Blue Tokai partners with Ambrosia Gulf for Middle East debut, to launch first UAE café

India-based coffee chain Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters is set to enter the Middle East market, beginning with a flagship outlet in the UAE. The company has partnered with Dubai-based Ambrosia Gulf, which will serve as its master franchisee for the GCC region.

The first café is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2025. Alongside the café rollout, the brand also plans to introduce its packaged products across the region, targeting both direct-to-consumer and HoReCa (hotels, restaurants, Ccafés) channels.

“This is not just an expansion; it’s an opportunity to build a thoughtful, regionally aligned presence while staying true to our core values,” said Shivam Shahi, COO of Blue Tokai.

Ambrosia Gulf is part of the larger Ambrosia Foods Group, backed by private equity firm Pulsar Capital. The group manages food and beverage brands across markets, including Biryani By Kilo in the GCC and the soon-to-launch Papa Johns in India.

Founded in 2013, Blue Tokai operates over 175 cafés in India and has a growing international footprint, including a roastery and cafés in Tokyo. The company said the move comes at a time when demand for premium, traceable coffee is rising across the Gulf.

“It’s an exciting time for Blue Tokai as we grow beyond India into a market that appreciates traceability, craft, and community,” said co-founder and CEO Matt Chitranjan. “Ambrosia Gulf brings deep operational insight and a strong local understanding of consumer expectations. We’re confident they are the right partners to build a vibrant network of Blue Tokai cafés across the region.”

Ambrosia Gulf said the collaboration fits its long-term strategy of developing premium F&B offerings in the region. “We’re focused on building brands that prioritise quality, authenticity, and customer experience—values that Blue Tokai exemplifies,” said Vish Narain, executive chairman of Ambrosia Gulf.