Middle Eastern franchising: a new import
The MENA region has long been a gateway for international franchises, welcoming global brands eager to expand. Now, as the market matures and competition intensifies, regional entrepreneurs are increasingly taking their own concepts abroad with success. Nagi Morkos, founder and managing partner at Hodema Consulting Services, looks at how shifting market trends are redefining the region’s franchising story.
Em Sherif enters a new expansion phase in Lebanon
7 Management and ADIHH have unveiled the expansion of the Em Sherif brand into the UAE, with the launch of Em Sherif Sea Café.
Restaurant concepts to keep an eye on
The region’s diverse hospitality landscape is thriving, with options spanning award-winning restaurants, traditional cafes and everything in between. Here are some of the notable names to put on your radar:
Aline Kamakian on preserving Armenian heritage through worldwide hospitality
From a family table in Beirut to international acclaim, Aline Kamakian, founder and CEO of Fig Holding, has built Mayrig into a global ambassador for Armenian cuisine. A chef whose work extends from disciplined expansion to humanitarian service, she reflects here on preservation, purpose and an upcoming surprise for Lebanon.
14 hospitality leaders on building brands with staying power
From family legacies to bold startups, the Middle East’s hospitality landscape is being shaped by entrepreneurs with a razor-sharp vision for how they want to grow their business. Careful expansion, investing in team development and creating guest experiences that resonate rather than embracing every trend are among their strategies. Here, 14 regional business leaders share their journeys, from lessons learned to future plans.
A taste of the kingdom in France with chef Abdualltef Alrashoudi of bakery LÂM
Located in The Avenues, Kuwait City, Midar offers a sophisticated yet nostalgic seafood experience that draws inspiration from Kuwait’s golden era of the 1960s and 1970s, a time of prosperity in design and culture.
Legacy Hotels Holding and 7 Management sign MoU to expand lifestyle hospitality in MENA
Legacy Hotels Holding and 7 Management signs of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This formalizes a long-term collaboration aimed at developing and scaling next-generation lifestyle hospitality, dining and entertainment destinations across the MENA region.
Youssef Akiki’s next cut: A steakhouse and butchery in Lebanon
Youssef Akiki, owner of Brût and president of Disciples Escoffier Lebanon, is a prominent figure in Lebanon’s culinary scene. As he prepares to open a new steakhouse and butchery in Antelias, he reflects on creativity, balance and the milestones that shaped his year.
How head chef Marc Mahfouz quietly redefined excellence at MILA
Marc Mahfouz, head chef at MILA, Rosewood Hotel Doha, reveals how his disciplined, memory-driven cuisine transformed homegrown experimentation into Bib Gourmand recognized excellence.
Boubouffe Brasserie celebrates 50 years of culinary heritage
As Boubouffe Brasserie marks its 50th anniversary, it is time to look back at the story behind the name. Let’s learn more about how a neighborhood restaurant became a lasting part of Beirut’s food culture.
