Egypt’s Grill Setup Is Touching Down In Dubai

There’s a certain philosophy Muhammad Aboul Abbas seems to live by: If it ain’t broke, launch it into the stratosphere. Or better yet, onto a helipad. After three wildly successful years of Grill Setup redefining outdoor food culture in Egypt, Abbas is taking his fire-fuelled, meat-loving, community-building brainchild global - starting with Dubai on April 19th.

And he’s not exactly easing into it.

“Dubai is only the start. We are planning to expand in Saudi, Lebanon, and across the MENA region,” Abbas tells SceneEats, already plotting future takeovers in Saudi, Lebanon, and across the MENA region. But before the region bows before the BBQ gods, Dubai gets first dibs - and they’ve snapped them up. Early access tickets sold out before anyone even officially said a word. Just the whiff of a sizzling brisket on a helipad had the WhatsApp groups on fire.

“We chose Helipad because this is a destination that looks like us,” Abbas tells SceneEats. “It’s an amazing starting point for our launch in Dubai.”

So what exactly is Grill Setup Dubai serving?

In three words? Food. Family. Fun.
In a few more? BBQ, bangers, booze, and beats.

Let’s start with the food, shall we? This is a food magazine, after all. Think flame-grilled burgers, sticky BBQ drumsticks, fall-apart brisket, juicy chorizo sausages, and Korean flanken slices - the kind of meat that deserves its own Michelin star. For those keeping it international, there's nachos. For those keeping it shameless, there's second (and third) helpings. Food runs from 4PM to 7PM, and yes, elasticated pants are highly recommended.

But before the feast begins - cue the free-flowing open bar from 2PM to 4PM. Because what’s a pre-game without a perfectly chilled cocktail - bonus points if it’s (basically) free.

And if you’ve wrapped your meal but not your night, Grill Setup’s got the soundtrack covered. The lineup blends regional and international talent, with Brazilian DJ Barbara Boeing bringing warm, sun-drenched sets; Egyptian duo Gawdat delivering their signature house grooves; and Wassim Bou Malham - Lebanese tastemaker and founder of Soul Kitchen - rounding it out with a curated mix built for long nights and late bites.

“There is still potential in the market in Dubai for day events such as these,” Abbas explains. “It’s all about food, family, and drinks. This is something new. Something totally different.”

Forget velvet ropes and bottle service. This is a different kind of Dubai experience. Grill Setup is lowkey luxury, flavour-first fun, and classy cool - a daytime escape that doesn’t need to try too hard because it is that good.

So, come for the food, stay for the music, and leave with a full stomach, happy heart, and a phone gallery full of golden-hour pics of South Bay.

Grill Setup Dubai. April 19th. On a helipad. You in?