NAD GROUP HOLDINGS

What NAD GROUP HOLDINGS does

NAD Group Holdings is a privately held, family-controlled diversified investment group headquartered in Adliya, Manama, Bahrain, founded in 1971 as an independent retail shop and operating continuously for over 50 years. The company functions primarily as a master franchisee and multi-brand operator, holding regional rights to 14+ international F&B and retail concepts including Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Blaze Pizza, Brunch & Cake, Carvel, La Romana dal, Seattle's Best Coffee, Alusia, Miniso, OXXO, DeFacto, adL, with recent additions of Magnolia Bakery, Jamba, and Burger King. Operations are concentrated in premier Bahrain shopping malls (Seef Mall, City Centre Bahrain, Marassi Galleria, Avenues, Al Liwan) and are expanding into Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where 15 Auntie Anne's branches are planned.

The business generates revenue through four streams: (1) direct retail and dining operations across owned and franchised outlets (licensing/royalty economics from brand principals plus own-store sales); (2) a real estate development division with $30 million USD allocated in 2024 for strategic property investment across the GCC; (3) experiential kids' culinary activities and event packages (Blaze Pizza birthday packages, Cinnabon Bake A Bon, Brunch & Cake cake-decorating workshops, private-room packages) priced between BHD 3.50 and BHD 35.00; and (4) e-commerce sales of activity packages and decoration products via nadgroup.co/shop. GTM is hybrid: direct-to-consumer through physical storefronts in major malls, event-driven community engagement, and franchisee recruitment to qualified investors for new branch openings.

Supporting the portfolio are two wholly owned subsidiaries: Details Media, an in-house marketing agency handling digital, creative, and brand management across the group, and the NAD Group Real Estate Division. The company is led by Founder/CEO Nabil Abdulrahman Debwan (also referred to as Nabeel Dabwan) with family members Khalid Dabwan (GM Restaurants and Food) and Ali Dabwan (Retail Manager) in operational roles. No revenue, external funding, or ownership distribution is publicly disclosed; the firm maintains an Investor Relations page signaling openness to external capital.

Name

NAD GROUP HOLDINGS

Legal name

NAD GROUP HOLDINGS

Website

https://nadgroup.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NAD Group Holdings is a Bahrain-based, family-controlled master franchisee and multi-brand operator holding regional rights to 14+ international F&B and retail brands (Cinnabon, Blaze Pizza, Auntie Anne's, Miniso, DeFacto, Brunch & Cake, and others) across premier malls in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Adliya, Manama

HQ country

Bahrain

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Operations: Revenue generated from operating franchised international F&B and retail brands through owned retail/dining outlets in shopping malls across Bahrain and GCC.
2. Real Estate Development: Investments in real estate development across GCC with $30 million USD allocated for strategic growth and property investments.
3. Kids Activity Programs: Revenue from hosting children's cooking and baking activities at branded restaurant locations, including birthday packages, workshops, and interactive experiences.
4. E-commerce Product Sales: Direct sales of products through company's online shop including decoration packages and activity bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NAD Group Holdings operates as a master franchisee and brand operator of international F&B and retail brands across the GCC region. The company manages a portfolio of 14+ franchise brands including Cinnabon, Blaze Pizza, Auntie Anne's, Brunch & Cake, Carvel, La Romana Dal, Seattle's Best Coffee, Alusia, Miniso, OXXO, DeFacto, and adL through owned stores in premier shopping malls. The group also operates Details Media (in-house marketing agency), a real estate development division, and offers kids' culinary activities and event packages at select F&B locations.

Product overview

NAD Group Holdings is a diversified investment group operating across Food & Beverage, Retail, Real Estate, Wholesale, and Manufacturing sectors in the GCC region. The company operates as a franchise operator and master franchisee, managing a portfolio of established international brands including Blaze Pizza, Auntie Anne's, Brunch & Cake, Cinnabon, Carvel, La Romana, Seattle's Best Coffee, Alusia, Miniso, OXXO, DeFacto, and adL. The F&B division offers diverse dining concepts from pizza and pretzels to gelato and coffee, while the retail division manages fashion and lifestyle brands. NAD Group also operates an in-house marketing agency (Details Media) and maintains a real estate development division with $30 million USD allocated for growth. The company provides experiential retail and dining experiences through physical locations across Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, with Bahrain serving as the regional headquarters. Additionally, the company offers kids' culinary activities and event packages at select F&B locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Details Media: In-house marketing agency specializing in digital marketing, creative content development, and brand management. Delivers impactful campaigns and ensures consistent brand messaging across all platforms for NAD Group's diverse portfolio.
• NAD Group Real Estate

