Singapore's Bubble Tea Advertising Ban Is Not as New as the Internet Thinks
Key facts
Bubee Drinks Cafe, a bubble tea Dubai brand, is marking its eighth anniversary. According to The Filipino Times on 3 October 2026, it began with a single store inside a Philippine Supermarket in Al Muraqqabat, Deira, and now reports more than 65 stores across the UAE. The store count comes from the company's own anniversary announcement as reported by that outlet; we have not independently verified it.
- Founded in October 2018 by Mr. Tom, Mr. Majid, Mr. Kenny and Mr. Sheng, inspired by Dubai's diverse community and demand for affordable, refreshing drinks.
- Growth is described as a mix of company-operated stores and franchise partnerships, with a presence reported in all seven emirates.
- The brand says it introduced Cream Cheese Bubble Tea to the UAE and prepares tapioca pearls fresh and drinks to order.
- Anniversary offers: from 5 to 9 October, buy any large drink and receive a free large Taro or Classic Milk Tea; from 10 October to 10 November, a large drink earns an AED 5 voucher, redeemable on a minimum purchase of AED 20.
What it means for Dubai
The Bubee story is a useful reference for how a bubble tea brand can scale in the UAE. It started in a single supermarket unit in Deira, a dense, price-sensitive and multicultural part of Dubai, rather than a flagship in a premium mall. The founders say their pitch was affordable, consistent drinks for a mixed community.
Our own rough arithmetic, not a figure from either source: 65 stores over eight years averages roughly eight openings a year. Growth is rarely that even, and the sources give no year-by-year breakdown, so treat it only as a sense of scale.
Two choices stand out. First, the reported blend of company-run and franchised stores shows that a brand can control quality in core sites while using partners to reach more locations. Second, the brand frames its edge as consistency and freshness (pearls cooked in store, drinks made to order) plus one signature product, rather than a very wide menu.
Lucky Tea, a Saudi-founded brand whose stores are all in Riyadh, is following this market as category research. Lucky Tea has no store in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE.
Background
General UAE franchising context, not bubble tea data. On 4 October 2026, IndexBox reported on the Future Food Forum 2026, where the Emirates Franchise Association took part as Franchise Enabling Partner. The article does not mention bubble tea or Bubee. It cites a projection that the UAE food and beverage sector will reach about USD 44 billion by 2029.
As IndexBox summarises it, Association Chairman Ali Mohamed Al Marzooqi described franchising as supporting business expansion while creating openings for entrepreneurs and investors. Board member Saleh Abdullah Lootah said the UAE food sector has matured, with the conversation shifting from creating products to scaling them, and that franchising gives proven concepts a pathway to grow quickly.
Takeaway
Bubee's reported path, from one Deira unit to more than 65 stores, points to a familiar Gulf pattern: start small, keep the product simple and consistent, then add stores through a mix of owned and franchised sites. The store count is self-reported, and the franchising data is general food and beverage context, so neither should be read as a measure of bubble tea demand on its own.
