
Starbucks Reserve store at the Grand Avenue, The Avenues in Kuwait reopens
Starbucks Coffee Company, the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world and Alshaya Group, one of the world's leading international retail franchise operators, celebrated the grand reopening of its newly refurbished store at the Grand Avenue - The Avenues in Kuwait. The event was attended by Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, the Executive Chairman of Alshaya Group Mohammed Alshaya, and other distinguished representatives.
Located in the heart of The Avenues - Kuwait, the store was the first Reserve store in the country, and when it opened in 2012, was one of the largest Starbucks stores in the world.
The new design of the two-story, 5,000 sq.ft location pays homage to the artistic heritage of Kuwaiti traditions and culture, incorporating fine woodwork, mystical murals, and other distinctive touches into its interiors, furniture and fittings. With seating for over 160 customers, the store also features a flagship terrace overlooking the Grand Avenue, offering a new and inviting space to enjoy the Starbucks experience.
"Since its opening in 2012, this flagship Starbucks has been a beloved destination for visitors to The Avenues, offering exceptional coffee in a unique and welcoming atmosphere," said Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman, Alshaya Group."We remain committed to this promise across the MENA region, working with Starbucks to continually enhance the coffee experience through stores that resonate with local markets and culture. The reopening of this Reserve store underscores our pride in delivering a global Starbucks experience with genuine local appeal."
Brian Niccol, Chairman and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company added: 'When you walk into this iconic store, you can truly feel our partners' passion and craftsmanship in sourcing, roasting, and serving the finest coffee in the world. It's a warm and welcoming coffeehouse that invites customers to sit, stay, and connect over a great beverage. The investments we've made to renovate it reflect our commitment to the Middle East market and Kuwait, where we opened our first store in the region more than 25 years ago.'
Customers can now enjoy their favourite coffee, brewed traditionally, alongside the new Black Eagle espresso machine, all crafted by Starbucks highly skilled, certified Baristas.
Featuring the company's rare, small-lot Reserve coffees roasted at its Milan Roastery, the store's Reserve bar gives baristas a platform to engage in a dialogue with customers over unique brewing methods that include the Clover™ Brewing System, pour-over, siphon, and Chemex.
The redesigned store offers an enhanced coffee experience for customers and reaffirms the company's commitment to the Kuwaiti market where it continues to expand its network of stores to make Starbucks' delicious offerings more accessible to more consumers.
About Alshaya Group
Alshaya Group is a dynamic family-owned business, first established in Kuwait in 1890. With a consistent record of growth and innovation, Alshaya Group is one of the world's leading brand franchise operators, offering an unparalleled choice of over 70 well-loved, international brands to customers.
Alshaya Group's portfolio extends across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Türkiye and Europe, with over 4,000 stores, cafes, restaurants, and leisure destinations, major logistics and food production operations, as well as over 125 online and digital businesses including one of the region's biggest retail loyalty programmes, Aura.
Operating in multiple sectors including Fashion, Food, Health & Beauty, Pharmacy, Home Furnishings and Hospitality & Entertainment, over 50,000 Alshaya colleagues are united by a commitment to authentically deliver great customer service and brand experiences.
From flagship stores and restaurants in prestige malls, through to local coffee shops, drive-thrus and online, Alshaya Group brings customers the experiences they want with the brands they love, in the ways they choose - including Starbucks, American Eagle, Footlocker, Victoria's Secret, H&M, Bath & Body Works, Charlotte Tilbury, Raising Cane's, Shake Shack, and Chipotle.
Learn more about Alshaya Group at www.alshaya.com.
Starbucks at Alshaya Group
Starbucks at Alshaya Group is all about nurturing the human connection, bringing together local communities and delivering memorable customer experiences. We work to ensure the highest standards of quality and excellence in bringing you an ethically sourced, high-quality cup of Arabica coffee. Serving up coffee and connections to draw our world closer, Starbucks at Alshaya Group currently operates more than 1300 stores in 10 countries in the region.
About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores.
