Icon Award 2025

Icon Award 2025

Omar Shihab

Dubai

A pioneer of sustainable dining in the Middle East

Omar Shihab was born and raised in the UAE, but his passion for sustainability knows no borders. The founder of Boca – winner of the Sustainable Restaurant Award 2025 – is a strong advocate for local farming and foraging. He explores new food sources to rethink dining experiences, while always considering the environmental impact. 

The talented team at Boca – led by Andalusian chef Patricia Roig – serves modern Spanish and Mediterranean-inspired food, but sourced locally in the UAE. This rarity, in a desert nation, is only possible due to Shihab’s constant efforts to build a greener future. To further his efforts, the entrepreneur has joined forces with multiple environmental companies and initiatives to promote changes in the UAE and worldwide.

Shihab participated in a study to discover the potential of local halophytes (salt-tolerant plants) to be used as superfoods, in collaboration with Emirates Nature-WWF and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture. These climate-resilient crops can resist harsh environmental conditions which makes them ideal candidates for cultivation in arid regions like the UAE.

A regular speaker at conferences and events on all things sustainability, Shihab also puts things into practice. At Boca, he formalised a waste officer role to oversee recycling and waste reduction. Moreover, Shihab’s team calculated and reported the restaurant’s carbon emissions and created the first carbon neutral tasting menu.

Community is at the centre of Shihab’s work. Through the restaurant, he collaborates with local charities and regularly hosts events to promote sustainability, bringing together local chefs, farmers and industry professionals. He also ensures fair labour practices and gender inclusivity in the workforce: 35% of the staff are women, including in leadership roles such as head of guest relations and executive chef.

Shihab’s tireless work to make hospitality enjoyable for everyone, with a huge focus on sustainability, makes him a deserving winner of the Icon Award 2025.

 

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