With more than 45,000 guests within less than a month since its opening, CZNBurak — a joint venture between Instagram sensation Chef Burak Özdemir and Dives Holding — is moving steadily toward becoming the new culinary hotspot in downtown Dubai.
CZNBurak opened its first branch outside Turkey with a huge welcome show that saw the restaurant’s name on Burj Khalifa. Since its opening on Dec. 25, 2020, the restaurant has managed to generate quite a buzz around it, as it was visited by many celebrities including Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Egyptian superstar Mohammed Ramadan, renowned MMA artist Khabib Nurmagomedov, football player Cristiano Ronaldo, action movies’ hero Steven Seagal, and Bollywood star Nora Fatehi.
Rizgar Sak, chairman of Dives Holding, which aims to see the brand expand across several GCC markets, said: “Dives Holding is a corporate conglomerate with dreams and ambitions. We are delighted to work with CZNBurak and we want to grow by leaps and bounds in the upcoming years. We want to make this brand global.
“There is strong competition in the F&B sector in Dubai as there are several renowned and well-established brands in the emirate. One of our goals is to compete with the big brands and emerge successful. I believe Dubai is one of the most challenging F&B markets in the world but is also the ideal proving ground for the success of a brand and if we can succeed here, we can definitely prove our mettle elsewhere.”
CZNBurak’s cuisine blends Turkish and Middle Eastern flavors, creating a rich culinary experience that caters to a large audience of food enthusiasts. Chef Burak is already popular in Turkey with six restaurants, and is world-famous thanks to his quirky social media videos and cheerful smile.
The restaurant in Dubai has a seating capacity of 600, which can expand up to 1,200 after COVID-19, and has the biggest oven in the GCC. The venue features an ottoman-seating style and an open space — ideal for both family gatherings and private events. CZNBurak also serves bespoke beverages created by a team of internationally acclaimed mixologists. The brand in Dubai alone has employed 26 different nationalities serving in the restaurant.
Talking about Chef Burak, Sak said: “It’s CZN Burak himself. It’s hard to not notice him, he is tall. He has the broadest smile and is loved by kids and elderly alike. His infectious smile and positive vibes are definitely an attraction.”
Dives Holding will expand its F&B portfolio beyond its collaboration with CZNBurak, with the opening of CZNBurager in Dubai Mall.
