EspressoLab’s 70% Sale to Abu Dhabi’s MAIR Group Reshapes the Turkish Coffee Brand

A major ownership change is underway at EspressoLab. MAIR Group, a strategic investment company based in Abu Dhabi and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire 70% of Eslab Kahve Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., the company behind the EspressoLab brand. The agreement was signed on September 23, 2026, and the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

The financial terms have not been disclosed. That means the value of the transaction and the valuation placed on EspressoLab remain private, while the ownership structure that would emerge after closing is already clear. MAIR Group would hold 70%, while the founders and existing shareholders would retain the remaining 30% and continue supporting the company’s growth.

EspressoLab Has Become an International Coffee Brand

The scale of EspressoLab helps explain why the transaction extends beyond a conventional local coffee-chain acquisition. According to MAIR Group’s official announcement, EspressoLab had more than 400 specialty coffee shops across 21 countries as of August 2026, including more than 310 locations across more than 50 cities in Turkey.

Founded in 2014, Eslab operates more than the physical EspressoLab café network. Its activities include coffee sourcing and roasting, product procurement, franchise licensing, retail and digital sales, giving the business a broader consumer and franchise platform than its store count alone suggests.

Most of the network operates through a franchise model, which has allowed the Turkish-origin brand to expand across multiple international markets without relying entirely on company-owned locations. That structure is particularly relevant to MAIR Group as it looks to scale its new investment.

Why MAIR Group Is Buying EspressoLab

For MAIR Group, the deal represents its first international acquisition since its listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in late 2024. The company has traditionally focused on retail and commercial real estate in the UAE, with businesses and assets including Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society, SPAR operations in Abu Dhabi and the Makani real estate portfolio.

EspressoLab gives MAIR exposure to a different type of asset: an international consumer brand with an established franchise network and a presence across multiple markets.

MAIR Group CEO Nehayan Hamad Alameri said the transaction would diversify the group beyond its core retail and commercial real estate operations, while bringing together EspressoLab’s brand and international reach with MAIR’s investment and organizational resources.

The transaction therefore represents more than an investment in coffee shops. It gives MAIR access to a Turkish-origin consumer platform that has already demonstrated its ability to expand outside its home market.

The Founders Will Keep 30%

The transaction is not a full exit by EspressoLab’s existing shareholders. Once the deal closes, the founders and current shareholders will retain 30% of the company and are expected to remain involved in its development.

EspressoLab CEO Esat Kocadağ said the partnership would focus on strengthening the franchise network, investing in the brand and customer experience, and expanding across existing and new markets while preserving the identity and entrepreneurial culture of EspressoLab.

That ownership structure creates a combination of new capital and continued founder participation. MAIR would take control of the company, while the existing shareholders would maintain a substantial economic interest in its future performance.

A New Chapter for Turkish Consumer Brands

The EspressoLab transaction also reflects a broader movement of Gulf capital into consumer businesses with international growth potential. Abu Dhabi-based investment groups have increasingly looked beyond traditional domestic sectors, while Turkish companies with established brands and international operations offer a different route into regional consumer markets.

EspressoLab is particularly notable because its international expansion was already underway before the acquisition agreement. Its more than 400-store network across 21 countries provides MAIR with an operating platform rather than a business that still needs to establish its international footprint.

The deal also illustrates how franchise-led brands can become attractive acquisition targets once they reach sufficient scale. A successful franchise network can provide a mechanism for expansion across new markets while limiting the capital requirements associated with building every location directly.

The Deal Is Not Closed Yet

Despite headlines describing EspressoLab as having been sold, the transaction has not yet been completed. The parties signed the acquisition agreement on September 23, but the transfer of the shares remains conditional on regulatory approvals in the relevant jurisdictions and the fulfilment of other closing requirements.

The purchase price has also not been disclosed. Until the transaction closes and further financial information becomes available, the market does not have a confirmed figure for EspressoLab’s valuation or the amount MAIR Group will pay for the 70% stake.

What is already clear is the direction of the company’s ownership. A Turkish-origin coffee brand with more than 400 locations is moving toward majority ownership by an Abu Dhabi-listed investment group, while its founders retain a 30% stake and remain involved in the business.

EspressoLab’s next chapter will therefore be shaped by the combination of Turkish brand building, a large international franchise network and Gulf investment capital. If the transaction receives the required approvals, MAIR Group will gain control of one of Turkey’s most recognizable coffee brands while EspressoLab gains a new financial and strategic partner for its international expansion.