To learn more about Starbucks, go to mena.starbucks.com.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Post
2 days ago
- Arabian Post
UAE and Kuwait Fortify Strategic Ties Across Key Sectors
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have cemented a series of bilateral agreements designed to enhance collaboration across vital sectors such as health, energy, education, and defence. These agreements were formalised during an official visit by UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Bayan Palace, where Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also presided over the signing ceremony. This diplomatic engagement reflects a shared commitment to deepen economic and political cooperation amid a shifting geopolitical landscape in the Gulf region. Both nations seek to leverage their strategic partnership to accelerate development goals and bolster regional stability. ADVERTISEMENT The agreements encompass a broad spectrum of cooperation frameworks. In healthcare, the MoUs aim to facilitate joint initiatives in medical research, health services, and pandemic preparedness. This builds upon existing efforts to enhance public health infrastructure and improve access to advanced medical technologies within both countries. The collaboration is expected to include exchanges of expertise and the establishment of joint health projects, reinforcing resilience against future health crises. Energy cooperation constitutes a central pillar of the accord, reflecting the growing importance of sustainable development and energy diversification in Gulf policies. Both nations have expressed intent to collaborate on clean energy projects, including renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency programmes. This aligns with wider regional ambitions to reduce carbon footprints and accelerate the energy transition, tapping into solar, wind, and hydrogen potential. The partnership aims to foster knowledge-sharing, joint investments, and innovation in sustainable energy technologies, signalling a clear move away from traditional hydrocarbon dependency. Education and innovation sectors also feature prominently in the agreements. Kuwait and the UAE plan to develop cooperative education programmes, facilitate student and academic exchanges, and promote joint research ventures. These initiatives target strengthening human capital and nurturing a knowledge-based economy, crucial for long-term competitiveness. Special focus is placed on artificial intelligence and digital transformation, areas recognised for their transformative potential across industries. Defence collaboration marks another significant dimension of the bilateral ties, with both countries pledging closer coordination in security and military affairs. This includes enhanced training cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint exercises aimed at improving operational readiness and countering emerging threats in a volatile regional security environment. Investment and infrastructure development feature heavily within the broader strategic framework. The agreements envisage boosting trade flows, encouraging cross-border investments, and facilitating infrastructure projects. These measures are expected to unlock economic opportunities, create jobs, and support broader Gulf Cooperation Council integration efforts. ADVERTISEMENT Social development has not been overlooked, with the accords setting the stage for cooperative efforts in social welfare, cultural exchange, and community development. This demonstrates a recognition that sustainable progress extends beyond economic growth to encompass social cohesion and quality of life improvements. This series of MoUs signals a concerted effort by the UAE and Kuwait to consolidate their partnership amid evolving regional and global dynamics. Both nations are navigating complex challenges, including economic diversification pressures, climate change imperatives, and shifting geopolitical alliances. The agreements reflect a proactive strategy to leverage bilateral cooperation as a stabilising and growth-enhancing force. The visit by Sheikh Mansour underscores the UAE's broader diplomatic outreach in the Gulf, aimed at strengthening ties with neighbouring states while advancing shared priorities. Kuwait, meanwhile, views this enhanced partnership as vital for reinforcing its role in regional affairs and securing avenues for economic resilience. Experts note that such collaborations between Gulf states are increasingly critical as they face mounting global competition and internal transformation demands. By pooling resources, expertise, and political will, the UAE and Kuwait position themselves to address mutual challenges more effectively and harness new opportunities. This development follows a pattern of intensified Gulf collaboration that has gained momentum following shifts in regional geopolitics. Enhanced bilateral relations are viewed as key to ensuring collective security and economic prosperity, particularly amid external uncertainties and emerging global power dynamics. The agreements also reflect a clear alignment with the strategic visions of both countries, which prioritise innovation, sustainability, and regional integration. As the Gulf states pursue diversification and modernisation agendas, such partnerships become essential tools for advancing these objectives. While the full scope and impact of the signed agreements will unfold over time, the foundations laid in this visit mark a significant milestone. The emphasis on critical sectors such as healthcare, clean energy, education, and defence highlights the comprehensive nature of the partnership.


Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Arabian Post
Kuwait and EDGE Ink Record-Breaking Naval Defence Deal
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai EDGE, the United Arab Emirates' premier defence technology conglomerate, has secured a landmark AED 9 billion contract with the Kuwait Ministry of Defence for the supply of eight FALAJ-3 class missile boats. This agreement represents the largest naval shipbuilding export in the Middle East and ranks among the highest-value naval export deals globally. Under the terms of the contract, EDGE will serve as the prime contractor, overseeing the design, construction, trials, and delivery of the 62-metre vessels. The agreement also encompasses integrated logistics support and in-service support, with EDGE providing ammunition for the ships. Abu Dhabi Ship Building , EDGE's naval subsidiary, has been designated as the build subcontractor for the programme. ADVERTISEMENT Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE, described the deal as a significant milestone that deepens long-term defence ties between the UAE and Kuwait. He emphasised that the agreement brings a proven class of advanced vessels into regional service and reinforces EDGE's position as a trusted international partner. Al Marar highlighted the rapid industrial and engineering progress achieved by EDGE, noting the company's ability to design, build, and deliver complex naval platforms at scale. The FALAJ-3 class missile boats are designed for high performance and advanced combat capabilities, tailored to meet Kuwait's operational requirements. These vessels are equipped for littoral defence operations, featuring advanced combat systems and enhanced capabilities to safeguard Kuwait's maritime interests. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence stated that the acquisition of these vessels will contribute to raising the level of combat readiness, enhancing maritime security, and protecting the vital and strategic maritime interests of the State of Kuwait. The ministry highlighted that the contract aligns with Kuwait's strategic objectives to bolster its naval capabilities and ensure the security of its territorial waters. The FALAJ-3 class has also been adopted by the UAE Navy, with the first vessel, ALTAF, commissioned into service in February 2025. This operational deployment underscores the vessel's proven capability and performance in regional waters. The signing ceremony was attended by Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Meshal Mubarak Al Sabah, Undersecretary of the Kuwait Ministry of Defence; Dr. Matar Al Neyadi, UAE Ambassador to Kuwait; Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE; and Omar Al Zaabi, President of Trading and Mission Support at EDGE. This contract is not the first collaboration between EDGE and Kuwait. Previously, EDGE subsidiary ADSB delivered eight landing craft to Kuwait and provided maintenance, repair, and overhaul services to the Kuwaiti Coast Guard. The current agreement further solidifies the defence partnership between the two nations and demonstrates EDGE's commitment to delivering comprehensive defence solutions. The FALAJ-3 class vessels are based on the Fearless-class ships originally designed by Singapore's ST Engineering for the Republic of Singapore Navy. EDGE has adapted and enhanced these designs to meet the specific needs of regional clients, offering a versatile platform capable of operating in both littoral and blue waters. The vessels can be equipped with a range of weapons, including missiles, rockets, and medium-calibre guns, providing robust defensive capabilities against various threats.


Dubai Eye
3 days ago
- Dubai Eye
Kuwait Investment Authority joins AI Infrastructure Partnership
MGX, BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)- a part of BlackRock- and Microsoft have welcomed the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) to the AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), further reinforcing AIP's global reach and strategic impact as it accelerates investment in next-generation AI infrastructure. KIA is the first non-founder financial anchor investor to join AIP. With decades of deep investment experience, KIA is "well positioned to support AIP's growth and help execute its global strategy." Established in September 2024 by BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), MGX, and Microsoft, AIP was created to help mobilise $30 billion in equity capital from investors, asset owners, and corporations, with the potential to reach up to $100 billion when including debt financing. Over the past year, it has become one of the world's leading AI infrastructure platforms with the addition of technology partners NVIDIA, xAI, and Cisco, along with agreements with GE Vernova and NextEra Energy to help accelerate the scaling of energy solutions for AI data centres. Sheikh Saoud Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah, Managing Director of KIA, said: 'KIA's participation in AIP reflects our long-term commitment to investing in transformative global infrastructure that drives innovation and economic progress. We view AI infrastructure as an instrumental driver of future growth, and we are proud to collaborate with leading global partners to accelerate its development at scale.' The partnership announcement coincided with His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court's official visit to Kuwait. It is one of many agreements signed between Emirati and Kuwaiti entities in sectors ranging from technology, diplomacy, justice, defence, education, and social affairs.