Business
Page 11 / 11The latest business news, corporate updates, and market-moving decisions across key industries.
Americana signs 75-year Malak Al Tawouk franchise deal, taking over UAE and Saudi operations
The Abu Dhabi–based QSR operator secured exclusive rights across 13 markets and will acquire the brand’s existing franchisees in the UAE and Saudi Arabia for $20.8 million, as it moves into the Arabic quick-service segment.
Americana Restaurants International will add Lebanon’s Malak Al Tawouk through a 75-year exclusive licensing agreement covering 13 markets across the GCC, Levant, North Africa and Central Asia, while buying the brand’s UAE and Saudi franchise operators for $20.8 million. The move marks Americana’s entry into the Arabic QSR category and positions a Lebanese-born concept for scaled rollout through one of the region’s largest restaurant platforms. 
Azadea Group: The Lebanese-Born Retail Operator
With 842+ stores, 14,390+ employees and 40+ franchise concepts across 15 countries, Azadea is less a “brand owner” than a retail operating machine—one that still treats Lebanon as a core market.
Azadea Group is one of the Middle East’s largest lifestyle retail operators, running 40+ international franchise concepts across fashion, F&B, home, sports, lifestyle and beauty. Its scale—842+ stores and 14,390+ employees across 15 countries—shows how a Lebanese-rooted company can compete regionally through execution, logistics, and disciplined rollout. 
