New office will support Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Franchisees operating in the Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and Australia

Dubai, UAE; 5 September 2012: The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre ("DMCC"), the licensing authority for the Jumeirah Lakes Towers ("JLT") Free Zone, welcomes Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) ("Dunkin' Brands"), parent company of two of the world's most recognisable brands, Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, as its newest member.

Dunkin' Brands will be operating its Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and Australia regional office from the Free Zone and is hoping to have moved into its new offices based in Jumeirah Business Centre 2 by the end of the year.

Malcolm Wall Morris, Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, commented:

"DMCC welcomes Dunkin' Brands to Dubai as it joins over 4,800 organisations from all over the world currently based in the JLT Free Zone, the fastest growing mixed-use Free Zone in the Emirate.

We have seen phenomenal growth within the first six months of operation in 2012 with 975 companies joining the JLT Free Zone. Dunkin' Brands' presence here is testament to that growth pattern, and the relevance of Dubai's central location as business centres across the world shift from North to South and West to East."

John Varghese, Vice President, Middle East, South East Asia and Australia for Dunkin' Brands International, commented:

"We have a long-term commitment to our operations and franchisees in the Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and Australia. The opening of our first regional office here in the UAE will enable us to focus on our international expansion plans and better support our existing international licensees. The JLT Free Zone is the ideal location from which to drive this strategy, and we look forward to moving into our new offices within the next 6 months."  

Dunkin' Brands joins global names such as Vertu, The LVMH Group including Bvlgari and Tag Heuer, De Beers and Bioderma Laboratoire Dermatologique who have recently set up their regional corporate operations in Dubai's JLT Free Zone.

In 1979, Baskin-Robbins became one of the first international quick service restaurant ("QSR") brands to enter the region. Today, Baskin-Robbins is one of the largest QSR brands in the Middle East with over 500 restaurants. Dunkin' Donuts has also achieved great success in the region, with more than 250 restaurants in the Middle East.

Since the start of 2012, DMCC has registered 975 companies, a 60% rise over the same period in 2011, bringing the JLT Free Zone's membership to over 4,800 companies. It also has 61 completed towers and over 50,000 people living and working in the Free Zone.

-Ends-

For media enquiries:
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Sandra Sloan
PR & Corporate Communication
+971 4 364 4261
sandra.sloan@dmcc.ae

Brunswick Group
Katharine Crallé
+971 (4) 446 6270
dmcc@brunswickgroup.com 
 
Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc.
With more than 17,000 points of distribution in nearly 60 countries worldwide, Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) is one of the world's leading franchisors of quick service restaurants (QSR) serving hot and cold coffee and baked goods, as well as hard-serve ice cream. At the end of the second quarter 2012, Dunkin' Brands' nearly 100 percent franchised business model included more than 10,000 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants and nearly 7,000 Baskin-Robbins restaurants. For the full-year 2011, the company had franchisee-reported sales of approximately $8.3 billion. Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. is headquartered in Canton, Mass.

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority (DMCC)
The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) is the master developer and licensing authority for the Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) Free Zone, one of the largest, fastest growing mixed-use developments in Dubai. Owned by the Government of Dubai, DMCC was established in 2002, by Royal Rule No 4 of 2002, with a mandate to enhance commodity trade flows through the Emirate by providing the physical, market and financial infrastructure required.

DMCC offers a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework, modern infrastructure, free-hold property, innovative products and value-added services. It has successfully attracted key participants throughout the entire commodities sector value chain; as well as businesses ranging from shipping to recruitment, IT to advertising and fashion. JLT-based companies enjoy highly attractive benefits under the free zone status, including 50-year guaranteed 0% corporate and personal income tax, 100 per cent business ownership, full ownership of business premises, and a secure, regulated environment.

As a 200 hectare, mixed-use waterfront master development with a prime central location on Sheikh Zayed Road, JLT nurtures both trade and community living through its commercial, residential and retail property offering. Today, JLT is home to over 4,800 regional and multi-national companies and over 50,000 people living and working in the Free Zone.

© Press Release 2012