Isabel Mayfair Abu Dhabi 2026: First UAE Location
Isabel Mayfair's first international outpost in Abu Dhabi, designed by DBM across 580 sqm at The Galleria, opened in October 2026 with bespoke brass and silk details.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Isabel Mayfair opens its first international location at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi.
- Dubai-based practice DBM designed the 580-square-meter hospitality venue commissioned by BNF Hospitality.
- The interior features a monumental brass floral sculpture and tactile three-dimensional silk embroideries.
- The entire architectural project was completed on a compressed schedule of three to four months.
London-based restaurant brand Isabel Mayfair has expanded internationally for the first time, establishing its presence inside The Galleria on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Spanning 580 square meters, the hospitality venue was designed by Dubai-based practice DBM (Design by Mahsa), founded by artist and interior designer Mahsa Gholizadeh, and commissioned by BNF Hospitality.
Rather than simply duplicating the original British flagship, the design team formulated an architectural narrative centered around an imagined muse named Isabel. This approach integrates bespoke artworks, architectural metalwork, and craft-driven finishes directly into the core structural envelope of the building.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The interior material palette juxtaposes reflective polished brass, heavily veined Calacatta Viola marble, dark stained oak, and midnight-blue velvet upholstery fitted across custom curved banquettes. Botanical motifs are woven throughout the space at various scales and through diverse fabrication techniques.
A monumental brass floral sculpture anchors the main dining area, while private dining alcoves and washrooms feature tactile three-dimensional silk embroideries, hand-painted gold-leaf surfaces, and custom wallcoverings. Above the central bar hangs a suspended brass-and-glass canopy that diffuses light across the room, positioned next to an enclosed wine storage pavilion clad entirely in reflective brass panels.
Bringing a London restaurant icon to Abu Dhabi highlights the ongoing luxury hospitality expansion across the United Arab Emirates, particularly within high-end mixed-use destinations like Al Maryah Island. Executing a project filled with intricate metal installations and fine textile crafts within a tight three-to-four-month timeframe highlights advanced coordination in contemporary interior architecture.
Realized on a compressed construction schedule of just three to four months, studio DBM successfully balanced large-scale fabricated metal installations with fine-gauge textile craftsmanship. This project submission was shared directly with designboom through their reader feature platform.
Source: designboom
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