Chef Wadad Zarzour opens Doughbai Bistro in Dubai

Chef Wadad Zarzour opened Doughbai Bistro in the Al Wasl neighborhood of Dubai in November 2024.

The restaurant serves a menu inspired by her family heritage in Zahlé, a Lebanese town in the Bekaa Valley. Zarzour and her son Ghadi manage the 26 seat establishment, which features traditional recipes like labneh, kibbeh, and awarma alongside sourdough pizza and manakish. Zarzour moved to Dubai in 2006 to escape the war in Lebanon for the safety of her two young sons.

She spent 15 years in the city working in the telecommunications and information technology industries while studying culinary arts at the School of Culinary and Finishing Arts. During the pandemic, she and her son experimented with sourdough bread at home, which eventually led to the creation of their business. The chef manages the restaurant using corporate project management techniques, focusing on financial forecasting and maintaining a reserve for emergencies.

She personally selects produce from markets, such as the Jumeirah fish market, to ensure quality. Zarzour attributes her success to the support of the UAE government and the city's inclusive environment, which she says allows residents to feel a sense of belonging.