From a Single Specialty Coffee Outlet in Riyadh to an Emerging International Café Brand, Key Cafe Sets Its Sights on GCC and Global Expansion through franchising
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – November 2026: Saudi-born specialty coffee and dessert brand Key Cafe has unveiled an ambitious franchise expansion strategy targeting 100 outlets by 2030, building on its successful journey from a single café in Riyadh to a growing network across Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Founded in 2018 in Al Rabie, northern Riyadh, Key Cafe has established itself as a distinctive specialty coffee destination, combining carefully roasted coffee, freshly prepared desserts, premium pastries and contemporary café experiences. The brand’s growth reflects the increasing popularity of Saudi-developed café concepts and their potential to expand internationally through structured franchise partnerships.
Mohammed Al Saif, Franchise Development Director of Key Cafe, said: “Every Key Cafe has to feel like the first one: the same coffee, the same desserts, the same welcome. Our work in franchise development is to protect that feeling as we take the brand to new cities and new countries. Abu Dhabi is our first step outside Saudi Arabia, and it will not be the last.” The company’s franchise strategy places particular emphasis on maintaining product consistency, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as the network expands. Its centralised supply chain and adaptable store formats are expected to play important roles in supporting the planned development of 100 outlets by the end of the decade across Gulf, African and Pan Asian countries.
Kiosk Model –18 m²
–Designed for well-known malls with strong footfall and a loyal local audience.
What began as a single specialty coffee counter in 2018 has developed into a network of 21 branch openings across Saudi Arabia and the UAE by 2025. Following its debut in Al Rabie, Key Cafe expanded to Al Takhassusi Street and Panorama Mall in 2019, followed by Al Yamamah University, Alfaisal University and Riyadh Park in 2020. The brand accelerated its growth in 2021 with openings in Al Nakheel, Al Dabbab, Boulevard, King Fahd Road and AlUla. Further expansion followed in Hittin, Toggy, Al Sahafa, Al Rimal and Irqah, before reaching Kingdom Hospital, Ha’il, Abha and Al Zulfi. In 2025, Key Cafe achieved an important international milestone by entering the United Arab Emirates with its first outlet in Abu Dhabi, marking the beginning of its regional franchise expansion journey.
Drive-Thru–9 m²–A compact, eye-catching unit on main streets, built for coffee on the move
At the heart of Key Cafe’s business model is its commitment to product quality, consistency and brand identity. The company has developed an integrated supply and production ecosystem through its sister companies, Key Cafe Supply, which provides specialty coffee and branded packaging, and Lock, which manages the centralised production of bakery products, desserts and signature sauces. This infrastructure enables the brand to maintain standardised recipes, consistent product quality and reliable supply across its expanding network. Its diversified menu includes specialty hot and iced coffees, freshly baked croissants, cookies, handmade chocolate bars, including raspberry and kunafa flavours, fresh juices, soft-serve desserts, sandwiches and other café favourites. The brand’s distinctive deep teal and coral colour scheme, complemented by its signature ruby-inspired logo, has also helped create a recognisable identity in Saudi Arabia’s competitive café market.
As part of its strategy to achieve 100 outlets by 2030, Key Cafe is offering franchise opportunities through three flexible business formats designed for different investment levels and commercial locations. These include an 18-square-metre kiosk model suited to shopping malls and high-footfall destinations, a compact 9-square-metre drive-thru format targeting busy streets and convenience-driven customers, and a 60–100-square-metre full-service café model offering the complete Key Cafe experience with seating and an expanded menu. Franchise partners will benefit from comprehensive operational training, standardised systems, national marketing support, digital sales management and centralised product supply, enabling investors to operate under an established Saudi specialty coffee brand.
Faisal Khalid Alghadebi, Board Member and Development Director of Key Cafe, said: “When we opened our first branch in Al Rabie, we set out to build more than a café: a brand people trust, cup after cup. Today, with our teams and partners in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, we are ready for the next chapter, and we welcome every partner who shares our passion. After all, coffee is the key.” As Saudi Arabia continues to develop its entrepreneurial and franchise ecosystem, Key Cafe’s expansion plans highlight the growing potential of homegrown Saudi brands to compete in international markets. With its established product portfolio, centralised production infrastructure, recognisable brand identity and flexible franchise investment formats, Key Cafe aims to transform its Saudi success story into a regional and international franchise network of 100 outlets by 2030.
The United Arab Emirates represents Key Cafe’s first international franchise market and an important gateway for its wider GCC expansion. Following the granting of franchise rights in the UAE, the brand opened its first international branch in Abu Dhabi in 2025, with three additional outlets under construction in the emirate. The expansion demonstrates the company’s ambition to establish a strong presence beyond Saudi Arabia while maintaining the quality and customer experience that contributed to its domestic growth. With growing consumer demand for premium coffee experiences across the Gulf, Key Cafe sees opportunities for further development through franchise and multi-unit partnerships.
Coffee is the Key.
Franchise Development Enquiries:
Mohammed Al Saif
Franchise Development Director
Key Cafe, Al Nakheel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Email: m.saif@keycompany.sa
