The design draws deeply from the landscape surrounding the restaurant. A dry bar takes inspiration from the Ghaf trees visible through the restaurant’s windows, nicknamed the crown canopy. While dining chairs carved out from naturally fallen Ghaf trees echo the arches of the building’s heritage architecture. A bronze sculpture depicts the Eurasian collared dove, a protected bird of the region, alongside the desert rose and the “bint al matar” insect that appears during the rain period, concealed within its form, creating a poetic dialogue between the UAE’s flora and fauna.

The interiors tell a layered story. Camel leather sofas, depict the nose to tail mentality of the culture and the restaurant. They are paired with embroidered Ghaf tree cushions and stitching inspired by traditional blockwork. Sadu inlaid tables celebrate Bedouin weaving traditions, while fish scale chandeliers draw inspiration from the sea. At the centre of the space, a custom handblown LASVIT chandelier titled “Herbarium” features plants burnt and imprinted and highlighted with gold leaf, symbolising resilience, beauty, and the enduring connection between people and nature.

At Gerbou, design and gastronomy are inseparable. The culinary experience is grounded in the UAE and also draws from traditions and recipes of people living within it. Reinterpreting them through contemporary techniques as well as utilising traditional methods that don’t need to be changed, such as underground pit cooking are combined with global culinary techniques to create a contemporary expression of UAE cuisine.

Gerbou is more than a restaurant. It is a narrative. Through every plate, piece of furniture, material, and interaction with guests, it connects the past and future of the UAE. More than a place to eat, it is a space to feel, reflect, discover, and connect.

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