Chipotle opens first restaurant in Dubai

It is located at ‘The Beach’ at Jumeirah Beach Residence. 

Chipotle Mexican Grill has partnered with Alshaya Group to open its first restaurant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

The new Chipotle restaurant is located at 'The Beach' at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), with a second location planned to open in the region at the Dubai Hills Mall in the coming months.

Chipotle first started its expansion in the Middle East in April, opening a restaurant at The Avenues, Kuwait's largest shopping mall, which marked the first time the company had entered a new country in over 10 years.

Last month, Alshaya Group opened a second Chipotle restaurant in Kuwait, located at The Walk Mall in Ardiya.

Chipotle's existing international portfolio of owned and operated restaurants includes 47 locations in Canada; 20 in the United Kingdom; six locations in France; and two in Germany.

In North America, the company currently owns and operates over 3,500 restaurants and is targeting 8% to 10% growth per year for the foreseeable future, with at least 80% including its drive-thru format called Chipotlane. 

Chipotle plans to open between 285 and 315 new restaurants this year, with a long-term target of 7,000 locations in North America.