HOW MEDITERRANEAN DINING IS FINDING A NEW RHYTHM IN DUBAI

Exclusive interview with Selçuk, Co-Founder, Loop

Every great restaurant begins with an idea. What sparked the vision for LOOP, and what gap did you feel existed in Dubai’s dining scene?

LOOP was born from a simple question: What makes people come back to a restaurant again and again? We realised it isn’t just a beautiful space or a trending dish. It’s how a place becomes part of your everyday life.

That’s exactly what we wanted to create—a restaurant people return to whether it’s for a morning coffee, a leisurely Turkish breakfast, a business lunch, dinner with friends or a late-night meal. The name “LOOP” reflects that idea of coming full circle, of becoming part of someone’s routine.

Dubai has countless restaurants designed for special occasions. We wanted to build one designed for everyday moments, where exceptional food, genuine hospitality and a welcoming atmosphere make every visit feel worth repeating.

Business Bay is evolving into one of Dubai’s busiest lifestyle destinations. What made it the perfect home for LOOP?

Business Bay has evolved into far more than a business district. It’s become one of Dubai’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, where professionals, residents and visitors all cross paths throughout the day.

That made it the perfect location for an all-day dining concept like LOOP. From early breakfasts and coffee meetings to relaxed lunches, family dinners and late-night gatherings, the area naturally lends itself to every dining occasion.

Being located along the Dubai Canal also allows guests to step away from the pace of the city and enjoy a meal in a setting that feels calm, social and inviting. We wanted LOOP to become the neighbourhood restaurant people think of first, regardless of the hour.

Operating around the clock is an ambitious undertaking. What inspired the decision to create a true 24-hour dining destination?

Food doesn’t follow office hours, and neither do people.

Some guests start their day before sunrise with coffee and breakfast, while others are looking for a quality dinner or comforting meal long after most kitchens have closed. We wanted to remove the idea that there is a “right time” to visit a restaurant.

Operating 24 hours allows us to serve fresh, thoughtfully prepared food whenever our guests choose to dine. Whether it’s an early breakfast spread, a Mediterranean lunch, a family dinner or a late-night bite after work, the same attention to quality and hospitality remains at the centre of every service.

Mediterranean cuisine has become increasingly popular in the UAE. How does LOOP bring its own interpretation to this culinary tradition?

Mediterranean cuisine is all about simplicity, generosity and letting great ingredients speak for themselves, and that’s the philosophy we’ve embraced at LOOP.

Our menu is inspired by the Mediterranean with a distinctive Turkish influence, bringing together vibrant seasonal produce, premium grilled meats, fresh seafood and colourful sharing plates that encourage people to gather around the table.

Rather than reinventing traditional recipes, we focus on refining them through quality ingredients, careful technique and contemporary presentation. Guests can enjoy everything from authentic Turkish breakfast spreads to beautifully grilled kebabs, fresh mezze and signature Mediterranean dishes designed for sharing.

While shisha naturally complements the relaxed atmosphere, it has never defined who we are. Food is the heart of LOOP. Every dish is created to encourage conversation, long meals and the joy of sharing great flavours with family and friends.

Personalisation has become a defining trend in hospitality. How do you ensure returning guests feel recognized without making the experience feel scripted?

For us, personalisation begins with paying attention.

It’s about remembering a guest’s favourite table, knowing how they like their coffee, recommending a new dish based on what they’ve enjoyed before or simply greeting them by name.

We’re also developing the LOOP app to make reservations more seamless and help us better understand our guests’ preferences over time. Technology gives us useful insights, but it’s our team that brings those insights to life through genuine hospitality.

The goal is never to create a scripted experience. It’s to make every returning guest feel naturally welcomed, as though they’re visiting a place that already knows them.

Guests today expect more than great food. How are expectations changing around experience, technology and service?

Guests still come for exceptional food, but what they remember is how a restaurant made them feel.

Today’s diners expect a complete experience: beautifully prepared dishes, attentive service, a comfortable atmosphere and effortless convenience. Every detail matters, from the music and lighting to the pace of service and the way food arrives at the table.

Technology helps us enhance that experience by making reservations easier, streamlining operations and allowing our team to spend more time engaging with guests instead of focusing on processes.

At the end of the day, hospitality remains deeply human. Great food brings people through the door, but genuine service and memorable experiences are what inspire them to come back.