Ras Al Khaimah - MENA Herald: RAK Hospitality Holding (“RAKHH”), an asset owner and manager of a diverse portfolio of government owned hotels and leisure assets in Ras Al Khaimah, today announced that its subsidiary, Hakaya Collection (“Hakaya”), has signed a franchise development agreement with Kona Grill, Inc. (NASDAQ: KONA), an American grill and sushi bar to develop six Kona Grill concept restaurants across all of the UAE over the next seven years.
Kona Grill will join a collection of world class concepts from Hakaya, such as Marina Muse Bar and Restaurant, Motor Mouth Food Truck, The Bay Sports Bar, Yansoon and Pesto, which are some of the most popular dining options for the residents of Ras Al Khaimah.
Commenting on the agreement, Yannis Anagnostakis, Chief Executive Officer of RAKHH, said: “The UAE is an important and growing market. With its thriving hospitality, retail and F&B sector, we are hoping to bring additional brands that people will love and constantly visit. We are excited to partner with Kona Grill because of their unique concept which we believe will meet the increasing demand for premier casual dining concepts in the UAE. We are confident that Kona Grill will be well-received in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah and we look forward to working with our new partners on successfully launching this brand.”
Berke Bakay, President and CEO at Kona Grill, said “We are pleased to partner with Hakaya and RAKHH for the development of six Kona Grill restaurants. Their vast experience in hotels and restaurants makes them the right partner to build our brand in the UAE. The signing of this agreement marks another milestone in our international strategy and follows the Mexico development agreement signed earlier this year.”
Kona Grill is an American brand of restaurants offering a differentiated cuisine, an extraordinary design and high standards of food and service. The restaurant offers freshly prepared affordable food in a contemporary ambiance that generates an exceptional experience under Premier Casual Dining. In the United States, Kona Grill concepts are located in high-activity areas such as retail centres, shopping malls, urban entertainment districts and lifestyle centres.