What To Know
- Nobu One Za’abeel opens in January in Dubai at The Link inside One&Only One Za’abeel, pairing the brand’s signature cuisine with a bar and lounge that runs late.
- Dubai starts the year with a flagship dining opening at One&Only One Za’abeel, while Abu Dhabi adds two restaurants at The Galleria that bring distinct formats and international recognition.
- One lands in Dubai at One&Only One Za’abeel, while two arrive in Abu Dhabi at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island.
Nobu One Za’abeel opens January 2026, while Isabel Mayfair and Hanbok open in Abu Dhabi in Q1 and early 2026
The UAE’s 2026 dining calendar starts with three major openings that already have names, addresses, and opening windows. One lands in Dubai at One&Only One Za’abeel, while two arrive in Abu Dhabi at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. These openings cover Japanese Peruvian dining, Mediterranean glamour from a well known London original, and a contemporary Korean concept designed around an immersive interior experience. For anyone planning reservations early in the year, these are the dates and locations that matter.
Nobu One Za’abeel | Dubai | January 2026
Nobu One Za’abeel opens in January 2026 at The Link inside One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai. The restaurant brings Nobu’s Japanese Peruvian cuisine to the sky concourse that connects the two towers of the development. The venue is designed as a full restaurant experience, with a bar and lounge that shifts into a late-night format featuring curated DJ soundtracks. Nobu One Za’abeel sits within the One&Only One Za’abeel dining lineup and positions itself as a destination for both dinner and after-hours service in the same address.
Isabel Mayfair Abu Dhabi | Q1 2026
Isabel Mayfair Abu Dhabi opens in Q1 2026 at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. This launch marks the first international location of the London restaurant. The venue brings Isabel’s Mediterranean approach, refined cocktail program, and a social dining format centered around a signature central bar. The Abu Dhabi edition keeps the brand’s established identity while introducing a version created for its location inside The Galleria, one of the capital’s key retail and lifestyle destinations.
Hanbok | Abu Dhabi | Early 2026
Hanbok opens in early 2026 at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. The concept presents contemporary Korean dining with a strong design focus, using floating fabric elements and sculpted lighting to define the space. The menu reinterprets Korean flavors through modern technique and positions the experience as immersive and art driven. Hanbok arrives as part of the ongoing expansion of Abu Dhabi’s restaurant scene at Al Maryah Island, adding a new Korean dining concept to the destination’s lineup.
Why These Three Matter Right Now
These openings matter because they start the year with fully defined restaurants tied to major developments, not limited runs or temporary concepts. Dubai starts the year with a flagship dining opening at One&Only One Za’abeel, while Abu Dhabi adds two restaurants at The Galleria that bring distinct formats and international recognition. January and Q1 set an early pace for dining in both cities, with the kinds of openings that typically pull attention from residents, visitors, and the regional hospitality scene.
Early 2026 delivers three new dining addresses worth tracking from day one. Nobu One Za’abeel opens in January in Dubai at The Link inside One&Only One Za’abeel, pairing the brand’s signature cuisine with a bar and lounge that runs late. Isabel Mayfair Abu Dhabi opens in Q1 at The Galleria with its central bar and Mediterranean identity. Hanbok opens early 2026 at the same destination, bringing a contemporary Korean concept shaped by design and modern technique. Dubai and Abu Dhabi both start the year with openings that give diners real plans to make.
