The much beloved Caribou Coffee is returning to Qatar, with five shops planning to open this year, including three next month, an official at the Qatar Quality Foods Company (QQF) has said.

A shop on the Pearl (near Spinney’s), one at Al Jazeera Petrol Station on Salwa Road and another branch at Abu Hamour Petrol Station are all primed for a February opening, Fadi Beyrouthi, QQF’s general manager told Doha News.

The American chain used to be operated in Qatar by the Al Wataniya group, which shuttered its shops last year, much to the dismay of many Qatar residents. Caribou is now being managed under the Al Mana Group.

Over the past few weeks, a few Caribou outlets have been offering free drinks to passersby, as the company awaits the proper licensing to begin operations.

Other locations are expected to open in April, including a branch at Jarir Bookstore in Al Rayyan and one at City Center Mall (third floor), Beyrouthi said.

If the excitement expressed by some bloggers are any indication, Caribou is about to get a very warm welcome.

Thoughts?

Credit: Photo of Pearl’s Caribou by Omar Chatriwala