In a move set to reshape the premium live-fire dining landscape of the Middle East, Mario Aoun, founder of BBQ Bros, has officially signed a major strategic partnership with Samer Abu Khadra of Centro Kitchen Company. The agreement grants the company the rights to develop and operate BBQ Bros across Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
A milestone deal
The landmark partnership marks one of the most ambitious hospitality expansions in the region’s open-fire dining sector, covering both large-scale catering operations and full restaurant development across the two countries.
At the heart of the agreement lies the launch of a state-of-the-art central production facility designed to serve as the operational backbone for BBQ Bros in Saudi Arabia. The facility is expected to set new benchmarks in production capacity, quality control, logistics and culinary innovation, supporting everything from luxury events and high-profile gatherings to large-scale hospitality activations.
The partnership also includes the aggressive rollout of multiple BBQ Bros restaurant outlets throughout Saudi Arabia and Jordan, bringing the brand’s signature open-fire experience, theatrical live cooking and globally recognized hospitality culture to two of the region’s most dynamic markets.
Fire-driven hospitality
Jordan is expected to become the first country to launch under the new agreement, with operations targeted for July 2026. Saudi Arabia will follow shortly after, beginning with Riyadh in September 2026, paving the way for what insiders are already calling a major regional hospitality movement.
For years, BBQ Bros has built a reputation far beyond traditional barbecue culture. Under the leadership of Mario Aoun, the brand evolved into an internationally recognized fire-driven hospitality concept, blending premium ingredients, open-fire craftsmanship, live entertainment and immersive guest experiences. From Lebanon to the UAE, Kuwait, Egypt, Belgium and beyond, BBQ Bros has positioned itself as a lifestyle brand centered around what Aoun calls “The Fire Movement.”
Long-term vision
“This is not simply a franchise expansion,” said Mario Aoun during the signing ceremony. “This is the beginning of a long-term regional vision. We are building infrastructure, culture and experiences designed to elevate open-fire hospitality to a completely different level across Saudi Arabia and Jordan.”
Samer Abu Khadra emphasized the scale and seriousness of the project, describing the partnership as “a transformative hospitality investment built on operational excellence, culinary innovation and long-term market leadership.”
Industry observers are already watching the partnership closely, particularly given the exceptional growth of Saudi Arabia’s hospitality and lifestyle sectors under Vision 2030, as well as Jordan’s rapidly evolving premium dining scene.
The upcoming launches are expected to introduce a new generation of BBQ Bros destinations, combining high-energy live-fire kitchens, elevated design aesthetics, premium catering capabilities and large-format hospitality experiences tailored to both local and international audiences.
With the ink now dry on the agreement, the flames are officially lit for what could become one of the region’s defining hospitality expansions of the coming years.
From embers to empire, BBQ Bros is entering a new era.
