Heineken, in partnership with Dubai’s Maritime Mercantile International, is set to build the first major commercial brewery in the Gulf, marking a significant milestone for Dubai’s alcohol industry. The joint venture, named Sirocco, has secured all the necessary licenses and permits, and construction is slated to begin before the end of 2025, with the brewery expected to open by late 2027.
The brewery will be located in Dubai, which has long been known for its permissive stance on alcohol consumption, and will produce a range of well-known beer brands. Dubai is the largest and most populous of the UAE’s seven emirates, with its popular hotels, beaches, and iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa attracting millions of visitors each year. In 2023, the city hosted about 17 million tourists, including many from Europe, Russia, and India.
In contrast, the UAE’s first-ever brewery, Craft by Side Hustle, opened in Abu Dhabi in 2023. The microbrewery, located at the Galleria Al Maryah Island, has been brewing its own craft alcohol and offering a range of cocktails and pub-style food. Known for its Southern-style smokehouse cuisine, Side Hustle has already established itself as a unique addition to the UAE’s alcohol scene.
This expansion into the brewing industry comes as the UAE has started to formalize alcohol-related licensing. In 2021, Abu Dhabi introduced a ‘Fermentation Permit’ as part of new guidelines issued by the Department of Culture and Tourism, which include licensing procedures for alcoholic beverages.