With its second Abu Dhabi restaurant in Al Zeina - Al Raha Beach opening its doors today, Nandos has now reached a total of 14 restaurants operating in the UAE. With three new restaurants launched since the beginning of the year - Abu Dhabi World Trade Centre in February, Dubais Mirdif City Centre on 2 April and now Al Raha Beach in Abu Dhabi - and plans for 2 restaurant renovations by year end, 2014 looks set to be a record year.

Having launched in South Africa in 1987, Nandos opened its first UAE restaurant in Dubai along Sheikh Zayed Road in 2002 and proudly inaugurated the first branch in Abu Dhabi this year. Located in Abu Dhabis new World Trade Centre Mall, the 6,000sqft restaurant provides customers with the unique Nandos experience and relaxed atmosphere while surrounded by an interior designed to evoke the brands heritage.

Eager to satisfy Abu Dhabi enthusiasts of the legendary Portuguese flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken, Nandos did not wait long to further expand its presence in the capital and opened a second restaurant only 4 months later. The Al Zeina- Al Raha Beach restaurant, located on the Ground Floor, can host up to 100 customers and is open from 12noon -12midnight on weekdays and from 12noon-1am on weekends.

Nandos is incredibly popular in Dubai so it was a natural next step to move into Abu Dhabi. The World Trade Centre Mall restaurant had a successful launch with business booming in the first months since opening. Having seen the great response that it had, we have no doubt that Nando's Al Zeina- Al Raha Beach will be highly successful and will prove popular, said Dinesh Acharya, COO, Nandos UAE.

Nandos operates over 1,000 restaurants across 23 countries, including 14 in the UAE and there are renovations planned for Nandos in The Greens and Al Qasba in Sharjah. Nandos now employs almost 400 people across the seven Emirates. The company hopes to achieve a healthy 25% growth year on year for the next four years and add three to four restaurants in this country each year.

The UAE market is extremely vibrant and we see tremendous growth opportunities for the future. We are looking to double the number of our restaurants in the coming four years," continued Acharya.

For further information, restaurant locations and opening dates of the new branches check out Nandos Facebook page Facebook.com/nandosuae or contact customer service on 600 54 25 25.