Americana Restaurants Eyes Stake in Dubai’s Cravia
Deal News | Jun 23, 2025 | Zawya
Americana Restaurants International is in the preliminary stages of negotiations to acquire a stake in Cravia Inc., a Dubai-based restaurant group managing brands such as Zaatar W Zeit, Five Guys, and Cinnabon in the Middle East. The acquisition talks were initially reported by Bloomberg, suggesting the stake might be purchased from the existing private equity owner, Fajr Capital. Americana Restaurants has not disclosed the size of the potential stake or the expected timeline for the transaction. As per LSEG data, Americana is majorly owned by Adeptio AD Investment SPC, a joint venture comprising Emaar's founder Mohamed Alabbar and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The development marks a potential strategic expansion for Americana in the Middle Eastern dining sector, aligning with the company’s growth ambitions.
Sectors
- Restaurant and Food Services
- Private Equity
- Investment and Holding Companies
Geography
- United Arab Emirates – Cravia Inc. is based in Dubai, which is located in the UAE.
- Saudi Arabia – Americana Restaurants is 66% owned by a joint venture involving the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Industry
- Restaurant and Food Services – The primary industry involved as the article discusses a potential acquisition of a company operating popular restaurant brands in the Middle East.
- Private Equity – Fajr Capital, the current owner of Cravia, is mentioned as a private equity firm potentially selling its stake.
- Investment and Holding Companies – Americana is significantly owned by Adeptio AD Investment SPC, indicating a holding company context.
Financials
- Not disclosed – Details about the size of the potential stake Americana seeks to acquire in Cravia are not disclosed.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Americana Restaurants International | Potential Acquirer | Company | A company engaging in early talks to acquire a stake in Cravia Inc. |
| Cravia Inc. | Target Company | Company | Dubai-based operator of brands like Zaatar W Zeit, Five Guys, and Cinnabon in the Middle East. |
| Fajr Capital | Selling Company | Company | The current private equity owner of Cravia, which might sell its stake. |
| Adeptio AD Investment SPC | Majority Owner | Company | A joint venture between Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, owning 66% of Americana. |
| Mohamed Alabbar | Investor | Person | Founder of Emaar and part of the joint venture holding a majority of Americana. |
| Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) | Investor | Company | Part of the joint venture that owns Americana Restaurants. |
| Bloomberg | Source | Company | Reported the initial news about the potential acquisition deal. |