Daniel During opens Burger Rebel in Dubai

Casual dining joint Burger Rebel opened its doors for business this week in Dubai.

The burger chain, launched in Wafi, prides itself on an unconventional menu of burgers, sliders and hot dogs.

“The launch of Burger Rebel is our own contribution to the movement for the democratisation of food, which makes affordable, good quality comfort food available to all and removes the ‘junk’ label that has negatively pigeonholed the burger for decades,” said Daniel During, principal and managing director for Thomas Klein International, Burger Rebel’s Dubai owner-operator and master franchiser.

Carrying a rebellious team, its launch saw repurposing in action with the restaurant’s interiors featuring furniture and fittings made using scrap materials such as wooden pallets, old scaffolding, and discarded advertising hoardings, or bought second-hand.

“We are committed to repurposing, recycling and reducing waste within our operation in order to diminish the negative impact we have on our environment. Re-purposing is a core tenet and all around the restaurant you will find materials that were reclaimed and given new life.”

Two walls within the outlet have been covered in graffiti as part of the restaurants theme.
A ‘work in progress’, guests at the opening event were treated to a preview of the final designs, with the winners of a UAE-wide student competition putting paint to plaster.

The competition, which attracted entries from over 30 up-and-coming young artists, had the brief to create unique designs that would illustrate Burger Rebel’s culinary and social philosophy. The winners, Darius Myszka, a second-year student at Dubai’s School of Audio Engineering, and his sister Penelope, a second-year business management student at Middlesex University, were chosen after demonstrating excellent technical skills as well as visually capturing the brand ethos.

“Homemade and ‘local’ is at the root of everything we do, from making our own buns, ketchup, mayonnaise and infused waters through to involving the local community by providing an open social space, and supporting the freedom of creative expression of Dubai’s youth,” said During.