Products and services

• Auntie Anne's Global hand-rolled pretzel franchise established in 1988, known for freshly baked pretzels and commitment to community philanthropy. NAD Group operates locations in Bahrain with plans for UAE expansion of 15 branches.
• Blaze Pizza Fast-casual pizza chain founded in 2011, offering customizable pizzas with fresh, high-quality ingredients at fixed prices. Known for health-conscious options and record-breaking sales in the Bahrain market.
• Brunch & Cake Popular brunch and cafe concept launched in Barcelona in 2010, offering brunch classics, fresh-baked pastries, and aromatic coffee. Features exclusive 'Aurora' dining concept at select Bahrain locations.
• Cinnabon Global cinnamon roll franchise established in Seattle in 1985, famous for signature aromatic cinnamon rolls. Multiple Bahrain locations; won 2022 World Class Market Launch Award in EUMEA region and 2023 Franchisee of the Year - Marketer of the Year.
• Carvel American ice cream brand established in 1929, specializing in soft-serve ice cream and signature ice cream cakes. Office employs over 60 staff with total employees exceeding 500 across stores.
• La Romana Dal Italian gelato and cafe chain established in 1947, offering authentic Italian flavors with products freshly prepared daily in in-store factory. Features dairy-free options for health-conscious consumers.
• Seattle's Best Coffee Coffee brand established in 1970 (roots in 1990), sourcing and roasting 100% Arabica beans for flavorful coffee experience. Multiple Bahrain locations across major malls.
• Alusia Dining concept blending Levantine and Andalusian/Spanish cuisines, located in Dubai. Offers tapas-style dishes with authentic flavors, Andalusian and Arabic music ambiance.
• Miniso Chinese-inspired retail brand established in 2013, offering household goods, cosmetics, and lifestyle products at affordable prices. Named best-selling Miniso store in GCC region.
• OXXO Women's fashion brand established in 1977, prioritizing sustainable practices and high-quality materials with in-house design and fast-manufacturing. Successfully launched two new branches within a year in Bahrain.
• DeFacto Turkish fashion brand established in 2005, offering high-quality and affordable clothing for all ages including DeFacto BABY and DeFacto KIDS lines.
• adL Turkish fashion brand established in 1985, known for stylish and contemporary women's clothing. Operates the largest adL store worldwide in Bahrain, serving as a Global Flagship destination.
• Details Media NAD Group's in-house marketing agency specializing in digital marketing, creative content development, and brand management to elevate brands and drive growth.
• NAD Group Real Estate NAD Group's real estate portfolio focused on strategic growth and sustainable development, investing in prime locations across GCC for residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects. Allocated $30 million USD for real estate development.
• Blaze Pizza Birthday Package Hands-on pizza-making birthday party experience at Blaze Pizza, including Little Chef Experience where each child makes their own half pizza, meal, entertainment, games, and party decorations.
• Bake A Bon (Cinnabon) Kids rolling activity at Cinnabon featuring Cinnabites (5 counts) with 6oz Fresh Orange Juice, priced at BHD 4.000 per child. Available at The Avenues, Al Liwan, Seef Mall Manama, and Marassi branches.
• Cake Decorating Workshop (Brunch & Cake) Cake decorating workshop at Brunch & Cake, priced at 25 BHD per person, minimum 4 and maximum 8 people per session. Available time slots 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM.
• Private Room Package (Brunch & Cake) Private room rental at Brunch & Cake for special occasions including birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, and graduations. High Tea Option at BHD 12 per person with exclusive use for 2 hours.
• Decoration Package Event decoration package priced at 35.00 BHD including personalised mirror sticker, custom welcome board, and table styling and decorations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Blaze Pizza achieved record-breaking sales, the highest ever recorded in the Bahrain market
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Landmark Group: UAE retail conglomerate operating franchise and proprietary retail concepts (Centrepoint, Splash, Max, Home Centre) across the Middle East. Similar diversified retail/franchise platform with regional GCC footprint.
• Alshaya Group: Kuwait-headquartered franchise operator running brands such as Starbucks, H&M, and The Body Shop across the Middle East. Closely mirrors NAD's model of operating international retail and F&B franchises through a regional holding structure.
• Kout Food Group: Kuwait-based master franchisee operating Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell across MENA. Directly comparable as a regional F&B franchise holding company with multi-country GCC operations.
• Gulf Marketing Group (GMG): UAE-based conglomerate operating franchise retail and sports brands (Sun & Sand Sports, Oasis, etc.) across the Middle East. Similar diversified franchise and retail holding structure serving GCC consumers.
• Americana Group: Kuwait/UAE-based master franchisee operating major international F&B brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Hardee's) across MENA. Directly comparable as a regional master franchisee with multi-brand F&B portfolio spanning GCC markets.
• Apparel Group: UAE-based franchise operator and retailer managing fashion, footwear, and lifestyle brands (e.g., Tommy Hilfiger, Skechers, ALDO) across GCC and beyond. Comparable as a multi-brand retail franchise platform operating through mall locations.
• Fawaz Alhokair Group: Saudi Arabia-based franchise operator and fashion retailer with brands including Zara, Mango, and Nine West. Comparable as a GCC franchise operator specializing in fashion and lifestyle retail.
• Al Hokair Group: Saudi-based entertainment and franchise operator with malls, theme parks, and international F&B/fashion brands across Saudi Arabia. Comparable multi-brand GCC operator with franchise and real estate adjacencies.

Broad incumbents

• Savola Group: Saudi-listed food and retail conglomerate with F&B manufacturing, retail, and franchise operations across MENA. Comparable at a category level as a larger GCC food-and-retail holding group, though more food-manufacturing-tilted than NAD.
• Majid Al Futtaim Holding: UAE conglomerate operating Carrefour franchises, shopping malls (Mall of the Emirates), and leisure assets across MENA. Comparable as a much larger GCC holding company with overlapping franchise retail and mall-property exposure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nad-group-holdings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NAD GROUP HOLDINGS