By: Amr Adel

Dubai - Mubasher: The deputy chairman and CEO of Marka, Khaled Al Muhairi said on Tuesday that the company is planning to enter the Saudi market in 2017.

Al Muhairi also told Mubasher on the sidelines of a press conference that this step comes after the company completed its plan to go in the Qatari market last year.

The Saudi market is part of Marka’s expansion plans outside of the UAE, which is mainly attributed to the dynamic nature of the region’s economy.

Marka is currently franchising Reem Al Bawadi Restaurant, Morelli's Gelato, and Cheeky Monkeys in Saudi Arabia, but it is aiming at establishing a company branch in the KSA, and it is currently considering partnerships, Al Muhairi noted.

Marka also announced on Tuesday that it has reached an exclusive agreement with Real Madrid CF, upon which the company will have the rights for manufacturing, distributing, and selling all the products holding the football club’s name across the GCC region.

This five-year deal is considered the first for the Spanish club in the Middle East, with $200 million worth expected sales, said Al Muhairi.

Translated by: Moslem Ali