Philippine favourite Shakey's Pizza coming to the UAE by end-2017

Kabayans, just a few more months before you can get your hands on Shakey's signature goodies.

Dubai - Ten locations across UAE being planned; 'pizza for all nationalities' pledged

By Alvin R. Cabral

Published: Thu 3 Aug 2017, 3:15 PM

Last updated: Thu 3 Aug 2017, 5:36 PM

Philippine fast-food chain Jollibee made waves with Filipinos when it debuted in Dubai in 2015, dishing out its signature burgers and fried chicken to its ever-loyal following in the emirate.
Kabayans, get ready: another Filipino favourite is coming up - and this time, pizzas, shakes, more fried chicken and Mojo Potatoes are on the main menu.
AlJeel Capital on Thursday announced that it will be bringing Shakey's Pizza to the UAE, following a joint venture with deal with Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures.
Shakey's was actually founded in the United States in 1954. It was brought to the Philippines in 1975, and eventually became one of the most popular franchises in the country, with 200 stores nationwide at the end of March 2017.
So it won't be a surprise that this will whet the appetite of Filipinos in the UAE.
"A large population from the Philippines made the UAE and particularly Dubai their home... we want to bring a taste of their childhood closer to them," Firas Hurieh, CEO of AlJeel Capital, said in a statement to Khaleej Times.
"Shakey's is a wildly-popular American fast-food chain in the Philippines; it will officially open for business in Dubai by end-2017. The loyalty of the Filipino community to its food brands has seen other concepts tap into the taste and grow rapidly."
Hurieh added that the company plans to open 10 Shakey's locations across the UAE in the coming few years "to serve this untapped segment", to serve "pizza for all nationalities".
Shakey's is known for its pizzas - 'Manager's Choice' is its most popular - as well as pastas, fried chicken, salads, shakes and its signature Mojo Potatoes. In the Philippines, it also has what is called a 'Supercard', which customers can use to avail of buy-one-take-one pizza (which we wish they'd also bring here).- alvin@khaleejtimes.com