One of America’s most famous fast-food chains will soon return to Turkey: On Sept. 11, Kentucky Fried Chicken signed a new franchise agreement to relaunch in the country by the end of the year.

KFC owner Yum! Brands had terminated its previous franchise agreement in Turkey in January, shuttering 284 stores. While the US company said the local operator failed to meet standards, the decision came as KFC was facing protests linked to the war in the Gaza Strip.

The fried chicken chain is one of many Western brands that have been battered by boycotts that began in the Middle East in late 2023, driven by public anger at US support for Israel’s military operation in Gaza. Consumer backlash continues to take a toll as the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks approaches, exposing long-term shifts in the Middle East’s brand landscape. 

Consider Dubai’s Majid Al-Futtaim, the regional franchise operator for French retail giant Carrefour. On Sept. 3, the Dubai-based firm reported that retail revenues fell 1% year on year during the first half of 2025, citing the “ongoing impact of geopolitical tensions on consumer sentiment in certain markets.” In August, Turkey-based beverage bottler Coca-Cola Icecek reported it was losing ground in some markets.