Here are six recent and upcoming openings to keep on your radar.
Nayara
At One&Only Royal Mirage, upcoming restaurant Nayara draws on the food traditions of Lebanon, Syria and the wider Eastern Mediterranean. The menu will centre on Levantine flavours and shared dining, with further culinary details still to be revealed.
One detail already announced is the collaboration with Emirati couture designer Hamda Al Fahim. She has created a hand-drawn floral motif for a limestone feature wall, using stone sourced within the region, and designed bespoke clothing for the restaurant team.
Nayara is scheduled to open in October, with the exact date and full menu to follow.
One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai. Opening in October.
ORAA Social & Wellness Club
A workout, a massage, a hair appointment and lunch with a friend could soon share the same address. Coming to Al Quoz, ORAA Social & Wellness Club is a private women-only members’ club founded by Sara Ikram, who spotted how much of the day women spend travelling between appointments across Dubai.
The fitness offering will include Megaformer and Reformer classes, spinning, barre, cardio and strength training, with sauna, cold plunge and massage facilities for recovery. Hair and nail services will also be available, while Missed Call Café will give members somewhere to eat and catch up between plans.
Membership numbers will be limited, with community experiences and events forming part of the programme.
Al Quoz. Coming soon. oraawellness.com
One Forty Fourz Café
Mahjong takes centre stage at One Forty Fourz Café, which is scheduled to open on 20 October. Founded by Ruchita Pardiwala, the café will give Dubai’s players a dedicated place to gather around the tiles, with speciality coffee, food and other board games rounding out the offering.
There are plans for tournaments, workshops and social events, as well as beginner sessions for anyone curious about the game. That gives newcomers a way to get involved without needing to bring an experienced group of players with them.
Expect tables organised around play, with coffee and conversation keeping the sessions going.
Opening 20 October. Reservations on 04 388 4831.
OVS, Dubai Mall
OVS has opened a 2,500-square metre flagship on Level 1 of Dubai Mall, bringing a substantial selection of the Italian group’s brands into one store. Womenswear, menswear and children’s wear sit across labels including Piombo, Stefanel, Les Copains, B.Angel and OVS Kids, with accessories and lingerie also part of the mix.
There are pieces created exclusively for the UAE market, giving the store an offering tailored to its location. Beauty shoppers have a reason to visit too. The flagship houses the group’s largest Shaka beauty space, stocking international independent brands and Italian labels.
Level 1, Dubai Mall. Now open.
Lucy Lu
Beirut-born speakeasy Lucy Lu is bringing its blue door and warrior rabbit to 25 Jump Street at One Central. Inside, deep maroon interiors and dark wood set the backdrop for sharing plates and classic cocktails with house twists.
The venue’s Beirut story began in Gemmayze, where word of mouth helped build its following. Its Dubai address continues that sense of discovery through the entrance and design, while a live DJ takes the evening into its later hours.
25 Jump Street, One Central. Opening in October.
Em Sherif Jumeirah
Em Sherif’s new address at Huna on Al Wasl Road brings its Lebanese table to Jumeirah. Founded by Mireille Hayek, with Executive Chef Yasmina Hayek shaping the culinary offering, the restaurant builds on familiar dishes from Em Sherif Café in an all-day setting.
The standalone venue has its own entrance, an indoor dining room and two gardens. The front terrace looks towards Burj Khalifa and the Dubai skyline, while the rear garden offers another outdoor option for meals and drinks.
Huna, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah. Daily from 11am to midnight. Reservations on 054 270 8270.
