Dubai melts for Tampa-based eatery expansion

TAMPA — The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. opened its first restaurant in the United Arab Emirates, which marks the fifth global location for the Tampa-based company.

The Melting Pot in Dubai is located in BOXPARK, an unusual urban outdoor mall created out of shipping containers, according to a release.

Ziad Kaddoura and Mohammed Charafeddine of Hospitality Concepts and Solutions are the franchisees behind the new restaurant. They have a multi-unit development agreement to add several more locations across United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

The Melting Pot opened its first overseas restaurant earlier this year in Jakarta, Indonesia. The company is now focused on expanding globally in markets that include Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan and South Korea. It expects to open its first restaurant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, later this year, as well as a third location in Pedregal, in the southern part of Mexico City.

Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot has more than 125 restaurants in 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.