Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced the launch of its first restaurant in Dubai, marking a significant step in the brand's Middle East expansion.

The new establishment, located at 'The Beach' at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), introduces the popular Mexican food chain to the UAE.

This opening is part of a partnership with Alshaya Group, a leading international franchise operator.

The JBR location is a prime spot, boasting over 6,000ft² and operating hours extending from 10am to 12am local time on weekdays and until 1am on weekends.

The Dubai Hills Mall is set to host the second Chipotle restaurant in the coming months, further cementing the brand's presence in the region.

Chipotle chief business development officer Nate Lawton said: "We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to Chipotle's responsibly sourced, classically cooked, real ingredients in Kuwait and hope to see similar enthusiasm at our JBR restaurant.

"Alshaya has been a tremendous partner and continues to ensure our culinary and our purpose to cultivate a better world are clear points of differentiation for consumers as we enter these new regions."

Alshaya Group CEO John Hadden said: "The early results at the Chipotle restaurants in Kuwait have exceeded our expectations, making it one of the top-performing brands in our portfolio, and we are more confident than ever that the fast-casual concept has immense growth potential in the Middle East.

"We're excited to open our doors at JBR and start serving Chipotle's delicious culinary menu of real ingredients to more guests throughout the Gulf region."

Chipotle's international growth strategy took a significant leap in April with the opening of a restaurant in Kuwait, the company's first new country entry in over a decade. Following this, Alshaya Group launched a second Chipotle outlet in Kuwait at The Walk Mall in Ardiya.

Globally, Chipotle's portfolio includes 47 locations in Canada, 20 in the UK, six in France, and two in Germany. In North America, the company operates over 3,500 restaurants, with a growth target of 8% to 10% per year, with the majority featuring a Chipotlane.

The brand plans to open between 285 and 315 new restaurants this year, aiming for a long-term goal of 7,000 locations across North America.

"Chipotle expands to Dubai with first restaurant" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.

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