Alshaya Group
A Kuwait-based multinational franchise operator and diversified business group representing international retail, restaurant, hospitality and leisure brands across several regions.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Alshaya Group, also known as M.H. Alshaya Co., is a Kuwait-headquartered multinational franchise operator and diversified business group. Its core activity is the development and operation of international consumer brands in markets where it holds franchise, licensing, partnership or related operating rights. The group manages retail stores, restaurants, cafés, beauty businesses and leisure concepts across the Middle East and North Africa, Turkey, Russia and parts of Europe. Its portfolio has included Starbucks, H&M, Mothercare, The Body Shop, Victoria’s Secret, American Eagle, Shake Shack, The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang’s, Pinkberry, Raising Cane’s, Boots, KidZania and other international names. The company traces its commercial origins to 1890, when M.H. Alshaya Co. was established in Kuwait as a shipping and trading business with links to British India and regional markets including Saudi Arabia. Over time, it diversified into hospitality, real estate, construction, automotive activities and general trading. The group’s modern identity was shaped particularly by its expansion into franchising. Its acquisition of Kuwait rights for Mothercare in 1983 created an early platform for international brand operations, while the 1999 Starbucks partnership marked a significant move into food and beverage. Subsequent agreements brought fashion, beauty, restaurant, entertainment and hospitality concepts to the region. Alshaya’s operating model is primarily that of a regional market-entry partner rather than a single-product consumer brand. It adapts international concepts to local regulatory, property, staffing and consumer environments while managing stores, restaurants, supply chains, marketing and customer service. Its portfolio has covered mass-market and premium fashion, department-store retail, cosmetics, pharmacies, cafés, casual dining, fast food, hotels, fitness and family entertainment. The group has also developed support capabilities in training, technology and food-service equipment distribution. Important growth stages included expansion into Turkey through Topshop in 2002, entry into Russia through Mothercare rights in 2005, and the launch of H&M in the Middle East in 2006. The group continued adding American, British, Scandinavian, French and other international concepts during the 2000s and 2010s. It also developed major property and hospitality assets in Kuwait, including Burj Alshaya and hotel operations. In the 2020s, Alshaya expanded its digital loyalty proposition through Aura, introduced locally developed concepts, added Chipotle as a Middle East franchise partner and opened the region’s first Chipotle restaurant in Kuwait in 2024. Alshaya remains a private group. Publicly verifiable material supplied for this dossier does not establish a current chief executive, detailed ownership breakdown or consolidated financial figures. Its overall scale is generally described through its broad brand portfolio and multinational operating network rather than publicly disclosed listed-company reporting.
History
Alshaya Group’s history begins with M.H. Alshaya Co., established in Kuwait in 1890. The original business operated as a shipping and trading company and developed commercial links between Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and British India. This early trading foundation later supported diversification into several industries, although the group’s best-known modern role is as a regional operator of international consumer brands. A notable early diversification occurred in 1965, when the company opened a Sheraton hotel in Kuwait City. It was described as the first Sheraton property outside North America and established a continuing connection between Alshaya and hospitality. The group subsequently developed interests spanning real estate, construction, hotels, automotive activities and general trading, alongside its consumer-facing operations. The decisive shift toward franchise retail began in 1983, when Alshaya acquired the Kuwait franchise rights for Mothercare, the British retailer specializing in maternity, baby and children’s products. This provided experience in importing, localizing and operating an international retail concept. In 1997, Alshaya became involved in the Middle Eastern development of Debenhams, which later expanded across Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar. The regional Debenhams business continued after the British chain entered administration and its assets were acquired by Boohoo, although the remaining stores were later reported to have closed in 2025. In 1999, Alshaya