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That Dubai is becoming one of the new gastronomic capitals of the world is evident from the large number of haute cuisine restaurants that are opening in the city, the arrival of starred restaurants in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the interest of top chefs in landing in the United Arab Emirates. Spain is a cradle of prestigious chefs, so it is not surprising that many have set their sights on expanding to destinations such as the Middle East. In fact, in 2023, chefs such as José Andrés and José Pizarro have already opened the doors of their restaurants there. But the list of future openings also includes names of the stature of Berasategui and Dabiz Muñoz. We take a look at the Spanish chefs who are planning to conquer the Arab Emirates this year.
José Andrés
The Asturian chef has been one of the first to land in the Middle East this year. And he has done it in a big way, at the new Atlantis The Royal Hotel, located on the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah, which houses 17 world-class restaurants, 8 of which are headed by celebrity chefs, including Jaleo by José Andrés. Designed by the chef himself, Jaleo is all about dishes to be shared and enjoyed with friends. Exclusive tapas, Iberian ham, abundant paellas, sangrias, cheeses, wines, sherries… formulas that delicately recreate the chef’s favourite Spanish recipes. “Legacy and fantasy in a single mouthful”, they say. Reservations opened on 10 February.
José Pizarro
From Dubai we go to Abu Dhabi with José Pizarro from Extremadura, a true standard bearer of Spanish cuisine in the United Kingdom, where he has been working for more than 20 years and has six businesses. And now in spring he will open a new restaurant, this time in the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. The restaurant is called José by Pizarro, it will have a capacity for 46 diners and there the chef will bring together his love for Spanish cuisine accompanied by beautiful wines, sherry, sparkling wines and cocktails. Regarding the name, the Extremaduran has declared: “I love the fact that we are calling it “José by Pizarro” because it is inspired by both restaurants. It’s the name of my first much-loved venue in the UK and has a similar fun feeling about it, as well as being inspired by the best of Pizarro”.
Dani García
The Malaga-born chef will also continue his expansion in the Arab countries. He landed some time ago in Doha with his restaurants BiBo (in the St. Regis Hotel) and Lobito de Mar (in Marsa Malaz Kempinski Doha). Now he has set his sights on Dubai. “It’s a city I know quite well, it has evolved a lot and the pandemic has put it in its place. It seems silly, but it tells you a lot about what is going on. It was a place where I wanted to be with Leña and Smoked Room“, he commented a few weeks ago. The opening of these two restaurants is pending here. Although there is no specific date, this year these projects from Malaga will finally come to fruition. For the moment, he is focused on the imminent opening of La Chambre Bleue, in Paris, next March.
Paco Morales
Another Spanish chef who will soon land in Dubai is the Cordovan Paco Morales and he will do so with the restaurant Qabú, whose opening was planned for 2022, but it was delayed and everything seems to indicate that by the end of this year it will open its doors. For the moment, few details have been revealed. The chef has been focusing on the capsule menu he developed for the Balthazar Downtown restaurant, located in the ski resort of Saint Moritz (Switzerland), which will be open until the end of March.
Of course, Morales continues to run his restaurant Noor and El Bar de Paco Morales, both in his native Córdoba.
Berasategui or Dabiz Muñoz also have it among their plans
The list of prestigious Spanish chefs planning to open restaurants in the United Arab Emirates continues with names such as Martín Berasategui and Dabiz Muñoz. Although there are no specific dates, these chefs are already working on projects to land there in the coming months. Dabiz Muñoz, who less than a month ago reopened his StreetXO in Madrid, revealed a few months ago that he would also have a branch of this restaurant in Dubai. The idea came from before the pandemic, but he had to restructure it due to the circumstances and it seems that in 2023 it will finally materialise in the Arab city. In addition, a few weeks ago he was on holiday there with his wife, Cristina Pedroche.
Martín Berasategui also announced that in 2023 he was planning to open new projects in different cities, including Dubai. For the time being, in February he will take over the management of Club Allard in Madrid and he has pending the opening of Madrí Madre, a tavern where pintxos and raciones (tapas) will be served. Marbella and Tenerife are also among the destinations where the Basque chef will expand, after announcing the closure of eMe Be Garrote a few months ago.