Americana Restaurants International has signed an exclusive agreement with Taco Bell UK and Europe Ltd, a Yum! Brands subsidiary, to open Taco Bell locations in the UAE, with a phased rollout planned across additional GCC markets to follow.
The deal extends Americana’s existing relationship with Yum! Brands, which already covers KFC and Pizza Hut operations across the region. Taco Bell marks the company’s first move into the Mexican-inspired QSR category.
“Taco Bell is the coolest brand in its category, built for a generation that wants great flavour, great value, and a little attitude. Young people in our region are curious and adventurous so brands should keep surprising them. Dubai adopts what’s bold and tells the world about it. We will start here, get it right, and scale Taco Bell across the UAE and the GCC,” Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of the Board of Americana Restaurants said in a statement.
Taco Bell operates more than 9,000 restaurants globally, including over 1,200 across 40 markets outside the United States.
“For more than 64 years, Taco Bell has built a brand that consumers love – bold, distinctive, culturally relevant – and we’re just getting started. We’re excited to continue our strong international momentum in the UAE, to connect with a new generation of fans, and bring the creativity, innovation and unmistakable Taco Bell experience that only our brand can deliver,” Sean Tresvant, Chief Executive Officer of Taco Bell added.
“The UAE represents an exciting growth opportunity for Taco Bell, and we could not have asked for a stronger partner than Americana Restaurants. Their operational excellence and proven track record of driving growth give us great confidence as we grow Taco Bell in this vibrant market and build the brand for long-term success across the region,” Ankush Tuli, Managing Director of Taco Bell International further explained.
No opening timeline or specific location details were disclosed in the announcement.
