Dubai-born famed modern Japanese concept Akiba Dori kicks off its 5th anniversary early with a 30-location franchise development deal for India. Following the restaurant’s successful expansion streak, with five locations launched just under five years across the GCC– an international development plan is a natural progression for the brand as it sets its sights on new markets. Locations are set to open across major cosmopolitan locations within India over the next 5 years, bringing the signature Akiba Dori style and unforgettably delicious modern Japanese street-food & Tokyo-style pizza that customers of the brand have enjoyed over the last 5 years in the UAE & most recently, Saudi Arabia, to one of the biggest consumer markets in the world.
“Launching an original F&B brand in Dubai is as close as you can get to testing your concept on an international audience,” said Samer S. Hamadeh, Founder of Akiba Dori. “Dubai has incomparable PR power; if you can make your brand work here, you can take it almost anywhere on the planet, and I can’t think of more than a handful of cities that can make that claim. Taking Akiba Dori from our home base in Dubai to one of the world’s most powerful markets is a dream for us and we can’t wait to support our franchisees there with the help of our development partners led by India’s franchising legend Mr. Gaurav Marya, Chairman of Franchise India & FranGlobal.”
Akiba Dori is a part of the ‘Made in Dubai’ initiative developed by Dubai Tourism & was created to support & promote homegrown F&B brands in the city and beyond.
H.E. Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing added: “the year 2022 marked a key milestone for Dubai’s culinary scene as it officially became part of the MICHELIN Guide family, in addition to Gault&Millau’s and The World’s Best 50 Restaurants. What makes Dubai’s culinary landscape so distinctive is its reflection of the more than 200 nationalities that call the city home, delivering an epicurean kaleidoscope that is both incredibly rich and varied but also fresh and energizing. Dubai’s many restaurateurs and culinary pioneers draw from inspiration that is truly global in nature, yet nuanced and infused in so many novel ways. Seeing homegrown brands like Akiba Dori, a successful and affordable eatery that started out at the heart of Dubai Design District going global is a testament to the strength of Dubai’s gastronomy scene and I would like to share my sincere congratulations on Akiba Dori’s expansion”.
Gaurav Marya, Founder & Chairman of FranGlobal commented: “We are excited to work in tandem with Akiba Dori in their India expansion journey! Certainly, such a novel and inimitable concept is sure to find success among the Indian consumers, who are always in the lookout for not just food but great experiences as well.”
