Dubai, January 30, 2024 (QW): The renowned Colombian coffee chain “Juan Valdez,” headquartered in Bogotá, has unveiled its new strategy to enhance its presence in the Middle East and Asia through Dubai. This comes with the opening of its first café in the Jumeirah Beach area in Dubai. The café, currently in a “preliminary opening” phase, is scheduled for an official launch on February 22, 2024.
Sebastián Mejía, Vice President of Juan Valdez International, considers the high tourist demand in the United Arab Emirates and its strong economy as key factors making it an ideal base for the coffee chain’s broader expansion strategy in the Middle East.
Juan Valdez plans to establish more company-owned and franchised stores in the UAE while also focusing on developing its online and horeca (hospitality and catering) channels within the country.
The debut of “Juan Valdez” in Dubai marks the beginning of the company’s extensive expansion plans across the Middle East and Asia. Mejía emphasized the strategic importance of Dubai, stating, “This key and strategic market represent a great opportunity for Juan Valdez’s expansion in the Middle East. Dubai, with its tourism levels and dynamic economy, is the perfect place to showcase our coffee.”
Currently operating around 560 stores globally, including 200 in 17 international markets, Juan Valdez, originating from Bogotá, entered the Middle East market for the first time with a store in Kuwait in 2013, followed by expansions into Qatar in April 2022 and Egypt in October 2023.
The United Arab Emirates, being the second-largest market for branded coffee shops in the Middle East, has become an attractive hub for international coffee operators. Major brands such as Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Tim Hortons, Dunkin’, and Caribou Coffee have significantly expanded their presence in the UAE in recent years.
In 2024, the UAE is set to welcome more international coffee brands, including the UK’s Black Sheep Coffee, the boutique label Ralph’s Coffee, California’s Reborn Coffee, the South Korean bakery cafe chain Paris Baguette, London-based specialty coffee group Grind, and the Brazilian small-format concept The Coffee, alongside the bubble tea giant Gong cha. Many of these brands have either signed or are actively seeking franchise agreements to establish their presence in the country.