03/12/2021
Lebanese Franchise Day & Night in Dubai by
As a sign of its determination to showcase the true image of Lebanon and the Lebanese, the Lebanese Franchise Association (LFA) organized a special event, in the Lebanese Pavilion, at Expo 2020 Dubai. LFA President, Yahya Kassaa and members of the board, inaugurated the event, and received a large number of visitors and the UAE-based Lebanese business community.
In the evening, the LFA hosted a dinner, at Palazzo Versace Hotel, under the headline, “Meet the Lebanese Creators”. The 100 invitees included the Lebanese business community in the UAE, many of whom operate franchises. The Lebanese Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Fouad Dandan was the guest of honor.
In his welcome remarks, President Kassaa congratulated the UAE on its National Day Golden Jubilee - 50 years of unparalleled achievement and progress.
In that regard, he reaffirmed his belief that Lebanon cannot survive and thrive outside its close-knit Arab neighborhood.
President Kassaa also expressed his admiration for Lebanese entrepreneurs who, despite multiple crises in Lebanon, are creating new franchises, thereby seizing the opportunity of heightened interest in Lebanese concepts to expand into new markets…from the Gulf…to Africa and Europe.
An award ceremony followed. President Kassaa presented “LFA Friendship Plaques” to:
• H.E. Ambassador Dandan, in recognition of his contributions to advancing relations between Lebanon and the UAE.
• Mr. Monther Darwish, Managing Director of Palazzo Versace Dubai, for his many successes as a young Emirati entrepreneur, and for his admiration for Lebanon and Lebanese franchises.
President Kassaa then presented awards to three franchise pioneers, namely:
• Ms. Aline Kamakian, an LFA pioneer who founded Mayrig and Batchig, offering innovative Armenian cuisine.
• Mr. Anthony Maalouf, a founding member of the LFA, and the CEO of Casper & Gambini’s Worldwide, a franchise with outlets in many countries.
• Mr. Karim Miknas, the Miknas family is a also a founding member of the LFA. Karim is the Managing Partner of Miknas Food SAL, the exclusive Developmental Licensee of McDonald’s in Lebanon.
