The popular Persian restaurant is set to open at First Avenue Mall in Jumeirah.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have long shared a lively culinary exchange, with standout concepts regularly crossing city lines in search of new audiences. The latest restaurant preparing to make that move is Soraya, the much-loved Persian dining destination from Abu Dhabi, which is now set to expand to Dubai.
Scheduled to open in 2026, Soraya’s new outpost will be located at First Avenue Mall in Jumeirah. The restaurant is part of London’s Pachamama Group, which is behind the existing Abu Dhabi branch at Yas Mall. With a London opening also on the horizon, the Dubai venue will mark another major step in the brand’s continued growth.
Soraya has built its reputation around a menu that celebrates Persian cuisine with warmth, generosity and plenty of character. At its core, the concept is rooted in comforting, home-style flavours, but it presents them in a way that feels contemporary and well-suited to a modern dining crowd.
If the Yas Mall location is any indication, guests can expect interiors that are bright, inviting and layered with personality. Traditional Persian café influences are paired with modern details to create a space that feels both elegant and approachable.
The menu is expected to spotlight Soraya’s best-known dishes, with a line-up that reflects the depth and variety of Persian cooking. The à la carte menu features main dishes such as smoky skewers (kabobs) of marinated meats and vegetables, mixed grill platters, ghormeh sabzi (lamb shank, herb and kidney bean stew), laban immo (lamb meatballs and lamb shank, yoghurt and dried mint), grilled prawn ghalieh (grilled prawn, tomato and tamarind sauce) and more. An array of salads and pickles is also available, along with a plethora of dips and spreads ready to be slathered over homemade hot bread.
Desserts include faloodeh (lime and rose granita, saffron ice cream, frozen sweet melon), a baklava ice cream sandwich, golden burnt cheesecake and much more. Drinks are varied and fresh, ranging from lemonade and squeezed juices, to more traditional drinks such as doogh (Persian mint yoghurt), lemon mint and homemade laban.
First Avenue Mall is shaping up to be one of Dubai’s most exciting new dining destinations. Alongside Soraya, the development will also welcome the FACT award-winning Jon & Vinny’s, Nala from tashas Group, Lost in Tokyo and BASMA, a new Levantine concept from the culinary team behind Rascals Deli and Za Za.
Where: Soraya, First Avenue Mall, Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Opening in 2026
Contact: www.sorayarestaurant.com