Zuma Abu Dhabi

The Verdict

Zuma's Abu Dhabi outpost, on the waterfront side of The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, is the brand's third Middle Eastern restaurant after Dubai and later Istanbul. Arrival happens via a dedicated glass elevator that descends from street level into the dining room — a Rainer Mahlamäki-designed cavern of natural wood, stone, and open sight lines toward the Arabian Gulf. The sushi counter, robata grill, and main bar are arranged in a single continuous room; the lounge upstairs hosts the after-work crowd and DJ.

The kitchen runs the Zuma group formula with precision: miso-marinated black cod (the signature since 2002), spicy beef tenderloin tataki, sliced yellowtail with green chili and yuzu soy, the robata line of wagyu, lamb cutlets, and black cod. The sushi is consistently fresh — Tsukiji-sourced for the top-tier fish, local for the day-caught — and the robata benefits from the open kitchen's char. Desserts end with the yuzu cheesecake that has followed the brand to every outpost.

Expect AED 450–700 per person with moderate wine; the chef's menu is AED 550. Lunch is less theatrical and easier to book — Sunday to Thursday — and shows off the sushi program at its best. Dinner is where Zuma performs its identity as Al Maryah's most consistently busy room. The back terrace, when the weather permits (October through April), is the best seat in the restaurant; request it at booking.

Why It Works for Close a Deal

A Zuma table at the right hour is, in Abu Dhabi's calculus, a soft signal of being a person whose calendar is organised by someone else. Client lunches at the robata counter run quickly enough that a decision can be reached before the second sake. The noise level at dinner — resident DJ, open kitchen, buzz — is high; Zuma is a deal-closing room for relationship building, not forensic contract work.

Signature Dishes

Miso-marinated black cod; spicy beef tenderloin tataki; wagyu robata; yuzu cheesecake; rainbow maki.

Also in Abu Dhabi

For the broader Abu Dhabi picture, see our full Abu Dhabi dining guide. Related rooms at this level: Hakkasan Abu Dhabi (Modern Cantonese) and COYA Abu Dhabi (Contemporary Peruvian). For the close a deal cross-city picture, see our Close a Deal directory. Travelling on? Consider Dubai, Doha, or Riyadh for your next leg.