UAE coffee house aims to 'take Starbucks by storm', eyes UK, US expansion

A specialty coffee house created by Crescent Enterprises will “take Starbucks by storm” and may soon expand to the UK and United States, according to Crescent Enterprises CEO Badr Jafar. 

Speaking to Arabian Business during a recent interview, Jafar said that the brand, Kava & Chai, is one of a number of ventures incubated by CE-Creates, the company’s internal incubator which works to develop early-stage concepts into economically viable and scalable businesses. 

“It’s going to take Starbucks by storm. The idea is bringing the original concept of coffeehouses, as originally conceived in this part of the world, back home,” Jafar said.

“It’s about the coffeeshop as a melting pot. You get an exchange of ideas, and a safe place to learn and connect from each other. That’s what we want to revive with this concept.” 

Additionally, Jafar said that poetry and the spoken word is a key aspect of Kava & Chai. 

“[We want to provide] an opportunity for young, unknown poets and musicians to come and to engage with the community at large,” he said. “That’s what we want to represent.” 

At the moment, Kava & Chai has two locations in the UAE, including one in Al Seef near the Dubai Creek and another on the campus of the American University of Sharjah. 

Jafar said that two more – one in Mall of the Emirates and one in DIFC – are slated to open by the end of this year. 

“From next year, we’ll hopefully target both the UK and the US as well,” he said.