entered the food and beverage sector through a partnership with Starbucks. The move broadened the group beyond fashion and specialty retail and created a foundation for a large restaurant and café portfolio. In 2002, the acquisition of Topshop franchise rights in Turkey represented Alshaya’s first expansion outside the Middle East. The group entered Russia in 2005 through Mothercare franchise rights, demonstrating that its operating model could extend beyond its core regional markets. Alshaya accelerated its Middle Eastern brand development during the 2000s. H&M was introduced to the Middle East in 2006, followed by brands such as Dean & DeLuca, P.F. Chang’s, Pinkberry and Payless ShoeSource. American Eagle joined the portfolio in 2010. The group also secured rights for Texas Roadhouse and opened Victoria’s Secret Beauty and Accessories stores in Bahrain and Kuwait. In 2012, The Cheesecake Factory opened its first restaurant outside North America in the United Arab Emirates, while further additions included Harvey Nichols Kuwait, Victoria’s Secret, Jack Wills and COS. The group invested in training and organizational infrastructure as its store network expanded. In December 2012 it opened the Alshaya Retail Academy in Riyadh to provide retail training and employment opportunities for young Saudi women. Additional academies in Jeddah and Dammam were announced in 2014. Alshaya also moved into leisure and entertainment with KidZania Kuwait at The Avenues in 2013. That year saw further launches and expansions involving Muji, Katsuya by Philippe Starck and several restaurant brands in Saudi Arabia, including The Cheesecake Factory, Texas Roadhouse, Shake Shack, P.F. Chang’s and PizzaExpress. During the second half of the 2010s, the portfolio continued to diversify. Raising Cane’s entered the Middle East through Kuwait in 2015. Alshaya launched the Privileges Club loyalty program in Kuwait in 2016, with an intended rollout across Gulf markets. In 2017, regional introductions included Bouchon Bakery, Charlotte Tilbury, NYX Cosmetics, 400 Gradi and & Other Stories. The company also opened Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya in Kuwait City; the development included the hotel, corporate offices and commercial space. Other 2017 launches included Monki, Blaze Pizza, TekZone and Dr. Vranjes Firenze. In 2019, Alshaya introduced the Kuwaiti restaurant concept Amiti Noura and opened alice + olivia in Kuwait. It also entered a partnership with Hilton concerning the planned development of Hampton by Hilton hotels in nine countries across the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Russia. An agreement with Equinox Group was announced later that year to develop Equinox, SoulCycle and Blink Fitness concepts in the region. The group introduced Princi, the café and bakery concept, to Kuwait in 2020. The 2020s brought both contraction and expansion. In March 2022, Alshaya temporarily closed its Russian stores, including operations for Starbucks, Mothercare, The Body Shop and Victoria’s Secret. The company also introduced UAE-developed home and children’s concepts Tribe of 6 and Cheekee Munkee, launched the Aura loyalty program in Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and became the authorized master distributor for Thermoplan coffee equipment through Alshaya Technical. A customer experience center associated with that relationship opened in 2023. In 2023, Alshaya opened the first Shake Shack drive-through outside the United States in the UAE and agreed to become Chipotle’s first franchise partner in the Middle East. The first regional Chipotle restaurant opened at The Avenues in Kuwait in April 2024. In May 2024, Hampton by Hilton Kuwait Salmiya opened with 110 rooms. These developments illustrate Alshaya’s continuing strategy of combining international brand partnerships with local market execution, property development, training, loyalty programs and technical operating capabilities.
- 2024
First Middle Eastern Chipotle opened
[1]Alshaya opened Chipotle’s first Middle Eastern restaurant at The Avenues in Kuwait.
- 2023
Chipotle franchise agreement signed
[1]Alshaya became Chipotle’s first franchise partner in the Middle East.
- 2022
Russian stores temporarily closed
[1]Alshaya suspended store operations for several brands in Russia.
- 2019
Hilton hotel development partnership announced
[1]Alshaya and Hilton announced plans involving 70 Hampton by Hilton hotels across nine countries.
- 2017
Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya opened
[1]The hotel opened within the Burj Alshaya development, which also houses Alshaya corporate offices.
- 2016
Privileges Club launched
[1]The group introduced a Kuwait loyalty program intended for later expansion across Gulf markets.
- 2013
KidZania Kuwait opened
[1]Alshaya entered leisure and entertainment with KidZania Kuwait at The Avenues.
