Al Marjan Island development adds international Japanese restaurant brand through new partnership
ALMAL joins hands with Sumosan Restaurant Group to strengthen the dining and lifestyle offering at The Unexpected Al Marjan Island
Ras Al Khaimah's hospitality sector is set to gain another international dining concept following a new partnership between ALMAL Real Estate Development and Sumosan Restaurant Group. The agreement will bring Sumosan's Japanese restaurant concept to The Unexpected Al Marjan Island Hotel & Residences, adding another food and beverage offering to the waterfront development.
The partnership was formalised during a signing ceremony held on November 3, 2026, at the project site on Al Marjan Island. Senior representatives from both companies attended the event, including ALMAL founder Dmitriy Starovoitov and Sumosan founder Janina Wolkow.
Following the signing, representatives from the two organisations visited different sections of the development, including the planned restaurant spaces and a residential mock-up room, to review the project's progress and future facilities.
Japanese dining brand to join Al Marjan Island development
Sumosan is known for its contemporary interpretation of Japanese cuisine, combining traditional cooking methods with modern presentation. The restaurant group has built an international presence across several European and Middle Eastern markets over more than two decades.
Its arrival at The Unexpected Al Marjan Island is expected to broaden the property's food and beverage offering while supporting the development's positioning as a hospitality and entertainment destination.
The collaboration also reflects the growing role of international restaurant brands in hotel developments, where dining and lifestyle facilities form an important part of the overall guest experience.
Hotel and residential components form part of the project
The Unexpected Al Marjan Island Hotel & Residences is being developed by ALMAL Real Estate Development and will be operated by Palladium Hotel Group under its The Unexpected hospitality brand.
The project comprises 319 hotel rooms and 103 residential apartments. Its planned facilities combine accommodation with dining, entertainment, beach club and rooftop experiences, drawing inspiration from Ibiza's hospitality and leisure atmosphere.
The development is designed to bring hotel services and residential living together within a single waterfront destination on Al Marjan Island.
Construction work moves into the next phase
The partnership announcement comes as construction advances at the property. The project's main structural works have reportedly been completed, with façade installation, mechanical and electrical systems and interior finishing activities continuing.
The latest progress indicates a transition towards the subsequent stages of construction and preparation of the property's hospitality facilities.
Al Marjan Island continues to expand its hospitality offering
The addition of Sumosan reflects the broader development of Al Marjan Island as a destination combining residential properties, hotels, restaurants and leisure attractions.
As new hospitality concepts and residential developments take shape across the island, projects that integrate accommodation, dining and entertainment are becoming an important part of its evolving tourism and property landscape.
The ALMAL–Sumosan agreement adds another international dining brand to this growing mix, further expanding the range of lifestyle experiences planned for the island.
END.
