Dunkin’ Donuts opens 400th Saudi store

The celebratory event was attended by senior representatives from the companies.
Updated 23 January 2019
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Dunkin’ Donuts opens 400th Saudi store

Shahia Food Company, master franchisee for Dunkin’ Donuts in Saudi Arabia, along with Dunkin’ Brands, parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, recently celebrated the opening of its 400th store in the Kingdom in Riyadh’s Al-Hamra district. The new location features seating for more than 250 guests, including an outdoor seating area. 

The event was attended by senior representatives from the companies, including David Hoffmann, CEO of Dunkin’ Brands; Kate Jaspon, chief financial officer of Dunkin’ Brands; John Varughese, senior vice president of Dunkin’ Brands International; and Saud Abdullah El-Athel, general manager of Dunkin’ Donuts Saudi Arabia.

“Dunkin’ Donuts has a rich heritage here in Saudi Arabia, where Shahia Food Company opened the brand’s first location more than 30 years ago,” said Varughese. “The opening of Dunkin’ Donuts’ 400th location in the Kingdom is a significant milestone for our brand here, and we’re pleased to celebrate the occasion with the Shahia Food Company team.”

Varughese added: “The Dunkin’ Donuts brand is known around the world for high-quality coffees and espresso drinks, delicious donuts, great value and fast speed of service. We remain committed to further innovating both on our products and the service we offer, and we look forward to continuing to grow our presence here in Saudi Arabia over the years to come.”

El-Athel said: “We’re very pleased to open our 400th Dunkin’ Donuts location so we can serve even more guests the brand’s delicious range of coffees, espresso drinks, hot chocolate, donuts and sandwiches. We’re proud to serve the local community here, and local communities throughout the Kingdom.”

Shahia Food Company currently operates more than nearly 400 Dunkin’ Donuts locations across Saudi Arabia. The restaurants offer a range of hot and iced coffees, cold brew coffee, espresso drinks, hot chocolate, sandwiches, donuts and other baked goods. 

Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts currently has more than 12,700 restaurants in 43 countries around the world.


GIB Capital strengthens regional leadership with $2.1bn ICM transactions

Updated 15 December 2025
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GIB Capital strengthens regional leadership with $2.1bn ICM transactions

GIB Capital, one of the region’s leading financial and investment banking advisers, has announced the successful execution of three major international capital markets transactions in November, underscoring the firm’s growing influence and distribution strength across global debt markets.

In a single month, GIB Capital acted in joint lead manager roles across three landmark issuances — supporting clients in the banking, aviation and government sectors — and attracting an aggregate of more than $4.6 billion in investor demand from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, the UK and the US. These transactions, which collectively raised over $2.1 billion, further demonstrate the confidence international investors place in GCC issuers and the strategic value GIB Capital brings to each mandate.

The firm began the month by serving as joint global coordinator, joint lead manager and bookrunner on the inaugural ICM issuance for GIB — Saudi Arabia. The $500 million perpetual non-call 5.5-year additional Tier 1 instrument was priced on Nov. 5 and generated an impressive $1.3 billion in orders, achieving a 2.6-times oversubscribed orderbook. The strong participation from regional, UK, Asian and European investors reflect the bank’s robust credit fundamentals and GIB Capital’s ability to deliver global reach for its clients.

On the same day, GIB Capital also acted as joint lead manager and bookrunner for AviLease’s first-ever ICM transaction — an $850 million bond offering that attracted exceptionally strong interest, closing in at over 3.7 times oversubscribed orderbook. The transaction drew participation from a diverse pool of regional, US, UK, European and Asian investors, highlighting the appeal to Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing aviation leasing company. 

Further reinforcing its leadership in Islamic finance, GIB Capital concluded the month as joint lead manager and bookrunner on the government of Sharjah’s $750 million sukuk issuance, priced on Nov. 18. The transaction secured $2 billion in orders, representing a 2.6-times oversubscribed orderbook, with interest coming primarily from regional, UK and European accounts. This issuance marked government of Sharjah’s first US dollar public issuance in 2025 and benefited from strong investor confidence toward Sharjah’s credit story and in GIB Capital’s advisory expertise.

Commenting on the milestone month, Osamah Mohammed Shaker, CEO of GIB Capital, said: “These three successful issuances reflect the depth of trust our clients place in GIB Capital and the strength of our distribution network across global markets. The robust oversubscriptions and high-quality investor participation are clear indicators of the continued confidence in GCC credit stories and the resilience of the region’s economic outlook. We remain committed to delivering best-in-class execution, innovative structuring, and strategic advisory that enable our clients to access international liquidity efficiently and competitively.”

With a growing portfolio of successful mandates, GIB Capital continues to expand its presence as a leading provider of debt capital markets solutions, capital markets advisory, mergers and acquisitions, debt advisory, asset management and brokerage services. Combining deep regional insight with global investor connectivity, the firm remains committed to supporting clients across sectors with innovative, tailored, and high-impact financial solutions.