The Middle East has been a centre of world affairs all through its history. Major brands and MNCs look to avail from its rich markets and turn to retailers (master franchises) for assistance. These retailers (or retail groups) from the Middle East do more than merely assist. They establish and flourish the brand while paying attention to the smaller details.

SutraHR now presents a list of top retailers operating in MENA (Middle East and North Africa) along with the brands they manage:

1. Al Aqili Group
Established in 1993, the Al Aqili Group LLC has partnered with a number of multinationals over the world.
1) Laura Ashley
2) Laura Ashley Home
3) The Society Shop

2. Al Hokair
Al Hokair Fashion Retail was established in 1990. It has its operations spread across various regions like KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), MENA, Central Asia, and Caucasus regions.
1) Accessorize
2) adL
3) Aldo
4) Anotah
5) Banana Republic
6) Bershka
7) Beya
8) blu
9) Call it Spring
10) Camaieu
11) Celio
12) Charles and Kieth
13) Collezione
14) Cortefiel
15) Costa Coffee
16) Desigual
17) Dynamite
18) Eclipse
19) F&F
20) FG4
21) FG4 London
22) Flormar
23) GAP
24) Garage
25) Gelco
26) Gerry Weber
27) I AM
28) IKKS
29) Jennyfer
30) la Senza lingerie
31) la Vie en Rose
32) LC Waikiki
33) Lipsy
34) Mango
35) Marks and Spencer
36) Massima Dutti
37) Mavi
38) Miss Selfridge
39) Monsoon
40) New look
41) New Yorker
42) Nine West
43) Okaidi
44) Origem
45) Oysho
46) Papaya
47) Parfois
48) Pedro
49) Primadonna
50) Promod
51) Pull & Bear
52) Pumpkin Patch
53) Quiz
54) Salsa
55) Sergent Major
56) Simit Sarayı
57) SIX
58) Springfield
59) Steve Madden
60) Stradivarius
61) Superdry
62) Tape a l’oeil
63) The Children’s Place
64) Tiffosi
65) Topman
66) Topshop
67) US Polo
68) Uterque
69) VISS
70) Wallis
71) Women’s Secret
72) Yamamay
73) Zara
74) Zara Home
75) Ziddy

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3. Al Khaja Group
Al Khaja Group was formed in 1986. Today, it offers services in a number of sectors like consultancy, hospitality, information technology, interiors, property, and retail.
1) Al Safeer
2) Al-Baiq
3) Auntie Anne’s
4) Ciao-ciao
5) Dajen
6) Esfahan
7) Gloria Jean’s Coffee
8) Hatam
9) Hediard Cafe

4. Al Khayyat Investments
Al Khayyat Investments was established in 1982. The company is mainly into automotives, contracting, education, real estate, and retail.
1) BinSina Pharmacy
2) Burger Fuel
3) Espressions
4) Fila
5) Holland & Barrett
6) Il Caffe di Roma
7) Kickers
8) La Martina
9) Petit Bateau
10) Repetto
11) Superdry
12) Tigerwok

5. Altadmori Group
Altadmori Group came into business in May 2011. It is based in United Arab Emirates and focuses mainly on retail sectors.
1) Boots
2) KidZania Kuwait
3) Pottery Barn
4) Pottery Barn Kids
5) Pottery Barn Teen
6) Solaris
7) Velvet Series Group
8) Vision Express
9) West Elm
10) Williams-Sonoma

6. Americana Group
Americana Group was formed in 1964 and has now spread its services over 13 countries. It is involved primarily in the food and beverage industry.
1) Americana Cake
2) Americana Meat
3) Americana Olives
4) Baskin Robbins
5) California Garden
6) Chicken Tikka
7) Costa Coffee
8) Farm Frites
9) Fish Market
10) Fusion
11) Grand Cafe
12) Greenland
13) Gulfa
14) Hardee’s
15) KFC
16) Koki
17) Krispy Kreme
18) Lion Chips
19) Maestro
20) Pizza Hut
21) Red Lobster
22) Samadi
23) Signor Sassi
24) TGI Friday’s

