Gong cha makes long-awaited UAE debut

The Middle East is key to the bubble tea chain’s plans to quadruple its global footprint over the next five years

In January 2024, Gong cha signed the ‘largest master franchise agreement in its history’ to open hundreds of stores across the Middle East in partnership with Dunkin’ licensee Shahia Foods Group.

After debuting in Riyadh seven months later, the bubble tea chain outlined plans to launch in Bahrain and the UAE in 2025 as part of a longer-term goal to open at least 300 outlets in the region.

However, growth has been slower than expected – with just 12 outlets opened across Saudi Arabia to date.