USA’s family restaurant chain IHOP Restaurants has opened its first location in the Middle East. The first IHOP has been opened in The Mall of the Emirates in the Al Barsha district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The new outlet, will offer many of the same usual favorites menu items as US locations. Besides, all meats at IHOP in Dubai will be Halal-certified. Previously IHOP and M.H. Alshaya had signed a development agreement to launch the brand in the region. The agreement will see Alshaya open nearly 40 IHOP restaurants in across Middle East, including the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Egypt. Founded 54 years ago, the IHOP family restaurant chain is known for its world famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that are popular among people of all ages. The brand’s parent company is DineEquity, Inc. that also owns Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar. While Kuwait- based Alshaya is an international retail franchise operator, and it has over 2,200 stores in 19 worldwide markets across multiple sectors like fashion and footwear, health and beauty, food service, optics, pharmacy, office supplies and home furnishings.