Dubai – Qahwa World
London-based specialty coffee brand WatchHouse is set to make its first franchised overseas foray this October, through a partnership with Dubai’s Big Belly Hospitality.
World Coffee Portal
The rollout will begin with a pop-up espresso bar at Marsa Boulevard, a waterfront development on Dubai Creek, before transitioning to full-scale cafes. Two permanent locations are earmarked for Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Saadiyat Grove in early 2026, with additional sites—possibly including one in DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)—slated for later in the year.
Big Belly Hospitality’s founder, Pallav Patel, emphasized that the partnership aims to blend a “design-led” global coffee experience with local relevance in the UAE marketplace.
World Coffee Portal
For Big Belly Hospitality, this move complements its existing portfolio of F&B ventures in the UAE, such as Bombay Bungalow, Ibn Al Bahr, and Masti. The group also introduced UK’s Patty & Bun to the region in mid-2024.
World Coffee Portal
Before this UAE entry, WatchHouse had already entered the US market via its first international outlet on New York’s 5th Avenue in April 2024.
World Coffee Portal
The brand operates around 20 outlets in the UK, and in June 2025, opened a second US site within New York’s Chrysler Building.In September 2025, WatchHouse’s Managing Director, Caroline Ottoy, outlined ambitious expansion targets: aiming for 100 global stores by end-2028, with the US footprint growing to 25 sites and further international franchises in markets such as Singapore and Qatar.
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