- 2012
The Cheesecake Factory entered the region
[1]The first Cheesecake Factory restaurant outside North America opened in the United Arab Emirates.
- 2012
Alshaya Retail Academy opened in Riyadh
[1]The academy was created to provide retail training and employment pathways for young Saudi women.
- 2006
H&M launched in the Middle East
[1]Alshaya introduced H&M to Middle Eastern markets.
Products and positioning
A major Middle Eastern franchise, licensing and retail operating partner for international consumer brands.
Coffee and food service · 1999
Starbucks
An international coffeehouse business operated by Alshaya in selected markets since the group’s 1999 partnership. Alshaya manages local cafés, staffing, customer experience and market development rather than owning the global Starbucks brand.
Fashion retail · 2006
H&M
A mass-market fashion retail operation introduced by Alshaya to the Middle East in 2006. The business provides apparel, accessories and related merchandise through local stores and associated retail channels.
Children’s retail · 1983
Mothercare
A maternity, baby and children’s retail brand whose Kuwait franchise rights Alshaya acquired in 1983. Mothercare also served as the group’s route into Russia in 2005 through Russian franchise rights.
Casual dining · 2012
The Cheesecake Factory
An American casual-dining restaurant operated by Alshaya in selected Middle Eastern markets. Its first location outside North America opened in the UAE in 2012, and the concept later expanded to other regional markets.
Fast casual dining
Shake Shack
A fast-casual restaurant brand developed by Alshaya in regional markets. In 2023 the group unveiled the first Shake Shack drive-through outside the United States in the UAE.
Beauty and personal care
The Body Shop
An international beauty and personal-care business operated by Alshaya in selected territories through retail locations and related customer channels.
Beauty and specialty retail · 2010
Victoria’s Secret
A U.S. specialty retail brand represented by Alshaya in selected markets, including beauty and accessories stores first opened in Bahrain and Kuwait in 2010.
Fast casual dining · 2024
Chipotle
A Mexican-inspired fast-casual restaurant brand for which Alshaya became the first Middle East franchise partner. The first regional restaurant opened at The Avenues in Kuwait in 2024.
Family entertainment · 2013
KidZania Kuwait
An educational family-entertainment concept operated by Alshaya at The Avenues in Kuwait. Its opening in 2013 marked the group’s move into leisure and entertainment.
Hospitality · 2024
Hampton by Hilton Kuwait Salmiya
A 110-room hotel opened in Kuwait in May 2024 under Alshaya’s hospitality partnership with Hilton. It extended the group’s hotel development activity into its home market.
Brand decisions
2023
Chipotle Middle East franchise agreementProduct launchBackground
Chipotle had not previously used a franchise partner in the Middle East, while Alshaya had an established network for introducing international restaurant brands.
Action taken
Alshaya signed an agreement to become Chipotle’s first franchise partner in the Middle East and began development of regional restaurants.
Aftermath
The first Middle Eastern Chipotle restaurant opened at The Avenues in Kuwait in April 2024.
2022
Temporary suspension of Russian store operationsStrategyBackground
Alshaya operated several international brands in Russia, including Starbucks, Mothercare, The Body Shop and Victoria’s Secret. The business environment changed sharply after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of international sanctions.
Action taken
The group temporarily closed its Russian stores in March 2022.
Aftermath
The supplied reference material does not establish the subsequent reopening status or the final disposition of each Russian operation.
2016
Launch of Privileges Club loyalty programStrategyBackground
Alshaya operated a broad multi-brand portfolio and sought to connect customer relationships across its Kuwait businesses.
Action taken
The group launched Privileges Club in Kuwait and planned expansion to other Gulf markets.
Aftermath
The later Aura program became the group’s reported loyalty proposition in Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Recent events
Reported
Equinox and Alshaya partner for Middle East expansion[3]
Equinox Group and Alshaya Group announced a partnership to bring Equinox Fitness Clubs, SoulCycle and Blink Fitness to the Middle East, starting with Dubai in late 2020. The partnership also marks Alshaya's first move into the fitness segment.
Sources3 sources
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