Forging human connections over shared meals

It's by the people for the people, quite literally. The restaurant People has opened doors at Al Khawaneej Walk, Dubai. Their USP: Connecting with people over shared meals. Khaleej Times spoke to the people behind People—the same team that runs GOAT Burger.

- Sidhi Kapoor

Billionaire wagyu in crispy rice

According to Sultan Kayed, co-founder of People, the restaurant is designed to connect.

“The idea was to create a place where food isn’t just served but shared. We draw from a range of culinary influences, but the real difference is how we bring people together: through a menu designed for conversation, an atmosphere that encourages openness, and a team that reflects the diversity of our guests,” he said. “It’s inclusive, social, and rooted in the belief that great food should always come with great company,” he said.

Even the plates here are designed to bring people together across tables, cultures, and generations. Sameer Bhalekar, the eatery’s executive chef, said the menu reflects contemporary tastes. “The menu is inspired by how people eat today — a bit of this, a bite of that, all shared around the table. We’ve taken global flavours and reimagined them in a way that feels fun, fresh, and familiar,” he said. “It’s not quite fine dining, and it’s not street food either—it lives somewhere in between.”