Founded by hospitality entrepreneur Sergio Sánchez and his partner Stuart Burling, Rubia Gallega is a rapidly growing restaurant brand that celebrates the culture of exceptional beef, Mediterranean cuisine, and vibrant social dining. Inspired by the legendary Rubia Gallega breed from Galicia, Spain, the concept combines premium meats, seafood, and fire-based cooking with a lively atmosphere that reflects the essence of Spanish hospitality.
Since launching its first location in Dubai, the brand has quickly evolved into a multi-location concept with ambitious expansion plans across the region, including landmark projects in some of the UAE’s most prestigious destinations.
“Rubia Gallega is not just a restaurant — it’s a celebration of Spanish culinary heritage, brought to life in one of the most dynamic dining cities in the world.”
As Co-Founder of Rubia Gallega, what inspired you to create the brand and bring its concept to Dubai?
Dubai is one of the most exciting hospitality markets in the world. It’s a city that appreciates quality, experience and innovation, which made it the perfect place to introduce a concept like Rubia Gallega.
Stuart and I shared the vision of creating something that goes beyond a traditional steakhouse. We wanted to build a brand that celebrates the culture around exceptional beef, the product, the provenance, the craftsmanship behind it, but also the Mediterranean way of dining, which is about sharing, generosity and atmosphere.
The Rubia Gallega breed from Galicia represents some of the finest beef in the world, and bringing that heritage to the Middle East felt like an opportunity to create something truly distinctive.
Moving to Dubai and opening restaurants in such a competitive market is a bold step. How has this journey shaped you as an entrepreneur?
Dubai pushes you to think bigger and move faster. The level of competition here is extremely high, but that also means the standards are constantly evolving.
We opened our first restaurant in Expo City Dubai in December 2024, which marked the beginning of the Rubia Gallega journey in the region. From the beginning, the response from the market was incredibly encouraging.
In October 2025, we expanded with a second location at the beautiful Meliá Desert Palm Polo Club, a very unique restaurant into a Melia Collection setting surrounded by polo fields that perfectly reflects the lifestyle element of the brand.
Now, in March 2026, we are launching Rubia Del Mar, a new concept at the Cala 399 Beach Club, which brings the brand closer to the sea with a stronger Mediterranean and seafood identity.
Each opening has been another step in refining the concept and building the foundations of a regional hospitality brand.
“In Dubai, excellence is the minimum standard. Our goal is not simply to open restaurants, but to build a hospitality brand that represents quality, authenticity and experience.”
As a Co-Founder and CEO, how do you translate the creative vision of the brand into a scalable hospitality concept while maintaining authenticity?
The key is building a very strong identity from the beginning. When the DNA of the brand is clear, the product, the culinary philosophy, the atmosphere, it becomes much easier to scale without losing authenticity.
At Rubia Gallega, everything starts with the product. Exceptional beef, carefully sourced seafood and a strong Mediterranean culinary influence form the backbone of the concept.
But behind that there is also a strong operational and strategic structure. As we continue to grow, we are also developing our own Rubia Gallega meat distribution platform, which will allow us to control quality, supply and consistency across our restaurants while also supporting other premium venues in the region.
“Great restaurants start with great products. Our vision with Rubia Gallega is to control the journey from the origin of the meat all the way to the guest’s table.”
Rubia Gallega is more than a restaurant — it represents a philosophy around Spanish gastronomy. What legacy do you hope to build with the brand?
For us, Rubia Gallega represents authenticity and respect for the product.
Spain has one of the richest culinary cultures in the world, and our goal is to bring that heritage to the Middle East in a way that feels genuine but also relevant to the lifestyle of cities like Dubai.
The legacy we want to build is a brand known for excellence, hospitality and personality. A place where guests not only come for great food, but for a complete experience. The energy, the atmosphere, the sense of celebration that defines Mediterranean dining.
If people associate Rubia Gallega with quality, authenticity and memorable experiences, then we are building the right legacy.
What differentiates Rubia Gallega from other premium steak concepts in Dubai?
Dubai has many incredible restaurants, but what differentiates Rubia Gallega is the depth of the concept and the connection to the product. We are the only ones serving this type of breed, what makes us exclusive.
We are very focused on understanding the entire journey of the meat, from the breed to the ageing process and the cooking techniques. At the same time, the experience goes far beyond steak.
The menu celebrates Mediterranean flavours, seafood and sharing dishes, while the atmosphere reflects the vibrant energy of Spanish hospitality. It’s a place designed not only for dining, but for socialising and celebrating.
Looking ahead, what is next for the Rubia Gallega brand?
The next major milestone will be our flagship restaurant opening in December 2026 at Gran Meliá Dubai La Mer, located next to J1 Beach, one of the most exciting new culinary destinations in the city.
We will be surrounded by internationally renowned concepts such as Zuma Beachhouse, Novikov and Park Chinois, which makes it a very exciting environment for the brand.
Beyond that, we are also developing projects with the prestigious Cheval Maison brand.
At the same time, we are expanding the Rubia Gallega ecosystem with our meat distribution company, which will operate across the Gulf region, including the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Our vision is to build not just restaurants, but a brand that represents quality, heritage and innovation within the hospitality industry.
Follow Rubia Gallega @rubiagallegarestaurant
