Homegrown Dubai pizza brand Blu has opened in Abu Dhabi at Hidd Al Saadiyat. Photo: Blu Pizzeria
Homegrown Dubai pizza brand Blu has opened in Abu Dhabi at Hidd Al Saadiyat. Photo: Blu Pizzeria
Homegrown Dubai pizza brand Blu has opened in Abu Dhabi at Hidd Al Saadiyat. Photo: Blu Pizzeria
Homegrown Dubai pizza brand Blu has opened in Abu Dhabi at Hidd Al Saadiyat. Photo: Blu Pizzeria

Blu Pizzeria review: Dubai’s viral restaurant lands in Abu Dhabi, but is it worth the hype?


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My Instagram photo from Blu Pizzeria Abu Dhabi over the weekend got nearly as many reactions as my cat posts, which says a lot about the popularity of this Dubai-born pizza hotspot. To see if the brand's latest branch lives up to the hype, I recruited my colleague (and fellow cat lover), Evelyn, for a taste test.

Known for its wood-fired sourdough Neapolitan-style pizzas, Blu made its debut in the UAE capital on Friday. Located along the marina of the beachfront Hidd Al Saadiyat development, this marks its largest space so far at 464 square metres.

Founded by Emirati entrepreneur Abdelrahman Alteneiji in 2021, the pizzeria has built a loyal following, with long queues often reported outside its two Dubai branches, in Jumeirah and Al Khawaneej. It also opened an international outpost in Riyadh earlier this year.

With clean lines and a neutral palette, the decor reflects the brand's fuss-free philosophy. Photo: Blu Pizzeria
With clean lines and a neutral palette, the decor reflects the brand's fuss-free philosophy. Photo: Blu Pizzeria

With just seven items on the menu and the beverage offering limited to water and soft drinks, Blu keeps it simple and lets its pizzas do the talking.

We tried three of the pizzas, including an Abu Dhabi exclusive. All pizzas come in one size, medium, so make sure to leave room if you want to try more.

Burrata (Dh84)

The burrata pizza is best eaten fresh. Photo: Blu Pizzeria
The burrata pizza is best eaten fresh. Photo: Blu Pizzeria

David's take: We start with a vegetarian option, a simple creation with tomatoes, burrata cheese and Blu's own balsamic mix. Light and bright, it leans a little too heavily on the tomatoes for my taste, being more sour than savoury – and so not one I’d reach for when those pizza cravings hit.

Evelyn's take: I should preface by saying that, as a long-time Abu Dhabi resident, I have never tried Blu’s pizzas before, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The sourdough crust is a pleasant surprise, offering a light and soft texture that I haven't come across before. Unfortunately, it is overshadowed by the generous amount of sauce. While this balance might work when eaten fresh, it loses some of its appeal as leftovers – unless you don’t mind a soggier crust.

Sa'diyat (Dh89)

The sa'diyat is only available in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Blu Pizzeria
The sa'diyat is only available in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Blu Pizzeria

David's take: A limited-edition Abu Dhabi exclusive, this is where the game really starts. Three cheeses – Parmesan, burrata and mozzarella – meet spicy salami for a pizza with bite. I drizzle it with Blu’s “hot honey”, a sweet but spicy concoction, which makes for an interesting mix of flavours colliding as I reach for another slice.

Evelyn's take: As this pizza is only available for a limited time in the UAE capital, it's worth a try. It feels more balanced, with the sweetness of burrata paired against spicy salami to give each slice a satisfying kick. The crust also holds up better here, thanks to the lighter amount of sauce, and the overall flavour comes together in a way that makes it enjoyable.

Short ribs (Dh95)

The short ribs pizza is one of the brand's most popular. Photo: Blu Pizzeria
The short ribs pizza is one of the brand's most popular. Photo: Blu Pizzeria

David's take: One of the best pizzas I've ever had, this meaty creation comes with shavings of black Angus short ribs on a bed of an aged cheese mixture drizzled with truffle white sauce and caramelised onion. Rich, creamy and decadent, it's the kind of pizza I could turn to again and again.

Evelyn's take: I still think about this pizza days later – that’s how good it is. It’s one of Blu’s best-seller and for good reason. Everything comes together seamlessly, from the creaminess of the truffle white sauce to the tenderness of the perfectly cooked short ribs on top. This is the kind of pizza you won’t want to leave leftovers of.

The verdict

David's take: Its latest outpost proves Blu Pizzeria is worth the hype. Simple and fuss-free, but with an artisanal touch, and totally satisfying, it's easy to understand its massive fan base. My Instagram commenters also recommended the musakhan (Dh84), a chicken special, and the tartufo (Dh95), a shaved truffle and cheese creation, so those are next on my hit list.

Evelyn's take: Blu's debut in the UAE capital has upped the emirate's pizza game. Although I could do without the burrata, the short ribs version is a truly impressive dish. I'll aim to try another white-sauced pizza the next time I go back.

Contact information

Blu Pizzeria Abu Dhabi, at Hidd Al Saadiyat, is open daily from 12pm to 12.30am. The restaurant employs a walk-in-only policy and does not accept reservations.

This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

THE%20HOLDOVERS
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Brief scoreline:

Manchester United 0

Manchester City 2

Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'

Combating coronavirus
ENGLAND SQUAD

Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes

Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

While you're here
The bio

Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned

Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates

Without Remorse

Directed by: Stefano Sollima

Starring: Michael B Jordan

4/5

FIXTURES

Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan

The top two teams qualify for the World Cup

Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.

Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff

Company profile

Company: Verity

Date started: May 2021

Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif

Based: Dubai

Sector: FinTech

Size: four team members

Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000

Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors

How to help

Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.

Account name: Dar Al Ber Society

Account Number: 11 530 734

IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734

Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae

At a glance

Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free

Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland

UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan

The biog

Name: Younis Al Balooshi

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn

Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Twin-turbocharged%204-litre%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E542bhp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E770Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C450%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The squad traveling to Brazil:

Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.

Anxiety and work stress major factors

Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.

A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.

Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.

One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.

It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."

Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.

“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi. 

“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."

Daniel Bardsley

THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPEC%20SHEET
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Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus

GRAN%20TURISMO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neill%20Blomkamp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Harbour%2C%20Orlando%20Bloom%2C%20Archie%20Madekwe%2C%20Darren%20Barnet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
​​​​​​​

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key features of new policy

Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6

Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge

A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools

Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability

Countries offering golden visas

UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.

Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.

Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.

Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.

Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence. 

Updated: August 25, 2025, 11:28 AM