Chipotle has entered Qatar. The first restaurant is now open at Villaggio Mall in Doha through Alshaya Group. It runs 10:00 to 23:00 on weekdays and to 00:00 on weekends. The space is over 280 square metres. This is the brand’s first site in the country and part of a wider Gulf rollout.
What opened, where, and when
The restaurant opened on 28 September 2025. It sits in Villaggio Mall, one of Doha’s busiest retail hubs. Opening hours are set for daytime and late evening to match mall traffic.
- Opening date: 28 September 2025
- Location: Villaggio Mall, Doha
- Weekday hours: 10:00–23:00
- Weekend hours: 10:00–00:00
- Size: 280+ sqm
This site gives Qatar a direct shot at the burrito-and-bowl format that has already gained traction across the region.
Part of a Gulf rollout with Alshaya Group
Chipotle re-entered international expansion in April 2024 with a first Middle East restaurant at The Avenues in Kuwait. That was the brand’s first new country in over ten years. Since then Alshaya has opened seven Chipotle sites: three in Kuwait, three in the UAE, and now one in Qatar. More UAE and Kuwait locations are planned before year-end.
- Kuwait: first site at The Avenues in April 2024
- Total regional openings so far: 7
- Split: 3 Kuwait, 3 UAE, 1 Qatar
- More UAE and Kuwait sites are coming in 2025
For context, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall location opened in August 2025 and hinted that Doha would follow in September. That cadence shows a steady, mall-led strategy that fits regional dining patterns.
Why this matters?
Cross-Gulf travel is frequent. A known fast-casual brand with consistent pricing and customisation helps families and groups. With Doha now live, UAE visitors can expect the same order flow they know from Dubai and Abu Dhabi: pick a base, add protein, add toppings, and go.
- Familiar menu structure across markets
- Late hours match mall footfall
- Consistency for travellers between UAE and Qatar
The new site also strengthens Alshaya’s regional network, which already runs large F&B and retail operations with thousands of outlets and a loyalty layer via Aura. That scale matters for supply chain, staffing, and consistency.
Chipotle’s bigger picture
Chipotle operates more than 3,800 restaurants in North America and Europe. International company-owned sites sit in Canada, the UK, France, and Germany. The company targets 8–10% annual unit growth, with at least 80% including a drive-through format called Chipotlane. For 2025, it plans 315–345 new openings and a long-term target of 7,000 in North America alone.
- 3,800+ restaurants as of 30 June 2025
- International markets: Canada, UK, France, Germany
- 8–10% annual growth guidance
- 315–345 2025 openings planned
- Long-term North America target: 7,000 locations
For partnerships and international business development, Chipotle points interested parties to its investor site.
What Alshaya said
Alshaya Group CEO John Hadden called the opening a “significant milestone” in its partnership with Chipotle. He tied the Villaggio mall site to Alshaya’s goal of adding diverse, high-quality dining choices across the region.
- Focus on guest experience
- Emphasis on quality and service
- Part of a broader F&B portfolio across MENA, Türkiye and Europe
For readers in the UAE, the Alshaya link means menu, pricing structure, and launches should feel familiar, just as with other Alshaya brands already present in the Emirates.
Where is Chipotle in Qatar and what are the hours?
Villaggio Mall, Doha. 10:00–23:00 on weekdays, and until 00:00 on weekends.
How many Chipotle restaurants has Alshaya opened in the Gulf so far?
Seven to date: three in Kuwait, three in the UAE, and one in Qatar, with more planned in Kuwait and the UAE by year-end.
What’s Chipotle’s growth target globally?
8–10% annual unit growth, 315–345 openings in 2025, and a long-term plan for 7,000 North American locations.
