{"version":"1","article":{"id":"dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026","slug":"dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026","language":"en","url":"https://haberpaper.com/en/news/dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026?lang=en","title":"Dubai SME and Kitopi expand Emirati Chef’s Table for 12 founders","summary":"The three-month Founder Series offers culinary entrepreneurs access to Kitopi kitchens, mentorship, marketing and a route to test concepts through Eatopi.","category":"agriculture","region":"world","topics":[],"published_at":"2026-10-05T02:55:20+03:00","modified_at":"2026-10-05T02:55:20+03:00","publication_basis":"publication-record","event_period":"2026-09-09","event_period_basis":"event-or-reference-period","sources":[{"name":"Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism","url":"https://www.dubaidet.gov.ae/en/newsroom/press-releases/kitopi-emirati-chefs-table-expansion","publishedAt":"2026-09-09","checkedAt":"2026-10-05"},{"name":"Dubai Founders HQ, first Emirati Chef’s Table edition","url":"https://www.dubaifoundershq.com/en/news-and-events/emirati-chefs-take-spotlight-emirati-chefs-table","publishedAt":"2025-12-03","checkedAt":"2026-10-05"}],"translations":[{"language":"tr","url":"https://haberpaper.com/tr/news/dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026?lang=tr"},{"language":"en","url":"https://haberpaper.com/en/news/dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026?lang=en"},{"language":"ar","url":"https://haberpaper.com/ar/news/dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/dubai-emirati-chefs-table-founder-series-2026?lang=ar"}],"data_types":[],"data":null,"data_compilations":[],"data_downloads":[],"content":{"paragraphs":["Dubai SME and food-services company Kitopi announced on 9 September a three-month Founder Series under The Emirati Chef’s Table, launched in 2025. The 2026 series is intended to support 12 Emirati chefs and culinary entrepreneurs from September to November, with four founders in each of three batches. The partners say the expansion offers homegrown food businesses practical experience, visibility and customer access. It is a programme and support offer; the announcement does not promise investment, a permanent restaurant location or guaranteed sales.","According to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), founders can use Kitopi’s kitchens, customer base and delivery network, and receive mentorship, content production and marketing support. Selected concepts may also appear on Eatopi, Kitopi’s food platform, where entrepreneurs can present products and test or refine them with customers in a live commercial setting. The model therefore offers help with both concept development and the steps from production to customer access. The announcement does not publish selection criteria, kitchen hours, order targets or commercial fees.","The first batch was scheduled for 3 September to 2 October. Wadeema Abdalla’s Saccharose Desserts offers Mango Sticky Rice and Warm Sticky Date Pudding. Rehab Al Ameri’s Local Foundry is a pizza concept known for dough fermented for 38 hours. Abdulrahman Lootah’s One Made develops contemporary comfort food informed by his interest in food and fitness. Zainab Al Mousawi’s To The Moon & Back reinterprets Emirati ingredients and flavours. DET said their concepts were available to discover and order through Eatopi when it announced the series. The second batch was scheduled for 2–30 October and the third for 2–30 November, with later founders to be named before each batch.","The series builds on a 2025 cohort of five Emirati food-and-beverage entrepreneurs. Dubai Founders HQ says those founders served dishes through Eatopi at One Central and Dubai Hills Mall and received sector-specific mentorship. The 2026 announcement adds greater emphasis on operational experience and customer engagement. Dubai SME provides business-development support, while Kitopi contributes infrastructure and market access. The confirmed elements are the three-month period, 12 founders, three batches of four and the resources offered; the partners have not published quantified results or sales targets."],"key_points":[],"sections":[]},"text":"The three-month Founder Series offers culinary entrepreneurs access to Kitopi kitchens, mentorship, marketing and a route to test concepts through Eatopi.\n\nDubai SME and food-services company Kitopi announced on 9 September a three-month Founder Series under The Emirati Chef’s Table, launched in 2025. The 2026 series is intended to support 12 Emirati chefs and culinary entrepreneurs from September to November, with four founders in each of three batches. The partners say the expansion offers homegrown food businesses practical experience, visibility and customer access. It is a programme and support offer; the announcement does not promise investment, a permanent restaurant location or guaranteed sales.\n\nAccording to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), founders can use Kitopi’s kitchens, customer base and delivery network, and receive mentorship, content production and marketing support. Selected concepts may also appear on Eatopi, Kitopi’s food platform, where entrepreneurs can present products and test or refine them with customers in a live commercial setting. The model therefore offers help with both concept development and the steps from production to customer access. The announcement does not publish selection criteria, kitchen hours, order targets or commercial fees.\n\nThe first batch was scheduled for 3 September to 2 October. Wadeema Abdalla’s Saccharose Desserts offers Mango Sticky Rice and Warm Sticky Date Pudding. Rehab Al Ameri’s Local Foundry is a pizza concept known for dough fermented for 38 hours. Abdulrahman Lootah’s One Made develops contemporary comfort food informed by his interest in food and fitness. Zainab Al Mousawi’s To The Moon & Back reinterprets Emirati ingredients and flavours. DET said their concepts were available to discover and order through Eatopi when it announced the series. The second batch was scheduled for 2–30 October and the third for 2–30 November, with later founders to be named before each batch.\n\nThe series builds on a 2025 cohort of five Emirati food-and-beverage entrepreneurs. Dubai Founders HQ says those founders served dishes through Eatopi at One Central and Dubai Hills Mall and received sector-specific mentorship. The 2026 announcement adds greater emphasis on operational experience and customer engagement. Dubai SME provides business-development support, while Kitopi contributes infrastructure and market access. The confirmed elements are the three-month period, 12 founders, three batches of four and the resources offered; the partners have not published quantified results or sales targets.","corrections":[],"editorial_illustration":{"kind":"symbolic-editorial-illustration","documentary":false,"scope":"section","asset_id":"agriculture","url":"https://haberpaper.com/assets/illustrations/agriculture-1536.webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"alt":"Symbolic agricultural landscape with wheat, olive trees and irrigation channels.","language":"en"},"section_illustration":{"kind":"symbolic-editorial-illustration","documentary":false,"scope":"section","asset_id":"agriculture","url":"https://haberpaper.com/assets/illustrations/agriculture-1536.webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"alt":"Symbolic agricultural landscape with wheat, olive trees and irrigation channels.","language":"en"}}}