International Expansion: Ruby Tuesday to Open in Abu Dhabi
Ruby Tuesday continues global growth, expands UAE franchise agreement to include Abu Dhabi.
-- Chain Leader, 6/3/2009 9:07:00 AM
PRESS RELEASE: MARYVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Casual-dining restaurant leader Ruby Tuesday, Inc. today announced that it is continuing its aggressive growth in the Middle East with the awarding of franchise development rights for restaurants in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
After opening three Ruby Tuesday restaurants in Dubai in the past 12 months, franchisee Bin Hendi Hospitality, LLC plans to open six new restaurants in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The expanded franchise means a total of 18 Ruby Tuesdays are slated for development in the UAE by Bin Hendi. Last year the franchisee added five Emirate territories to its then-current agreement for restaurant openings in Dubai.
There are now six Ruby Tuesday franchisees in the Middle East, with locations in Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Other Ruby Tuesday restaurants are being developed in Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon and Oman by other franchisees.
The Persian Gulf region is one of the fastest growing for casual dining brands, according to Mark Ingram, President of Global PartnerShips, Inc., who heads Ruby Tuesday's international franchise development efforts. "Abu Dhabi is a very important and exciting part of our expansion in the Middle East, and Bin Hendi Enterprises is a very successful and diversified retail company there," he said. "We are pleased to continue to partner with Bin Hendi for additional development throughout the Emirates. Adding this final territory to our agreements with Bin Hendi means we will have a single franchisee for the entire UAE."
The Abu Dhabi restaurants will be developed and opened over the coming five years and will feature menu choices, service standards, and décor that are consistent with the Ruby Tuesday brand in the United States.
"My goal is to have a diversified business to provide the people of my country with many more than just basic services," said Mohi-Din Abdalkadir Bin Hendi, founder and president of Bin Hendi Hospitality and its affiliate, Bin Hendi Enterprises. "We always try to do things with quality, taste, and style." Bin Hendi Enterprises owns and operates businesses in hospitality services, fashion, real estate development, oil field supplies, trading and distribution, and other categories.
About Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday was founded more than 35 years ago, when current Chairman and CEO Sandy Beall opened the first restaurant near the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1972. Since then, the company has grown to over 900 company-owned and franchised restaurants in 45 states, the District of Columbia, 14 foreign countries, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Ruby Tuesday has been expanding its franchise presence around the world during the past several years and continues to aggressively seek international franchising opportunities.
Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RT). More information about the company may be found at www.rubytuesday.com.
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