Seventeen restaurants. Three bars. Forty-three thousand square feet of Market space. Time Out Market Dubai is coming, and it’s going to be huge. And with the opening date creeping ever closer on the horizon, Time Out Dubai caught up with the newly appointed general manager Sandy El Hayek – and it’s safe to say she can’t wait for what is arguably the biggest foodie launch of the year.
“I’m hugely excited about Time Out Market Dubai,” say El Hayek. “It’s an amazing opportunity for Dubai to showcase what we have and what we’re so good at – food, entertainment and a world-class dining scene – and to be part of driving that forward is amazing.
“We have so much to celebrate here in Dubai. We have wonderful food, exciting destinations, and so many places to go – Time Out Market Dubai will have a great line-up with amazing people. We can really show as a city what we’re good at.”
And with everything that’s in the pipeline we’re at the edge of our seats to share what’s in store, too.
Not just another food hall
El Hayek has a wealth of restaurant experience in Dubai, having been in the city for nearly nine years, and has opened food halls in Dubai before – most recently at Depachika Food Hall on Palm Jumeirah and the Food District at The Pointe. She has also worked with brands including La Serre and Galeries LaFayettes, so she knows a thing or two about what makes Dubai diners tick. But this is not just another food hall.
With 17 top-notch homegrown restaurants and chefs and three bars, Time Out Market Dubai is next level.
“People have seen food halls around, but this is not an actual food hall – this is a destination,” she says. “Even with the pandemic the appetite to go out to eat is still very much there. But people want quality and value.”
Although prices have not yet been revealed, we’re promised affordable, top-quality dishes that people will want to return time and again for.
The city’s biggest personalities under one roof
With top names descending on Souk Al Bahar at the massive Fountain-side market, there’s absolutely loads to look forward to. For those who live dining out in Dubai, the line-up is a who’s who of must-visits. With everything from the city’s tastiest pizzas to innovative vegan food and crazy-innovative desserts, there will be loads to take in.
“Time Out Market Dubai has a great mix of cuisines and characters,” says El Hayek. “We have some amazing personalities and brands, who already have their loyal following and are much-loved. It’s a huge privilege to be a part of it.” Time Out, says El Hayek, is “where all the fun happens”, so is excited about the opening of Time Out Market Dubai and says she’ll probably “be living there” soon enough.
“It’s all the good stuff in life, to help distract us from the less happy things right now,” she says. “I love meeting people when they’re at their happiest, so it’s an ideal job.”
Come for the food, stay for the vibe
As destination, El Hayek is keen to convey that there will be a “sense of belonging” – if you go one week, you’ll definitely find something to make you want to head back to Time Out Market Dubai again the next.
“Whether you’re spending hours over dinner, grabbing a quick lunch, or even just ordering a coffee – it is a social setting too,” she says.
“You can come and sit on your laptop with a dessert and no one will bother you. It’s not the regular dining behaviour – and that will be new for us,” she adds. “Yes, it’s a place to eat, but there will be so many other things to look forward to, too. Live music, comedy, poetry readings, open mic shows (all when restrictions are lifted), there will be so much to do and there will always be something going on. There will be that constant curiousity of always wanting to revisit.”
Set over 43,000 sq ft in Downtown Dubai – plus a 3,000 sq ft terrace overlooking the Dubai Fountain – it’s impossible to miss the superb location.
And Time Out Market Dubai is set to be a hotspot for foodies with top names including Reif Othman, Fulvio Opalio and Nick & Scott heading up kitchens in the Souk Al Bahar space.
“I’m one of those foodies,” adds El Hayek. “And like everyone I have different cravings on different days – and that’s what will make the market so fantastic. Whatever you’re after you’ll find. A bowl of ramen, some dim sum, a cheat day pizza – it’s all there whatever your mood.”
Opening soon. Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai.
Piqued your interest? For everything you need to know about Time Out Market Dubai click here.
