Arby’s Launches it's First Restaurant in Saudi Arabia

Arby’s, an American restaurant chain, has brought its popular meat sandwich menu to Saudi Arabia. It has opened its very first outlet in the region, and customers can get a taste of what it has to offer in Riyadh.

According to Arab News, Arby’s entrance into Saudi Arabia was made possible through a franchise agreement with local restaurant operator, Shahia Foods Limited Company. The company is said to be the franchisee of Dunkin’ Donuts in the country and Bahrain as well.

Opening a branch in Riyadh is said to be part of Arby’s parent company, Inspire Brands International’s, plans for expansion as it taps into the growing food and hospitality market in the Middle East.

The menu in the new Arby’s outlet in Saudi Arabia will be very similar to what is being offered in the United States. The restaurant said that customers can also choose from an array of meats. There will be 10 meat stacks in the stores every day, and these are carefully prepared by the trained hands of staff.

There will also be special items on the menu that are previously only available in the United Kingdom. Moreover, Arby’s store is about 270 square meters and can accommodate 70 diners. It also has a drive-thru for customers who cannot dine and prefer to eat at home, office, or other places.

With the opening of its store in Riyadh, Arby’s is now present in 180 locations across eight countries, excluding the U.S. The restaurant chain has plans to open more stores across the Kingdom in the coming months.

“Arby’s entry into Saudi Arabia is another exciting milestone for the brands' international growth story,” Inspire Brands’ president and managing director, Michael Haley, said in a press release. “We are very pleased with our Dunkin’ collaboration with Shahia Foods and are excited to expand our portfolio and bring our authority in meat quality and flavor to new guests in a rapidly growing region.”

The CEO of Shahia Foods, Saud Abdullah Al Athel, also said, “Adapting restaurants for international tastes is always a fun challenge, and we’re excited to share what makes Arby’s such a unique and celebrated brand in the U.S. with what are sure to be craveable new favorites.”