Dubai: Doner Kebab is opening 12 more outlets in Dubai by the year-end with an investment of Dh20 million as it enjoys strong customer demand and sales, according to Farshad Abbaszadeh, the company’s chief executive.
The kebab fast food retailer will also open one store each in Abu Dhabi (Yas Mall), Ajman, Al Ain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, and in the wider GCC, in Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia this year.
The kebab fast food retailer’s new stores will bring the total to 26 in the UAE, and will be financed using the company’s own funds. The new outlets in Dubai will be located in Al Barsha, Al Ghurair Centre, Burjuman Centre, Deira, Dragon Mart, The Dubai Mall, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Sports City, Global Village, JBR The Walk, Jumeirah road, and Tecom.
Demand in the UAE has been so good that the company will start building its first factory in Dubai in September, according to Abbaszade. Covering an area of 10,000 square metres, the factory will be located in Dubai World Central, and is expected to be operational in July next year. It will produce everything necessary for the company’s operations, including meat, bread and sauces.
Abbaszadeh did not disclose the retailer’s profit and revenue for the first half of the year.
After the opening of its first store in Berlin, Germany in 1989, Doner Kebab has expanded to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Pakistan, India and Sweden, and has 14 locations worldwide. It operates company-owned stores and outlets that are operated by different partners in the GCC.
The UAE has a wide variety of kebab outlets catering to multiple neighbourhoods.
“The market is relatively saturated for Arabic food cuisines and kebabs specifically,” said Colin Beaton, managing director of Limelight Creative Services, a boutique retail strategy consultancy. The kebab market in Dubai is fragmented, dominated by small independent restaurants, he said.
