transformed into a glittery global hub with an international culinary scene, there were limited—albeit much loved—dining options that represented the city’s mix of influences. Sisters Arva and Farida Ahmed have fond memories of going for Friday-night dinner with their parents to one of the city’s Lebanese -shawarma joints, chai cafeterias run by Indians from the Malabar Coast, kebab joints, or the rare steakhouse.
Over the past 20 years, Dubai has experienced a burst of development, and with it, a world-class dining scene. The city now boasts restaurants from some of the world’s most well-known chefs, from Gordon Ramsay to Nobu Matsu-hisa. After a brief halt in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, new restaurants are opening and thriving.
The company was born out of Arva’s own explorations to find the tastes of her childhood when she returned to the city in 2010 after living abroad. She felt unmoored by how much the city had changed and wanted to connect to her roots, blogging about her culinary adventures. “I was so consumed by the idea of discovering and showing people the places that weren’t getting the light of day,” she says.