What captured the interest of the local population was its menu offerings and affordable prices that are similar to prominent global fast food chains.

Qatari-owned fast food chain Junior’s is set to open its first international branch in Amman, Jordan, marking its debut outside Qatar, Doha News has learned.

A source from the restaurant confirmed the news after social media posts of the branch in Amman emerged. However, the official opening date has not been announced.

The restaurant rose to popularity in Qatar when it started with its online deliveries in January 2024, before opening its first local branch in Lusail in March 2024. 

What captured the interest of the local population was its menu offerings and affordable prices that are similar to prominent global fast food chains—a lot of which have been boycotted in light of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.

The boycott movement has sparked inspiration in numerous Arab countries to create alternatives to boycotted brands, from food and beverage to clothing and cosmetics. 

The movement has particularly gained traction in Palestine’s neighbour, Jordan, where the population has actively sought alternatives to major brands funding or supporting Israel. 

At least 93 percent of Jordanians have participated in the boycott movement since the beginning of the genocide, according to a survey by the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan in November 2023, cited by Al Jazeera.

The success of the boycott was reflected in the closure of many popular stores that have been replaced with local brands. 

Jordan hosts the largest population of Palestinians, including more than 2.39 million refugees registered under the United Nations due to Israel’s occupation of Palestine since 1948. 

Generations of Palestinians were granted the Jordanian citizenship, with one in five people living in Jordan is Palestinian, according to The New York Times.