Often we see world-famous restaurants arrive in Dubai, and they are every bit as brilliant – if not more than – as their predecessors. LPM Bar & Restaurant and Indochine spring into our minds.
While the F&B industry was turned on its head last year, that isn’t stopping some ambitious plans going ahead from some homegrown establishments in the emirate.
Now Dubai has cultivated itself as a key culinary destination with many fine-dining and luxury restaurants making a name for themselves right here in the UAE.
The MAINE Group
Five years after top Dubai-based restauranteur opened his first instalment of the MAINE Group, it’s safe to say Joey Ghazal has well and truly dominated the F&B scene in the region.
With The MAINE Oyster Bar & Grill in JBR, The MAINE Street Eatery in Studio City and The MAINE Land Brasserie in Business Bay, Ghazal is ready to go global. In an interview with EW last year, Ghazal revealed they’re preparing to launch a new MAINE restaurant in London. Saudi Arabia and the Far East is also on his radar.
“We are quite advanced in our plans to open The MAINE in London, but obviously it all depends now on COVID-19,” Ghazal said. “We are actively considering the Far East and Saudi as well. We should have a clearer picture towards the end of the year, hopefully by then we will be able to look back at this year with humility for what it has taught us.”
Gaia
First bursting onto the Dubai foodie scene two years ago, Chef Izu Ani‘s brainchild has garnered a cult following for the delicious Mediterranean and Greek cuisine Gaia has to offer.
In fact, just days after opening in October 2018 the Crown Prince of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, paid a visit to the eatery and has been a keen visitor ever since.
Now, Gaia is set to hit Europe’s shores with an establishment opening up in London, in the exclusive Mayfair postcode.
With Sheikh Hamdan being a regular visitor to the UK, it begs the question if he’ll pop in for a meal at Gaia London.
La Serre
Downtown Dubai-born La Serre – which opened in 2013 – is also going global as it’s set to open restaurants in three different cities– Riyadh, London and New York City.
Last month, the French brasserie’s operator, Lincoln Hospitality, unveiled the exciting news the first new La Serre establishment to open will be in the Saudi Arabian capital early next year in the King Abdullah Financial District.
Later in 2021, La Serre will be heading to Europe with a third restaurant opening in London’s exclusive area of Knightsbridge. Shortly after, La Serre will hop over the Atlantic Ocean to New York City, meaning all three restaurants will have opened by the end of next year.
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