Alshaya Group Expands Chipotle’s Middle East Presence with First Saudi Arabia Opening

Alshaya Group Expands Chipotle’s Middle East Presence with First Saudi Arabia Opening

Riyadh – KSA, 27 August 2026 — Alshaya Group, the leading international retail franchise operator in the region announced the official opening of the first Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) restaurant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.

The launch marks a major milestone in Chipotle’s continued expansion across the Middle East, bringing the brand’s responsibly sourced, classically cooked real food to guests in Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Located at Sidra, a popular dining destination in the heart of the Kingdom’s capital located next to Granada Mall, the first Chipotle restaurant in Saudi Arabia welcomes guests in Riyadh with the brand’s signature menu of burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and salads, all made with real ingredients and prepared fresh in an open kitchen. Guests can personalise their meals with a choice of proteins, rice, beans, salsas, toppings, and Chipotle’s famous guacamole, bringing the brand’s distinctive made-to-order experience to Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Nate Lawton, Chief Business Development Officer at Chipotle, said: “Opening our first restaurant in Saudi Arabia is an exciting step in Chipotle’s international growth journey. Riyadh is a vibrant, fast-growing city with a dynamic dining scene, and we are proud to introduce guests here to our responsibly sourced, classically cooked real food. Together with Alshaya Group, we look forward to building a strong connection with Saudi guests and creating the same distinctive Chipotle experience that our fans around the world know and love.”

John Hadden, CEO at Alshaya Group, said: “We are delighted to celebrate Chipotle’s official arrival in Saudi Arabia with the opening of its first restaurant in Riyadh. This launch reflects our commitment to bringing world-leading brands and exceptional dining experiences to our customers across the region. We know there has been strong anticipation for Chipotle in KSA, and we are excited for guests to enjoy its fresh, flavourful, real-ingredient menu for the very first time.”

The Saudi Arabia launch builds on Chipotle’s growing presence in the region through its partnership with Alshaya Group. Since entering the Middle East in 2024, Chipotle now has 17 restaurants across the GCC, including seven each in the UAE and Kuwait, two in Qatar, and its first location in Saudi Arabia, bringing its distinctive fast-casual dining experience to more guests across the region. This momentum is set to continue in 2027, with Chipotle planning to launch in Bahrain and further expand in Saudi Arabia with a new location in Jeddah.

Chipotle’s existing international portfolio of owned and operated restaurants includes locations across Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, as well as partner locations in the Middle East and Mexico. In North America, the Company continues to pursue significant long-term growth, supported by its commitment to responsibly sourced ingredients, culinary innovation, and digital convenience.

ENDS

About Alshaya Group

Alshaya Group is a dynamic family-owned business, first established in Kuwait in 1890. With a consistent record of growth and innovation, Alshaya Group is one of the world’s leading brand franchise operators, offering an unparalleled choice of over 50 well-loved, international brands to customers.  

Alshaya Group’s portfolio extends across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Türkiye and Europe, with over 3,500 stores, cafes, restaurants, and leisure destinations, major logistics and food production operations, as well as over 125 online and digital businesses including one of the region’s biggest retail loyalty programmes, Aura.      

Operating in multiple sectors including Fashion, Food, Health & Beauty, Pharmacy, and Hospitality & Entertainment, over 50,000 Alshaya colleagues are united by a commitment to authentically deliver great customer service and brand experiences.   

From flagship stores and restaurants in prestige malls, through to local coffee shops, drive-thrus and online, Alshaya Group brings customers the experiences they want with the brands they love, in the ways they choose – including Starbucks, American Eagle, Foot Locker, Victoria’s Secret, H&M, Bath & Body Works, Charlotte Tilbury, Raising Cane’s, Shake Shack, Chipotle, Primark, and Ulta Beauty.

Learn more about Alshaya Group at https://www.alshaya.com/

About Chipotle

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. There are over 4,200 restaurants as of June 30, 2026, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Middle East and it is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in the United States, Canada and Europe.

With nearly 140,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit www.Chipotle.com.