Today marked a significant milestone for the iconic Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons in the Middle East with the opening of its 300th cafe in the region. Celebrations took place at Tim Hortons’ stylish Roshn Front location in Riyadh, attended by His Excellency the Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Jean-Philippe Linteau, the Chairman of Apparel Group and AG Café International, Mr. Nilesh Ved, and the CEO of Tim Hortons’ Master Franchisee in the Middle East, Mr. Hesham Almekkawi, among other distinguished guests.
Rapidly expanding in the region, Tim Hortons Middle East, represented by its master franchisee AG Café International—a joint venture owned by Apparel Group, a leading global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate, and Gateway Partners, an emerging markets alternative investment firm—has been aggressively widening its presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in recent years.
The first Tim Hortons Middle East “Café & Bake shop” opened in Dubai in 2011. Since then, AG Café International has opened another 299 cafés across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. “During the last decade, Tim Hortons Middle East has found countless opportunities in the region to grow and thrive,” stated Chairman Nilesh Ved. “Besides being loved by many guests here, the Middle East boasts an attractive investment environment, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure and many business incentives that encourage us to move forward with our expansion plans in the region. We have also expanded our footprint into India, where we already have over 35 cafés.”
Since its establishment, Tim Hortons Middle East has captured the hearts and taste buds of guests by demonstrating unwavering commitment to delivering premium quality and ensuring a consistently enjoyable customer experience. The coffee shop chain is known for its freshly brewed coffee made with 100% premium Arabica beans, as well as its wide variety of freshly baked goods, donuts, Timbits®, and sandwiches.
The CEO of Tim Hortons’ Master Franchisee in the Middle East, Mr. Hesham Almekkawi, added, “By taking advantage of the brand’s popularity, our strategic development will ensure that Tim Hortons’ iconic coffee is accessible to customers across the Middle East,” highlighting that at the heart of the brand’s expansion plans lies a real passion to connect with local communities and foster connections between customers. “Not only do we strive to become everyone’s café of choice, but we also love being part of every neighborhood, presenting ourselves as a real community’s coffee that makes people of all walks of life feel included and welcome,” said Almekkawi.
Almekkawi concluded, “We enjoy offering customers comfort, refreshments, and a relaxing environment. With the opening of our 300th branch, we reaffirm this mission once again, empowering people and bringing them together over a good cup of coffee, a hearty meal, and exciting conversations.”
In addition to the heartwarming coffee and irresistible bites, Tim Hortons lovers in the Middle East enjoy the coffee shop’s warm and welcoming environment and cozy ambiance. This friendly mood, evident in every detail—from the comfort of the seats to the adequate light levels and beyond—provides visitors with experiential moments, reflecting the brand’s continuous quest to achieve customer happiness.
Proud of Tim Hortons’ success, His Excellency the Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Jean-Philippe Linteau, commented on the achievement, saying, “Tim Hortons is an iconic Canadian brand, symbolized by the maple leaf, and seeing it thrive in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC makes me very proud. The opening of the 300th store in the Kingdom reflects the strong economic ties and mutual appreciation between our countries. The brand’s popularity here also highlights the quality of Canadian food and beverages and the meaningful connections many Saudis have with Canada.”
It is noteworthy that Tim Hortons Middle East lends innovation, design, and creativity a key role in its growth strategy. It has been rewarded for this approach two years in a row, securing Superbrands status in the UAE and being recognized by RetailME with multiple awards across diverse categories covering campaigns and concepts executed across the GCC.