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The first U.S. franchise opened last year in Denver, Colo., and New York City and Detroit locations will soon be opening their doors. But Fransmart, under the hand of CEO Dan Rowe (known for the rapid expansion of Five Guys Burgers & Fries), also quickly lined up franchise partners far from home.

A Kuwait location opened in November and a Riyadh store opened in January. Nipping at their heels are franchises in the UAE and Bahrain.

Saleh Al-Samadi signed on for 15 units with a primary focus on Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah — all developed by his family’s company Al-Samadi Retail. “There are already a lot of big players in the GCC, but we wanted something that was a fresh approach,” Al-Samadi said. “We didn’t just want a greasy burger slapped on a bun.” The Dubai store is slated to open in July.

Franchisees will need a bit of money to opening a Big Smoke franchise, starting with a franchise fee of $35,000 and a restaurant can cost from $225,000 to $450,000 depending on its size and location.

Mr. Yusuf, who spent a portion of his childhood in Abu Dhabi, said the Gulf region is a hotbed not just for fastfood but the new “fast casual” concept — slightly fresher, fussier fast food — pioneered by U.S. brands such as Chipotle and Smashburger. “For a lot of the Middle Eastern countries, they don’t have movie theatres and you’re not going to a bar,” he said. “A cool burger place can become the place to be.”

Mr. Al-Samadi said the huge demand can be attributed to two keys things. First, there are a huge number of Western expats working in the Gulf eager for a taste of home. Second, the locals are fond of “Western experiences.” “It’s a win-win,” he said.