Zuma Abu Dhabi: The Japanese Power Dining Room That Still Sets the Pace on Al Maryah Island
A restaurant that has become part of Abu Dhabi’s business geography
Zuma occupies a particularly useful position in the capital: inside The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, close to the city’s financial district, yet dramatic enough to function as an evening destination. The official restaurant describes a modern interpretation of authentic Japanese dining with waterfront views, while the physical layout brings sushi and robata counters into the main room rather than hiding the kitchen away. That visibility creates energy. At lunch the room can feel precise and businesslike; by evening, the lounge, bar and resident music shift it towards nightlife without changing the underlying food identity.
The signatures still matter because the kitchen keeps them sharp
Zuma’s modern izakaya formula is familiar across its international locations, but Abu Dhabi continues to make the classics feel relevant. Sushi, sashimi and robata are the structural pillars, with black cod, Wagyu gyoza, seafood and grilled meats appearing repeatedly in current dining experiences. A June 2026 review in The National praised the Yashoku night brunch for seared salmon with lime shiso soy, sweetcorn tempura, black cod croquettes, Wagyu beef gyoza, seabass with truffle oil and yuzu, grilled Chilean seabass and spicy beef tenderloin. The point is not novelty for its own sake; it is consistency at a high level across a very busy operation.
The programme keeps Zuma from feeling static
The current official calendar is unusually active: weekday Ebisu business lunch, Wednesday Yashoku night brunch and Saturday Baikingu brunch sit alongside the main lunch and dinner service. The lounge now serves the main menu from noon onwards, making Zuma useful beyond conventional meal slots. The restaurant remains listed in the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 selection, and recent 2026 reviews confirm that the room is still trading at full pace. For Simply Abu Dhabi, Zuma is not important merely because it is famous. It matters because more than a decade into its Abu Dhabi life, it continues to shape what polished, high-energy Japanese dining in the capital looks like.
Practical details
Location: The Galleria / Abu Dhabi Global Market, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cuisine: Modern Japanese; sushi and robata
Telephone: +971 2 401 5900
Current recognition: MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 – Selected
Editorial status: Open – current official reservations, events and 2026 reviews verified