9 new Dubai restaurant openings to watch in 2026

DUBAI, June 16, 2026 — Dubai's dining scene is set to expand with at least nine new restaurant openings before the end of 2026, spanning fine dining, beach clubs and casual concepts. The line-up mixes international names making their Dubai debut with new ventures from established local groups.

The openings underline Dubai's continued pull for global restaurant brands, with arrivals from London, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Peru joining homegrown expansions across the city.

Japanese concepts lead the new Dubai restaurant openings

FYTE Hospitality, the group behind Kokoro, will bring the Tokyo concept Hikiniku to Come to CMPLX in Al Quoz in September, serving 100 percent Halal-certified Wagyu in a Wagyu Hamburg ritual of freshly ground patties grilled to a set sequence. A second outpost of the Japanese robatayaki brand ROKA is also due, with ROKA The Palm joining the line-up at Six Senses The Palm and accepting reservations from October 1.

On Bluewaters, the team behind Takahisa will open Taiga, a modern teppanyaki restaurant with a counter and private dining rooms. In Al Wasl, the group behind Kraken will add Shinobi, a hand roll bar that follows its Kokoro, Yubi and Tezukuri venues.

International fine dining and all-day arrivals

London restaurant group JKS will bring Gymkhana, its two-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, to DIFC later this year, featuring tandoor-cooked meats and curries. French-Mediterranean fine-dining name La Petite Maison will open an all-day spin-off, Le Cafe LPM at Across H, in summer 2026, with breakfast, daytime plates, evening dishes and a patisserie selection.

Also arriving later in the year is Osaka Nikkei at Mandarin Oriental Downtown, a 35th-floor restaurant bringing Peruvian-Japanese Nikkei cuisine to Dubai by way of Miami and Madrid.

Beachside and casual debuts

At Palm West Beach, ISBA by Bagatelle will bring Bagatelle's French-Mediterranean concept to a seaside setting in front of the Dorchester Residences, operated by 7 Management. It is due to open before the end of the year.

Making its Dubai debut in the coming weeks is Jon and Vinny's, the Los Angeles Italian-American restaurant known for wood-fired pizzas and pancakes, which will open at First Avenue Mall Jumeirah after expanding into Saudi Arabia. More on the second ROKA can be found via ROKA Dubai.

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