From live cooking stations to a working beehive: first look at Dubai’s new food hall at City Centre Deira

Food Central is Majid Al Futtaim's first 'culinary experience destination' in the UAE

Majid Al Futtaim's Food Central at City Centre Deira is now open to the public. All photos courtesy of Majid Al Futtaim

All Food Central tenants are home-grown brands.

Customers can expect local favourites like The Acai Spot, Pickl, Raju Omlet and more.

Some of the vendors will feature live cooking stations to add to the entertainment aspect of dining out.

The venue is also home to Tube Dubai, an art installation of nets suspended from the walls and ceiling.

Tube Dubai will allow visitors to explore the area from above.

There is a live beehive activation close to the entrance.

The activation aims to remind people about the origins of their food and the importance of fresh ingredients.

Those looking for a bite to eat after a day of shopping at City Centre Deira now have a new destination to check out.

On Tuesday, Majid Al Futtaim introduced its Food Central at the mall, its first “culinary experience destination” in the UAE.

The food hall aims to redefine mall dining, with some pretty out-of-the-ordinary features – including a beehive and Tube Dubai, an installation of suspended nets that visitors can use to explore the area from above.

The beehive installation, which also has fresh honey within, aims to remind people about the origins of their food and the importance of fresh ingredients.

Meanwhile, Tube Dubai, created by designer Christoph Katzler, forms a "floating landscape" that visitors can use to explore, or as a social space.

When it comes to its culinary offerings, Food Central is championing local outlets, with all its tenants being home-grown. Customers can expect to find Pickl, Raju Omlet, Kitchen 35, Mr Chaat, Asian Wok, Merika (which specialises in Hungarian desserts) and more. Some of the vendors will also feature cooking stations to add to the entertainment aspect of dining out.

"It [Food Central] was launched to offer shoppers and diners an imaginative and welcoming space to not just eat, but to experience quality cuisine," said Fuad Sharaf, managing director, Majid Al Futtaim. "Food Central will entertain and educate visitors throughout the day, week and season by creating a passionate food community among our tenants, and hosting a programme of food-related activities that surprise and delight."

The food hall is located adjacent to Centrepoint, which is in the mall's East Court.