Americana Restaurants International, the largest out-of-home dining and quick service restaurant operator in Mena which boasts top brands like KFC, Pizza Hut and Hardees, has posted $2.4 billion in revenues for FY 2023, up 1.5% over the previous year.
Emirates with an Index score of 60.7 has been picked as the top brand in the UAE by YouGov, while Saudia takes the crown in KSA with a score of 59.4, and WhatsApp stays most connected in Egypt with a score of 48.7.
The Middle East and North Africa’s (Mena) e-commerce sector is expected to reach $57 billion in 2026, growing at an annual compound growth rate of 11%, says Flextock, a leading e-commerce enabler in the Middle East.
EROS Group has introduced Krome, its in-house home appliances brand, bringing a touch of economical luxury to the UAE market.
Emaar Properties has unveiled the design of Dubai Square, which is set to become the second-largest shopping and entertainment mall in Dubai Creek Harbour, featuring breakthrough technologies and innovative concepts in retail, dining and leisure sectors.
Cenomi Centers, a developer of contemporary lifestyle centres in Saudi Arabia, has completed the sale of its key retail development - Sahara Plaza - for SAR200 million ($53 million). It is fourth plot to be sold under its non-core asset sale programme.
Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS) and the Italian Artex group discussed boosting Italian participation to over 60 companies at the ongoing 53rd Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show.
Careem, the region's leading multiservice app, has entered into a strategic partnership with the UAE Restaurants Group (UAERG), under which the onboarding fee for UAERG member restaurants will be reduced by 50%.
About 82% of shoppers in the Middle East found at least one frustrating issue in the online shopping process that included website navigation, auto-payment options, and long checkout processes, one of the largest shopping surveys in the region has found.
Annual gold demand (excluding OTC) fell to 4,448 tonnes (t) in 2023, down just 5% from a notably strong 2022 but factoring in demand from the OTC markets and other sources, total demand climbed to a new annual record of 4,899t.
