Dubai is reportedly set to welcome WOOHOO, a restaurant operated by an AI chef, in September 2025.
The restaurant will be located near the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, as reported by Reuters.
Go deeper with GlobalData
While human staff will assemble the dishes, the menu, ambiance and service will be crafted by a culinary large-language model named Chef Aiman.
According to Ahmet Oytun Cakir, one of the founders of WOOHOO, Chef Aiman —derived from the words “AI” and “man” — draws on extensive food science research, molecular composition data and more than 1,000 recipes from global culinary traditions.
Oytun Cakir was quoted by the news agency: “Human cooking will not be replaced, but we believe (Aiman) will elevate the ideas, creativity.”
Unable to taste or smell, the AI breaks down cuisine into elements such as texture, acidity and umami, generating flavour and ingredient combinations.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe AI-designed recipes are fine-tuned by human cooks under the guidance of acclaimed Dubai-based chef Reif Othman.
The developers stress that Chef Aiman aims to enhance, not replace, human culinary expertise.
The model also prioritises sustainability, creating recipes that repurpose commonly discarded ingredients, such as meat trimmings or fat.
“Their responses to my suggestions help refine my understanding of what works beyond pure data,” Aiman explained in an interview with the interactive AI model.
Looking ahead, WOOHOO’s founders envision licensing Chef Aiman to restaurants worldwide, to reduce kitchen waste and promote sustainable practices in the culinary industry.
