Al Ahli Group to launch Little Manila across the Middle East

Dubai-based Al Ahli Holding Group has revealed plans to open around 20 Philippine-themed food and beverage outlets under the Little Manila brand name across the Middle East and beyond over the next five years, with the first outlet to be opened by the end of the first quarter of 2015 in Dubai.

Little Manila outlets will consist of at least six branded Philippine restaurant and beverage stores for which Al Ahli Holding Group has signed franchise agreements for the Middle East. The brands are Binalot, a Filipino fast food chain known for its banana-leaf wrapped dishes; Jay-J’s, another Filipino restaurant chain known for its special chicken meals; Fruitas, a franchise chain that sells tropical fruit shakes; Mochicreme, a popular ice cream brand; Zagu, a milk shake franchise; and Fiftea, a franchise brand serving tea mixes.

“The Little Manila outlets aims to bring the best of Philippine brands to the Middle East and other selected international markets and serve the vast Filipino expat community in the Gulf countries, says Mohammed Khammas, Al Ahli Holding Group CEO. The group is also keen to invest directly in the Philippines as Khammas is highly bullish on business prospects there.