense competition from established restaurant brands. The UAE market has since evolved, with an increase in the expatriate population and growing demand for Mexican cuisine.
This move positions the UAE as the starting point for a broader regional expansion by Americana and Taco Bell. Taco Bell, one of the largest Mexican-inspired fast-food chains in the US, has been expanding its presence globally, with over 9,000 restaurants worldwide, including more than 1,200 outside the US.
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