Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons has opened five new outlets in Bahrain in a single day in partnership with its Middle East franchisee AG Café.  
 

Now operating eight stores in the Kingdom, AG Café — a joint venture between retail conglomerate Apparel Group and investment company Gateway Partners — said Bahrain is a key market for Tim Hortons’ Middle East expansion. 

“We are delighted to bring the authentic taste of Tim Hortons, with its premium quality and overall experience, to the strategic market of Bahrain. The Bahraini people share a common desire and passion for food and beverages, and we believe that our new cafés will become the preferred destination for coffee lovers throughout the Kingdom,” said Hesham Almekkawi, CEO of AG Café. 

Tim Hortons made its Middle East debut with a store in Dubai in September 2011 and now operates 275 outlets across the region, the majority of which are in Saudi Arabia. 

The coffee chain is targeting 500 stores across the Middle East by 2025. 
 

Bahrain is the eighth largest branded coffee shop market across the Middle East. World Coffee Portal research forecasts the market will reach 235 outlets by 2027.  

Tim Hortons added 300 net new stores in its first quarter of 2023 to reach 5,620 stores globally.