Fashion chain Jigsaw is back in the black as it prepares for its launch in the Middle East.

The retailer’s sales jumped 10% to £60m in the year to September 2012 and made a £1.5m pre-tax profit against a £21.2m loss the previous year.

The good run has continued into its current year. The retailer said: “We made a positive start to the new financial year. Both sales and margins are ahead of budget and last year.”

Jigsaw, which ditched its Kew brand last year, signed a five year franchise agreement for the Middle East in its last financial year and will open its first store in Dubai in 2013. A further nine stores will follow across the region in the next four years.

Jigsaw’s online sales soared nearly 30% over the year and it relaunched its website.

The retailer, which has 57 stand alone stores and 26 concessions, said it is “actively looking” for new stores and plans to open more menswear-only stand-alones, of which it has four.

Former New Look product guru Barbara Horspool joined Jigsaw last June as creative director as it vies to up its fashion credentials.