Reif Othman.
Reif Othman.
Reif Othman is a multi-award-winning chef whose work has been instrumental in transforming the culinary landscape of Dubai and the UAE.
His inventive culinary creations have seen Reif gain global recognition and become one of the most sought-after chefs in the world.
Known for his unconventional approach to Far Eastern cuisine, Reif’s passion for food began at a young age in Singapore helping his mother in her Asian cafeteria and studying at Shatec Culinary School.
In 2007, he joined the One Rochester Group in Singapore as group executive chef for some of the city’s top restaurants and hotels, before relocating to Dubai to work at Burj Al Arab.
In 2009, Reif was recruited for the Zuma Dubai team as executive chef, moving up the ladder to regional executive chef for Zuma in the Middle East and Turkey. He then went on to helm the kitchens at high-end restaurants Play and Billionaire Mansion before opening his own restaurant ‘Reif Kushiyaki’ in 2019.
He's also behind a number of pop-up concepts including Kushi by Reif at the Depachika Food Hall at Nakheel Mall and Reif at Time Out Dubai Market in Souk Al Bahar.
He puts a clever twist on Japanese and broader far eastern cuisine, which have garnered him many awards, including a UAE Golden Visa.
He is one of the few restaurateurs in the country whose business is entirely self-funded. His 13 year service and dedication to the F&B industry in this region with his unconventional approach has raised the profile of this cuisine category within the UAE.
But what a lot of people don't know about Reif is his dedicated service to giving back to the community. He is a mentor and source of inspiration for all who are following in his footsteps.
“When we invest in ourselves, in our passions and projects, we plant the seeds of development. Dubai enables us to see the world with the eyes of a child, to explore and build our dreams into our realities, and for that I will always be grateful.”