7. Apparel Group
The Apparel Group was founded in 1996 and is involved solely in the retail industry. It works closely with major labels and has its operations spread over 4 continents.
1) Aeropostale
2) Aftershock
3) AK Annie Klein
4) Aldo
5) Aldo Accessories
6) Austin Reed
7) Baslen
8) Beetle Bug
9) Bench
10) Birkenstock
11) Book plus
12) Call it Spring
13) Charles & Keith
14) Cold Stone
15) Cortefiel
16) Dune
17) Garage
18) Inglot
19) Just for Kids
20) Kenneth Cole
21) La Chateau
22) La vie en Rose
23) MBT
24) Moreschi
25) Naturaliser
26) New Yorker
27) Nine west accessories
28) Ninewest
29) Pedro
30) Pretty Fit
31) Qup Accessories
32) R&B
33) Shoe Studio
34) Sketchers
35) The Athelete’s Foot
36) The Children’s place
37) THM
38) Tim Hortins
39) Tommy Hilfiger
40) Venezia

8. AWGAL Investments
AWGAL Investments has been a player in this business since 2012.
1) Wingstop
2) MOOYAH

9. BinHendi Enterprises
BinHendi Enterprises was established in 1974 and has since then brought many premium brands to the UAE.
1) Artioli
2) Billionaire
3) Brioni
4) Burj Al Hamam
5) Cafe Havana
6) China Times
7) deLaCour
8) Energie
9) Ermanno Scervino
10) Extreme Shawarma
11) Franc Vila
12) Goldvish
13) Hugo Boss
14) Jacob & Co.
15) Japengo
16) Joe’s Cafe
17) Joseph
18) Martin Braun
19) Mini Chinese
20) Miss Sixty
21) NOA
22) Now Cafe
23) Nubeo
24) Paul & Shark
25) Sammach
26) Second Cup
27) Shanghai Tang
28) Tiret
29) Ulysse Nardin
30) Welder,Bella Donna
31) Zilli

10. Diamond Lifestyle
Al Masa Capital Limited, which is basically an alternative asset management firm, oversees Diamond Lifestyle.
1) Café Rouge
2) La Porte Des Indes

11. Diyafa Holding
Diyafa Holding Co. has been established in 2009. It is involved in business services, food & beverages, and hospitality services.
1) Abd el Wahab

12. Emke Group
Emke Group (via LuLu Group International) heads businesses in over 15 countries across three continents.
1) Lulu Hypermarket

13. ENOC Retail
ENOC Retail entered the franchising market in the early 1900s. They are now looking to expand their business more extensively in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and MENA regions.
1) Autopro
2) ENOC
3) Pronto
4) Saquella Expresso Club
5) Tasjeel
6) Zoom

14. Giordano Middle East (FZE)
Established in 1993, Giordano Middle East (FZE) has 240 stores over 23 countries. It is a 100% subsidiary of Giordano International.
1) BSX
2) Concepts One
3) Giordano Jr.

15. Hospitality Consultancy & Investment Group
Founded in 2012, this young firm specializes in the food and beverages sector and has recently won itself a master franchise deal.
1) Yellow Cab Pizza

16. Hot Brands International
Hotbrands International was formed in 1992. Since then, it has grown into a multinational entity catering to several brands.
1) Da-Shi-Dai
2) Haru
3) Magic Wok
4) Pane Caldo
5) Sala Thai
6) Santino’s
7) Shamiana
8) Sugoi

17. Jawad Group
Jawad Group has been a player in the franchising business for the last 50 years. It holds interests in various segments including fashion retail, FMCG distribution, and restaurants.
1) 24 Hours Market
2) Accessorize
3) Adams
4) BHS
5) Burger King
6) Camaieu
7) Celio
8) Chili’s
9) Costa Coffee
10) Dairy Queen
11) Delifrance
12) Hakisush
13) Hobbs
14) Hunkemöller
15) Hush Puppies
16) Jamie’s Italian
17) Jawad Express
18) Jawad Metro
19) Jawad Services Station
20) JustaPasta
21) Lakeland
22) Magic Wok
23) Mango
24) Mango Touch
25) Mashawi Qatar
26) Monsoon
27) Monsoon Children
28) Origem
29) Outback
30) Papa John’s
31) Pumpkin Patch
32) Quiz
33) Romano’s Macaroni Grill
34) Rosa Clara
35) Sergent Major
36) Shoe Citi
37) Tape à l’oeil
38) Thai Express
39) The Great Kabab Factory
40) The White Company

