NAR, Dubai

NAR, Dubai is the chain’s first restaurant that was opened in the city. It offers Mediterranean cuisine, with a difference. The restaurant, located at Citywalk, has been designed to offer a modern ambience with spurts of Arabic settings to create the right atmosphere for family and friendly get-togethers. It comprises of indoor dining areas, shisha lounges, majlis and an outdoor area.

The client, Al Khayyat Investments, decided to take the hospitality industry by storm with their own branded luxury shisha restaurant in Citywalk Jumeirah. They created the entire brand, based on their target demographic. The design included layering of edgy graphics on bold interiors to complement the Arab-fusion fare.

The brief from the client was to create an environment where young professionals and the local demographic would feel comfortable – to relax and enjoy the aromas of flavoured shisha and an original Arabian dining experience for sharing amongst friends.

The name ‘Nar’ was chosen by the designer, Brand Creative, and became the theme for the interior concept. Nar has several connotations in Arabic, but it literally translates as ‘fire’ or ‘hot’. Elements of smoke and heat appear throughout, as well as tributes to the region’s culture and heritage.

The indoor bar mirrors the way the shisha coals burn, with swirling plumes of smoke extending from the bar into smoke rings on the ceiling. Contemporary Islamic patterns adorn the ceilings, while the single indoor column is transformed into a shisha pipe, creating a unique focal point. The custom graffiti provides bursts of colour and highlights famous people, from the arts, within the region.

The fit-out works were implemented by the client’s own contracting division, ItalDeco, which is owned and controlled by Al Khayyat Investments (AKI) Contracting.