DUBAI (Reuters) – A joint venture between Heineken and Emirati interests plans to build the Gulf’s first major commercial brewery in Dubai, a metropolitan city where chic bars and restaurants attract millions of tourists each year.
Sirocco, a joint venture between Heineken and Maritime Mercantile International, a company linked to the Dubai state, said it would build a brewery that would produce beer brands popular in Dubai, where alcohol consumption has long been permitted.
Construction will begin before the end of 2025 and the brewery is expected to open by the end of 2027, Sirocco said, adding that all necessary licenses and permits have been obtained.
Dubai, the most populous of the UAE’s seven emirates, is a popular destination with its luxury hotels, beaches and iconic attractions such as the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world.
In 2023, the city attracted almost 17 million visitors, mainly from Europe, Russia and India.
In recent years, restrictions on purchasing alcohol in Dubai stores have eased.
Abu Dhabi, the capital and largest emirate, has also relaxed its regulations and at least one bar offers locally brewed beer.
(Reporting Alexander Cornwell; Noémie Naudin; edited by Augustin Turpin)
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