18. Landmark Group
The Landmark Group was established in 1973. Today, it operates over 1000 stores in the Middle East and India.
1) Auchan
2) Babyshop
3) Beauty Bay iconic
4) Centrepoint
5) Emax
6) Home centre
7) Housebox
8) Landmark international
9) Landmarkshops.com
10) Lifestyle
11) Max
12) Q Home Décor
13) Shoe Express
14) Shoe Mart
15) Shoe Mart International
16) Splash
17) SportsOne

19. M.H. Alshaya Co.
M.H. Alshaya Co. is a part of the Alshaya Group as their retail division. It has over 2600 stores as of now.
1) Al Forno
2) American Eagle Outfitters
3) Asha’s
4) Bath & Body Works
5) BHS
6) Brasserie de l’etoile
7) Cafe Coco
8) Castania Nut Boutique
9) Claire’s
10) Coast
11) COS
12) Dean & Deluca
13) Debenhams
14) Dorothy Perkins
15) Early Learning Centre
16) Estée Lauder Companies
17) Evans
18) Foot Locker
19) Garrett Popcorn Shops
20) H&M
21) Harvey Nichols Kuwait
22) IHOP
23) IHOP Restaurant
24) Jack Wills,Express
25) Jo Malone
26) Justice
27) Katsuya by Starck
28) La Senza
29) Le Pain Quotidien
30) M.A.C
31) Milano
32) Miss Selfridge
33) Mothercare
34) MUJI
35) Next
36) Noodle Factory
37) Oasis
38) P.F. Chang’s
39) Payless ShoeSource
40) Pei Wei
41) Pink
42) Pinkberry

20. Magnolia Middle East Group
The Magnolia Middle East Group mainly deals in the food and beverages sector in the Middle East.
1) Chicken Now
2) Elevation Burger
3) Flippin’ Pizza
4) Just Falafel
5) Slapfish

21. Matajir Group
Matajir Group, initiated in 2007, operates through Jordan and Iraq and has many high profile brands to its name.
1) Chocolat Milano
2) Lufian
3) Redtag
4) Shana
5) Tudors

22. Middle East Retail
Middle East Retail is a part of Daud Investments and was formed in 2007.
1) David Morris
2) Hamleys
3) House of Fraser
4) Oscar de la Renta

23. Pan Arabia Gourmet
Pan Arabian Gourmet has been awarded the master franchise rights for the brand BreadTalk for the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Iran.
1) BreadTalk

24. Retail Arabia
Retail Arabia was incepted in 2000. It is concerned mainly with mall management and services, including brands of hypermarkets and supermarkets.
1) Geant Easy
2) Geant Hypermarket
3) GulfMart Supermarket
4) Last Chance Supermarkets
5) Le Marche

25. Saleh Bin Lahej Group – Hospitality Division
The Saleh Bin Lahej Group – Hospitaily Division came into being in 1997. It operates six restaurant brands, including 37 branches around the Gulf.
1) Black Canyon
2) Cantina Laredo
3) Chilis
4) El Chico
5) III Forks
6) Romanos Macaroni Grill
7) Silver fow
8) Steak n Shake
9) The Pizza Company

26. Solutions Leisure
Solutions Leisure was established in 2011. It has ventured in Dubai markets recently and also owns a home-grown brand – Q43.
1) 360 Beach & Pool
2) Hedkandi HKV001 Beach Bar
3) Ministry of Sound Red Sea Beach Club
4) Papa’s Bar and Mini Bars
5) Papas Beach Club
6) Q43
7) The Lodge Restaurant & Bar

27. Sportland LLC
The Sportsland Group was established in 2003 and currently manages over 80 stores. It has a diverse list of clients including sports and fashion labels.
1) Ameerat Al Abaya
2) Bazaar
3) Champion
4) City Sports
5) Collection
6) Converse
7) Espirit
8) G Star Raw
9) Guess
10) Ipanema
11) Kola & Tree
12) Mega Sports
13) Pairs
14) Reebok
15) Terranova

We have tried to cover most of the major retailers in the Middle East region. We are all ears for your feedback. Do share your suggestions / additions to the list with us in the comments section below.

Note: These retailers (retail groups) have been listed alphabetically. Numbers do not indicate any sort of rankings.

If you are a retailer in the Middle East and are looking to hire talent, give me a call on +91 922 221 3196 or send me a quick mail at waqar [at} sutrahr dot com.