Ruby Tuesday Announces Plans For 25 Restaurants In The Middle East

(Thursday, March 22, 2007) - Ruby Tuesday,
Inc. (NYSE: RI), one of the nation's leading casual dining restaurant
companies, announced plans for the development of 25 restaurants in
Middle Eastern countries that include Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt,
Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.
The restaurants will be developed and operated by the National Arabic
Company for Restaurant Management of Kuwait City (NAC) and will open
over the next seven years.
"We are extremely excited about expanding our relationship with
Ruby Tuesday in the Middle East," said Emad Bu Khamseen, owner and
Chairman of NAC. "We are committed to bring the Ruby Tuesday
experience to people throughout the Middle East," he added.
Bu Khamseen said that NAC will also establish a training center in
Kuwait City for Ruby Tuesday employees. This marks the first
franchisee-operated training facility, and it will be modeled after
the Ruby Tuesday training complex that is located at the
Tennessee-based company's Restaurant Support Center.
Mark Ingram, President of Franchising, said that Ruby Tuesday is
extremely proud to partner with NAC in the Middle East. "The Bu
Khamseen family is an ideal partner, and because they represent the
Ruby Tuesday brand so well, we are confident that their creation of
the first satellite training facility for our international team
members will be a tremendous resource for NAC and other franchisees
and support more successful growth in the region," he said.
This is the second time the franchise development agreement has
been expanded since 2001, an indication of the popularity of the Ruby
Tuesday brand in the Middle East and the development and operating
performance of NAC. Ruby Tuesday has been expanding its franchise
presence in the area for the past six years and continues to franchise
additional restaurants worldwide. Currently, there are four Ruby
Tuesday restaurants in the Middle East, including locations in Kuwait
City and Abu Hlaifa, Kuwait and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Additional
restaurants are scheduled to open soon in Dubai City, United Arab
Emirates, and in Cairo, Egypt.
About Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday was founded more than 30 years ago, when current
Chairman and CEO Sandy Beall opened the first restaurant near the
University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1972. Since then, the company
has grown to over 900 company-owned and franchised restaurants in 43
states and 15 countries around the world. Ruby Tuesday is aggressively
franchising territories in the western United States and in
international locations. Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE: RI). More information about the company can be
found at www.rubytuesday.com.

CONTACT: Ruby Tuesday, Inc.
Rick Johnson, 865-379-5791

SOURCE: Ruby Tuesday, Inc.

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