Dubai, April 2025: Em Sherif Café, one of the top-rated restaurants renowned for its delicious Levantine cuisine, is set to welcome guests to its new branch at Vida Residences Aljada, Sharjah, at the end of 2025.
Em Sherif Café in Aljada will be led by Executive Chef Yasmina Hayek, who is introducing a new wave of innovation and expansion. Yasmina embodies the essence of Lebanese cuisine and infuses her own creative flair into it. As the daughter of Mireille Hayek, the founder of Em Sherif, she carries on the tradition of her family’s culinary empire, preserving their rich heritage. As Executive Chef, Yasmina will oversee the menu development, preparation, and staff training to the highest standards of quality and authenticity at all of Em Sherif’s outlets.
Yasmina Hayek has recently been recognised as MENA’s Best Female Chef 2025, a prestigious accolade that further cements her status as a leading culinary talent in the region. Under her leadership, Em Sherif continues to earn top industry recognitions, with Em Sherif Restaurant in Beirut being awarded Best Restaurant in Lebanon at the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 and ranking No. 9 on the 2025 list of MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants. Additionally, she received the Michelin Young Chef Award 2025 at the Michelin Guide Abu Dhabi for her authentic Lebanese dishes and forward-thinking approach.
Speaking on the exciting expansion, Amit Arora, COO of Arada, said, “Em Sherif Restaurant’s opening in one of the most coveted locations in Aljada locks up the community as a new fine dining destination not just for Sharjah but the UAE as a whole. As Aljada’s first acclaimed Levantine restaurant, Em Sherif is part of a portfolio of close to 100 retail and F&B units on Aljada’s East Boulevard, which together welcomed over five million paying visitors last year.”
Emphasising the significance of this partnership, Ammar Amer CEO on behalf of Sheikh Suhail Al Maktoum’s Investment Office remarked, “Our partnership with Arada is a shared vision to elevate the UAE’s food scene. Em Sherif’s heritage of quality and authenticity perfectly aligns with our mission to bring world-class dining to the region. Em Sherif Café’s opening in Aljada is a manifestation of this drive, paving the way for Sharjah’s newest icon of Levantine cuisine.”
Set to open at the end of 2025, Chef Yasmina is committed to redefining global culinary excellence, as she infuses Lebanese home-made cuisine in her preparations. Although Em Sherif’s Aljada shall be tradition-packed, her gastronomy will mesh beautifully with internationalised methods, innovative presentation, and a lively gastronomic mindset to remain a front-runner in the industry of regional and global dining.
Dubai
Location: The Heritage Hotel, Autograph Collection, Downtown, Dubai
Opening Times: Daily | 12 PM – 3 AM
Reservations: +971 4 330 4444 | +971 56 577 7900
Follow on socials: https://www.instagram.com/emsherifcafedubai/
Abu Dhabi
Location: Corniche Road, West Bay, Abu Dhabi
Opening Times: Daily | 12 PM – 2 AM
Reservations: +971 2691 9999 | +971 50 223 0243
Follow on socials. https://www.instagram.com/emsherifcafeabudhabi/
About Em Sherif Café
Founded by Mireille Hayek, Em Sherif Café was conceptualized to showcase Lebanon’s rich culinary heritage and love for hospitality. The restaurant has become an iconic spot over the culinary landscape within the MENA region with its many locations in different cities, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Riyadh, Amman, and, of course, Lebanon.
