Testing the Waters
Gap Inc. is planning to expand to the Middle East, signing a franchise agreement with Al Tayer Group to open 25 Gap and 10 Banana Republic stores there by 2010. Al Tayer Group will hold the exclusive rights to operate stores in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. This is the second franchise agreement signed by the San Francisco–based retailer. In January, an accord was reached with a franchisee to open stores in Malaysia and Singapore.
