AlBaik History: From One Jeddah Restaurant to 180+ Branches
Last updated: 27 September 2026.
In short: AlBaik was founded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1974 by Shakour Abu Ghazalah. It is run by ALBAIK Food Systems Company and today has more than 180 branches across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, with Pakistan announced as its next market.
Few fast-food brands have the kind of loyalty AlBaik enjoys. For decades, you could only eat it in Saudi Arabia, which turned it into a food that pilgrims, workers and visitors talked about for years after they came home. Here is how a single restaurant in Jeddah became one of the most famous names in Gulf food.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Shakour Abu Ghazalah opens the first restaurant in Jeddah |
| 1974 onwards | AlBaik grows across Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, then into other Saudi regions |
| 2020 | First branches outside Saudi Arabia, in Bahrain |
| 2021 | First branches in the United Arab Emirates |
| Oct 2024 | MoU signed with Gas & Oil Pakistan (GO) to explore restaurants in Pakistan |
| 2025 | First branch in Kuwait |
| 2026 | Pakistan launch expected; no official date yet |
Dates and counts are from Wikipedia and news reports.
The early years in Jeddah
AlBaik started in Jeddah in 1974, founded by Shakour Abu Ghazalah. From the start, the brand centred on broasted chicken, pressure-fried so it stays juicy inside and crisp outside. Jeddah was the right place to start: it is the gateway city for millions of pilgrims travelling to Makkah, which meant AlBaik was meeting people from all over the Muslim world from its earliest days.
Growth inside Saudi Arabia
Rather than rush abroad, AlBaik spent decades growing inside Saudi Arabia, starting in the western region around Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah before expanding to Riyadh and other parts of the kingdom. Its branches near the holy cities became a regular stop for pilgrims, and many people’s first memory of AlBaik is a meal after prayers in Makkah or Madinah. Today Saudi Arabia still has the vast majority of its branches, about 153 according to Wikipedia.
What made AlBaik famous
- Broasted chicken. A juicy, lightly seasoned style that is different from heavily spiced fried chicken. Read what broasted chicken is.
- Garlic sauce. Many fans say the sauce is the real reason they queue.
- Value for money. AlBaik is widely known in Saudi Arabia for affordable meals.
- Scarcity. Because it stayed in Saudi Arabia for so long, AlBaik became a “must-try” for visitors and something people brought home stories about.
- A broad menu. Beyond chicken, it added shrimp, falafel, burgers, wraps and breakfast items that reflect its Saudi roots.
Going international
AlBaik’s first steps abroad came much later than for most chains of its size. It opened in Bahrain in 2020 and the United Arab Emirates in 2021, where openings in Dubai drew long queues and heavy social media coverage. Kuwait followed in 2025. Today the UAE has around 23 branches, Bahrain around 4 and Kuwait 1, according to Wikipedia.
| Country | Branches (approx.) | First opened |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 153 | 1974 |
| United Arab Emirates | 23 | 2021 |
| Bahrain | 4 | 2020 |
| Kuwait | 1 | 2025 |
Why Pakistan matters
Pakistan would be AlBaik’s first market outside the Arabian Peninsula. In October 2024, ALBAIK Food Systems Company signed an MoU with Gas & Oil Pakistan (GO) to explore opening restaurants in Pakistan (Arab News). In February 2025, after meeting AlBaik owner Rami Abu Ghazala, Pakistan’s commerce minister said the process was in its final stages (Business Recorder).
The link between the two countries is strong. Pakistan’s commerce ministry noted that about 1.7 million Pakistanis travelled to Saudi Arabia over five years, and many more perform Umrah and Hajj. For them, AlBaik is already a familiar and much-loved name. Read the latest on the AlBaik Pakistan launch.
AlBaik’s place in pop culture
In the Gulf, AlBaik is more than a restaurant. Pilgrims share photos of their meals, expats talk about missing it, and openings in new countries trend on social media. The garlic sauce in particular has become a meme and an inspiration for countless home recipes, including our own AlBaik-style garlic sauce.
Leadership today
AlBaik is still associated with the Abu Ghazalah family. In February 2025, Pakistan’s commerce minister met AlBaik owner Rami Abu Ghazala in Jeddah to discuss the Pakistan launch, according to Business Recorder. The company operates as ALBAIK Food Systems Company.
How AlBaik differs from Western fast-food chains
| AlBaik | Typical Western chain | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Saudi Arabia, 1974 | United States, mostly 1940s to 1960s |
| Growth model | Decades in one country before going abroad | Rapid global franchising |
| Signature | Broasted chicken and garlic sauce | Burgers, fries, fried chicken buckets |
| Menu influences | Middle Eastern: shawarma, falafel, tahina, hummus | American |
| Seafood | Jumbo shrimp meals | Limited |
This slow, home-first approach is a big part of AlBaik’s appeal. The brand built a reputation for consistency in one market before taking on new ones, and each new country has been treated as a major event.
What AlBaik’s history tells us about Pakistan
- AlBaik expands carefully. It took 46 years to open outside Saudi Arabia, so a cautious timeline in Pakistan fits its history.
- Launches draw crowds. Gulf openings saw long queues, and Pakistan, with its huge fan base, will likely be similar.
- The core menu travels. Broasted chicken, garlic sauce and shrimp have stayed central in every new country.
- Partners matter. AlBaik is entering Pakistan with a large local partner, GO, rather than many small franchisees.
Timeline of the Pakistan plan so far
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 10 Oct 2024 | MoU signed with Gas & Oil Pakistan (GO) |
| 9 Nov 2024 | Information minister says AlBaik is “on its way to Pakistan” |
| 8 Feb 2025 | Commerce ministry says the process is in its final stages |
| 27 Sep 2026 | No opening date or address announced yet |
Full details and sources are on our Pakistan launch page.
Why pilgrims remember AlBaik
For many Pakistanis, AlBaik is tied to a spiritual journey. After long days of worship in Makkah or Madinah, a hot, affordable AlBaik meal shared with family becomes part of the memory of Umrah or Hajj. That emotional connection is one reason searches for AlBaik in Pakistan are so high, and why news of the Pakistan launch has been shared so widely. If you are planning a trip, read our AlBaik tips for pilgrims.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded AlBaik?
Shakour Abu Ghazalah, in Jeddah in 1974.
Who owns AlBaik?
ALBAIK Food Systems Company, based in Saudi Arabia.
How many AlBaik branches are there?
More than 180 across four countries, according to Wikipedia.
Independent guide: AlbaikMenu.pk is not affiliated with ALBAIK or any brand mentioned. How we verify information.