2 US Brands Set UAE Debuts

Two American restaurant brands are setting up shop in the United Arab Emirates: Chipotle Mexican Grill (Newport Beach, California) has opened its first restaurant in Dubai in the Alshaya Group, while Brooklyn Chop House (New York) will make its international debut at the end of November in Abu Dhabi.

Located at “The Beach” at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Chipotle’s 6000-square-foot Dubai location marks its first restaurant in the UAE, with a second location planned for Dubai Hills Mall in the coming months.

This also marks Chipotle’s latest foray into the Middle East, which began in April with a restaurant at The Avenues, Kuwait’s largest shopping mall, which was then followed by a second Chipotle restaurant at Kuwait’s The Walk Mall in Ardiya.

Chipotle’s existing international portfolio of owned and operated restaurants includes 47 locations in Canada; 20 in the United Kingdom; six in France; and two in Germany. In North America, the company owns and operates more than 3500 restaurants and plans to open between about 300 new restaurants there this year.

A rendering of Brooklyn Chophouse’s upcoming restaurant in Abu Dhabi. Image: Courtesy of Brooklyn Chophouse

The Brooklyn Chop House, meantime, will be in the W Abu Dhabi, the only hotel in the world built over a Formula 1 racetrack. Situated on Yas Island, the Asian-fusion steakhouse will be in a space formerly occupied by an Indian eatery, Angar, and the Italian restaurant, Amicio.

“This opening is not just about introducing our signature blend of Asian-inspired steakhouse cuisine; it’s about creating a cultural fusion that reflects New York City’s energy while embracing the UAE’s warmth and hospitality,” said founders Robert “Don Pooh” Cummins and David Thomas in a news release.

The brand’s other locales are the original in Brooklyn and another in Manhattan.