Cooks Coffee expects to open its first UAE stores by the end of 2026

Cooks Coffee Company is preparing to add the UAE to its store network. Its business update issued on 10 November 2026 reported that its first stores in the UAE and India were under construction, with openings expected before the end of the calendar year. The development follows the announcement of a UAE master franchise agreement in January 2026 and comes alongside growth in sales across the group’s store network during the first half of its 2027 financial year.

From franchise agreement to construction

According to details of the business update reported by L’Express Franchise, the group expects to open its first stores in the UAE and India before the end of 2026. This moves the UAE expansion beyond the announcement of a franchise agreement and into implementation, although the actual opening dates remain dependent on completing the work and getting the stores ready to trade.

The company’s announcements include a notice of a UAE master franchise agreement dated January 2026, alongside a similar notice for India in May 2025. This sequence provides a clear timeline from announcing expansion arrangements to reporting stores under construction in both markets.

However, the expectation that stores will open before year-end does not mean they are already welcoming customers. Nor does the update specify the number of planned UAE stores, their locations or individual opening dates. The confirmed news is therefore that preparations are progressing and an opening timeframe is expected, rather than that a fully operational local network has been launched.

For those interested in franchising in the UAE, the significance lies in the group moving closer to market entry through a previously announced master franchise agreement. The details of local implementation should, however, be distinguished from the group’s performance indicators in its established markets.

Sales growth provides context for expansion

Cooks Coffee reported a 14.3% increase in sales across its store network during the first half of its 2027 financial year. Growth in the second quarter alone reached 14.6%, according to the business update.

By market, sales rose by 15.5% in the UK and 11.6% in Ireland. These figures provide context for the performance of the network from which the group is expanding into additional markets. They do not represent UAE trading results, as the first stores there were still under construction when the update was issued.

It is also important to read the measure accurately: the figures refer to sales across the store network, not growth in the company’s profits or its reported revenue. The overall growth rate alone also does not establish how much came from new stores rather than existing outlets.

This distinction matters when assessing a franchise opportunity. Network sales growth offers an indication of business development, but cannot on its own establish the profitability of a new outlet or its investment payback period. The announcement contains no local results that could be used to assess the performance of UAE stores before they open.

A 128-store network and stronger development resources

The group’s network comprises 128 stores, including 89 in the UK. Within that total, the update identifies ten stores outside the UK and Ireland, separately from those in the two established markets.

This figure should not be confused with the planned UAE and Indian stores. The update describes the first stores in both markets as under construction, while presenting the network total as a measure of the group’s existing footprint.

The group also reported that it had strengthened its regional management and development resources to support expansion beyond its current markets. The announcement links this move to its international rollout programme, without detailing the size of the teams dedicated to the UAE or the operational support available to each store there.

The company’s board also expressed continued confidence in the remainder of the 2027 financial year. This reflects management’s outlook, rather than a guarantee of specific results or confirmation that all openings will take place on schedule.

What should those considering the UAE franchise market watch next?

The most important next milestone is confirmation that the stores have opened, followed by details of their locations and the extent of the group’s local presence. This will provide a clearer picture of the transition from a master franchise agreement to an operating business whose progress can be tracked on the ground.

It is essential to distinguish between the two reporting periods in the news: the sales growth figures relate to the first half of the 2027 financial year, while the expected store openings relate to the end of the 2026 calendar year. The different calendars do not imply any inconsistency between the performance figures and the opening plans.

Practical takeaway: Cooks Coffee’s update provides a clear indication that its franchise-led entry into the UAE is progressing. To assess the move, watch for confirmation of the openings and details of local operations, rather than treating international network sales growth as a substitute for UAE store performance data.