.webp&w=96&q=75){kind=small}
.webp&w=96&q=75){kind=small}
Omar Shihab on Building BOCA: A Michelin Green Star Journey in Sustainability
In this episode, Omar Shihab, founder of BOCA Dubai, shares his journey from early shocks in the restaurant world to building a Michelin Green Star restaurant rooted in integrity, sustainability, and people-first leadership. He reflects on managing teams, rethinking operations, sourcing locally, and why BOCA chose depth over rapid expansion.
Omar Shihab
Founder, BOCA
Omar Shihab started BOCA Dubai and has been promoting eco-friendly practices in restaurants for over 10 years. His restaurant leads in using local ingredients, cutting waste, and tracking carbon emissions. He has won top awards like Gulf Sustainability Gold Award Winner 2021, Gault&Millau UAE Sustainable Kitchen of the Year, Gault&Millau UAE Sustainability Hero of the Year, and many more.. As an advisor to the UAE Restaurant Group, Omar helps other restaurants succeed while also caring for people and the planet.
In this episode, Omar Shihab, founder of BOCA Dubai, takes us inside his journey of rethinking what a restaurant can stand for in a city known for rapid growth and high consumption. He shares the early shocks of entering the industry, from franchise struggles to the daily unpredictability of operations, and how those lessons shaped his people-first leadership style. Omar explains why integrity, transparency, and sustainability became BOCA’s guiding principles, leading to recognition with a Michelin Green Star.
Omar focuses on using local ingredients in Dubai, treating staff well, and building a strong, self-reliant restaurant. He avoids fast trends and proves that sustainability is possible. BOCA is now a leading example of responsible homegrown hospitality in the UAE.