In the last decade the restaurant industry landscape in Saudi Arabia has changed drastically. Local players are sharing the market with international fast food chains. With the arrival of international casual dining restaurant chains, market demographics have changed at a rapid pace. Today there are several casual dining restaurant chains — mostly American — and they are successfully operating in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia being one of the largest economies in Middle East also provides a lucrative platform for investment. In order to diversify revenue channels, restaurant chains are also developing and investing in several other segments like Delivery, Catering and Take Away. The world’s largest casual dining chain Applebee’s also opened its first restaurant in Saudi Arabia in 2003 and this year completed 10 years of successful business with rapid expansion in all major provinces of Saudi Arabia.

Presently there are 14 Applebee’s restaurants in Saudi Arabia, with an ongoing expansion plan. Applebee’s is not only the largest casual dining chain in Saudi Arabia but also the largest in the world with more than 2,000 restaurants in more than 20 countries. Franchisee of Applebee’s in Saudi Arabia is Arabian Entertainment Co. Ltd (a subsidiary of SEDCO Holding).

Applebee’s in Saudi Arabia has embarked on a smart and well thought out expansion strategy by penetrating metropolitan and other smaller cities. The restaurant chain has several stand-alone buildings and several mall site locations as well. The reason behind Applebee’s success is its core values of being your neighborhood restaurant, strong menu variety, refreshing menu with new items from time to time, care for its employees and customers.

Applebee’s proudly says “we are not in food business serving but in people’s business serving food” and that makes all the difference. Menu offers a wide range of variety starting from steaks, fajitas, seafood, pastas, chicken and a wide range of refreshing beverages and desserts. Kids get their own menu to choose from and Applebee’s restaurants are great places for family get together, and friends celebrating special occasion. Applebee’s is very actively involved in social causes as well. The chain has supported fight against childhood cancer, set up orphanages and is a big supporter of college and universities activities. The brand strongly believes in giving back to the society that has supported it for so many decades.

Applebee’s Saudi Arabia also has a strong B2B partnership with STC (Qitaf program), Riyadh Bank (Hassad Program) and several other companies. The brand is very active on social media platform as well. Applebee’s is still growing in Saudi Arabia and plans to open more restaurants in the next few years. Applebee’s also discards the theory that Saudis don’t like to work in restaurants. In Applebee’s there are Saudis working in kitchen, dining area in almost every restaurant and the chain plans to employ and train more and more young Saudis. More information can be seen at www.applebeesme.com