TGI Fridays has signed a new development agreement with Meerab Hospitality, marking a significant new phase of growth for the brand in Pakistan, with plans to scale to 15 restaurants across the country.
The agreement with Meerab Hospitality, the franchise and development arm of Meerab Properties, is part of TGI Fridays’ wider international expansion strategy, strengthening the brands’ presence across South Asia and the Middle East, as it accelerates toward its 1-2-3 Strategic Vision of 1,000+ restaurants and $2 billion in annual revenue by 2030.
Pakistan presents a significant opportunity for the brand, with more than 240 million people and a median age of 21. The country’s rapid urbanization, continued investment in malls and mixed-use destinations, and evolving dining culture are creating opportunities for international restaurant brands as consumers increasingly seek distinctive, experience-led dining.
Through the partnership, TGI Fridays plans to bring its signature combination of bold American flavors, legendary mocktails, high-energy atmosphere and unmistakable Fridays hospitality to the Pakistani market.
Meerab Hospitality brings regional expertise and operating strength to the partnership, backed by a two-decade track record across the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia and extensive international hospitality experience. The partnership is also expected to create new employment opportunities, invest in local hospitality talent and introduce the Fridays spirit to a new generation of guests.
“We don’t enter a market like Pakistan because it’s on a list — we enter it because the fundamentals are right and the partner is right,” said Phil Broad, Global President, TGI Fridays. He highlighted Pakistan’s young population, evolving retail landscape and Meerab Hospitality’s understanding of the market and hospitality operations.
Broad further added, “what makes Pakistan particularly exciting is the energy of the market and the generation coming through. They’re connected, curious and looking for brands that give them more than just a meal. That plays directly to the strength of TGI Fridays. We’ve always been at our best when we bring people together, create a little theatre and give guests a reason to stay longer, celebrate louder and come back again. Pakistan gives us an exciting new stage to do exactly that.”
For Meerab Properties, the partnership marks a new chapter in bringing TGI Fridays back to Pakistan. Pervaiz Iqbal Shahid, Founder and Group CEO, said “the ambition is to reintroduce the brand through an energized and well-capitalized platform supported by strong operational leadership and a long-term commitment to responsible growth.”
The first flagship restaurant is targeted to open within the next 12 months at the Hyatt Regency Hotel complex in Lahore. Meerab Hospitality plans to develop TGI Fridays across Pakistan over the next decade through a combination of company-owned and approved sub-franchised restaurants.
The Pakistan agreement is TGI Fridays’ second market signing in the last 30 days and builds on a series of international agreements spanning Kenya, the Maldives, Peru, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Greece and Spain, alongside the brand’s recent expansion into the Balkans across Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia. Together, these agreements have added close to 200 restaurants to the brand’s global pipeline.
At the centre of the expansion is a franchise strategy focused on high-potential markets and experienced local partners with the knowledge, capability and ambition to build TGI Fridays for long-term success.
