Women of the UAE: Fujairah resident achieves her dream

Emirati Sheikha Al Kaabi took the plunge and opened her own restuarant when she saw a gap in the market in Fujairah. Now, she counts members of the ruling family among her customers.

Sheikha Al Kaabi, owner of the Dolci Paris restaurant in Fujairah, which is inspired by European style and offers diverse dishes not found elsewhere in the emirate. Antonie Robertson / The National

Restaurateur Sheikha Al Kaabi is a bank manager who set up her unique eaterie in Fujairah.

FUJAIRAH // A head for finance is not necessarily the right ingredient for becoming a successful restaurateur, but it has worked for one woman.

Sheikha Al Kaabi had always wanted to own a restaurant that served different dishes to those offered elsewhere in the emirate.

“The choices are very limited in Fujairah and to have a restaurant that offers extraordinary food is something that can add extra value to the emirate,” says Ms Al Kaabi, 30.

“People come from different parts of the country to experience it.

“I have always had a passion for preparing and tasting food and I tried almost all the restaurants in the country, and I created the menu by adding my own touch to each recipe.”

After graduating from UAE University with a general linguistics degree in 2008, Ms Al Kaabi started working with Emirates NBD bank in Dubai as a branch manager, before recently moving back to her native emirate.

“When I moved, that is when I decided to establish the restaurant,” she says. “At first I had some issues in finding the perfect spot to start with the project.

“I was looking for a place near the city centre but with a reasonable price, and it was hard to find. After weeks of searching, I finally found the right place and started with the decorating process.

“I was looking for something unique so I travelled to many European countries and bought many pieces to create a place that is special.”

Ms Al Kaabi gave her restaurant a Parisian atmosphere.

“I wanted to create something with a European style in matters of food and atmosphere, and I love Paris, so I called it Dolci Paris,” she says.

“Our menu is a collection of many cuisines that would satisfy almost anyone, from sushi to pizza, to burgers along with pastries, Arabic coffee, dates and much more, all served in a special way with special ingredients.”

Dolci Paris opened in February after six months of preparations.

“It required hard work and many sleepless nights but, with the support of my family and the community, I managed to make my dream come true and accomplish my desire,” Ms Al Kaabi says.

She says many members of the Fujairah Ruling Family and celebrities have visited the restaurant to try her recipes.

“Having the support of the Ruling Family has made me believe in what I have achieved so far, while many celebrities have paid me a visit and posted about my restaurant on social media, on which I mostly rely for advertising,” she [e-mail]