Al Ahli Group, a UAE-based multi-diversified international conglomerate, is set to open Little Manila, the first authentic Filipino-themed restaurant in the region, in the UAE.

Little Manila, which offers multiple top Filipino food brands under one roof including Binalot, Jay-J’s, Fruitas Group, Mochi Crème, Zagu, Fiftea, along with its in-house brands Kwekie Bites and Breadshop, will open ist branch at Satwa (Dubai) and Abu Dhabi.

Parvez Naqvi, the international business development head for Al Ahli Holding Group, said that their inaugural branch in Muraqqabat Deira receives 1,000 daily foot traffic with some coming from as far as Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other emirates of the UAE.

In line with this upbeat demand, the company is now ramping up Little Manila's expansion. The Satwa branch is set to be completed in the second half, to be followed by the opening of the Abu Dhabi branch.

"We are excited for the upcoming new Little Manila branches, which will offer the same flavourful concepts that Filipinos and many other nationalities like. Filipinos are fun- and food-loving people and they do go out with families and friends a lot," stated Naqvi.

"We have about 1,000 customers per day which speaks of the great reception to this unique concept and good quality of food and service," he added.

The walls of the new outlets will be festooned with snapshots of local traditions showcasing the country's rich colourful history and multinational influence that dates back to the colonial Spanish period, said the statement from Al Ahli Group.

Original Pilipino Music (OPM) is constantly played in the background, walking customers through memory lane or simply getting them into the groove, it stated.
 
Filipino patrons and other curious expats who want to sample the rich culinary heritage of the Philippines from Spanish, American, Japanese and Chinese influences continue to fill the restaurant any time of the day.

Sheikh Mustafa, the deputy general manager for Food & Beverage and International Business Development of Al Ahli Group, said: "Little Manila is designed to give Filipinos a place where they can unwind and comfortably feel at home with its authentic Filipino food choices and an atmosphere that will remind them of the Philippines."

From its interiors to the service it provides, the restaurant offers a complete dining experience that ultimately makes the Filipino feel at home.

Al Ahli Group boasts over four decades of successfully dealing with business activities ranging from real estate to turnkey construction, engineering and infrastructure, retail and trading, technology and logistics, lifestyle and fitness, entertainment, hospitality and innovative developments.-TradeArabia News Service