It will be the first international outpost of Zuma’s sister restaurant…

London’s award-winning Roka restaurant is set to open in Dubai early next year.

The fifth restaurant of the famed Japanese brand, Roka Dubai will be housed in the ME by Melia hotel, which will open its doors next year inside The Opus in Business Bay.

Roka Dubai will be the first international outpost of the popular Japanese Robata, with locations already found in London’s Mayfair, Canary Wharf, Aldwych and Charlotte Street.

The concept, the brainchild of Zuma co-founder Rainer Becker, will have space for 185 diners at its first floor location in Business Bay. Although no renders have yet been supplied, we’re told that the 7,437 square foot space will boast a robata at the centre, making the food – and kitchen – the central focus of guests’ dining experience.

We also hope elements of the striking design of Roka’s Shochu Lounge in Charlotte Street (pictured below) make it into the design of the Dubai outpost.

As well as a stylish, industrial-looking indoor restaurant space, Roka Dubai will also be home to an outdoor terrace with space for a further 64 guests.

If you’re not familiar with Roka, the brand is famed in London for its upscale Japanese robatayaki cuisine, which focuses on dishes straight from the Robata grill. The cooking technique is inspired by the traditional methods Japanese fishermen would used to cook fish on their boats using different charcoals.

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The opening of Roka Dubai co-insides with the 15th anniversary of the flagship Roka restaurant on Charlotte Street.

One of a number of new restaurants coming to the ME by Melia hotel, it will open alongside a third serving of The Maine, as well as a Dubai version of popular rooftop bar, Radio.

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Images: Supplied/ Facebook