The Lighthouse is a homegrown food and lifestyle concept across five locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, created by founders and owner-operators Hashem Montasser and Hany Bassiouny. Its restaurants serve a Mediterranean-inspired menu with a nod to Middle Eastern ingredients – alongside a wine, cocktail and beer menu. A retail concept store, catering service, podcast (www.thelighthouse.ae/podcast) and events program also sit at the heart of The Lighthouse’s experiential ethos. You can find The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District, Mall of the Emirates, Nakheel Mall (Palm Jumeirah), Yas Bay Waterfront (Abu Dhabi) and Time Out Market Dubai. The Lighthouse name and brand has multiple meanings. Firstly, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World in Egypt is Hashem’s birthplace. Secondly, in a similar manner to a lighthouse acting as a beacon, The Lighthouse stands at the intersection of food and design, navigating both F&B and retail experiences in one space. Thirdly, on a more personal note, Hashem’s mother, the late Dr. Malak Hashem, who sadly passed away in 2009, spent her life as an educator and wrote her thesis on Virginia Woolf, author of the seminal novel “To the Lighthouse.” Last but not least, the communal concept pays homage to Virginia Woolf and her fellow members of the Bloomsbury Group who gathered for conversation and companionship, always refueling over food, whether breakfast, lunch or dinner.