tashas UAE openings: new cafés in Al Ain and Sharjah

tashas UAE openings bring two new cafés to Al Ain and Sharjah, with the Al Ain branch opening on May 19.

South African café favourite tashas has expanded its UAE footprint this week with two new branches, continuing the brand's steady growth outside Dubai. The Al Ain café opened on May 19, while a Sharjah location follows later this week; both launches aim to bring tashas' casual, design-led café experience to different emirate markets.

This article explains exactly where the new tashas cafés are, what you should expect from the menu and atmosphere, why these openings matter for the UAE café scene, and the practical details visitors need to plan their visit.

The new tashas cafés are in Al Ain and Sharjah, with the Al Ain branch opening on May 19 and the Sharjah location due to open later this week.

The Al Ain opening places tashas in a regional city-centre environment outside the Dubai market, while the Sharjah branch will serve a dense emirate population that frequently crosses between Sharjah and Dubai. Both spots reflect tashas' strategy of reaching customers in multiple emirates rather than concentrating only in Dubai.

For visitors and local food scenes, the locations matter because they broaden where people can find curated café spaces and casual dining that mixes bakery items and light meals. However, specifics such as exact Sharjah opening hours remain unconfirmed, so check tashas' official channels for final details.

Expect a relaxed, design-forward café feel and a menu focused on bakery items, light meals and coffee at tashas, consistent with its South African café identity.

The atmosphere typically pairs warm interiors, casual seating and an emphasis on fresh produce and bakery-led dishes. While specific menu items and price points for the Al Ain and Sharjah cafés have not been published in the opening announcement, visitors can reasonably expect a mix of all-day breakfast options, salads, sandwiches and pastries that suit daytime dining and casual meet-ups.

Note that menu composition can vary by location to suit local tastes and supply chains, so Sharjah or Al Ain outlets may have small differences to the menu you might have seen in Dubai locations. If you require dietary details or allergens information, contact the venue directly or check tashas' official communications before visiting.

These tashas openings matter because they extend premium café culture beyond Dubai and into secondary emirates, shifting where residents meet, work and socialise.

Moving into Al Ain and Sharjah signals a decentralisation trend in the UAE hospitality market, where recognised café brands test demand outside prime Dubai neighbourhoods. For local businesses and property owners, this can drive footfall in nearby retail strips and raise the profile of neighbourhood dining scenes. It also gives residents access to a curated café option without travelling to Dubai.

There are risks: success depends on local repeat business, pricing fit for each emirate and operational consistency. If tashas adapts menus and service to local rhythms, the openings can strengthen the brand; if not, they may face stiff local competition from established independent cafés.

Practical details: the Al Ain tashas opened on May 19; the Sharjah café is scheduled to open later this week but the exact date and hours have not been published.

Visitors should expect opening-day queues and limited seating on launch days, especially at city-centre locations. Reservation policies were not announced with the openings, so if you require a guaranteed table for a group or a specific time, check tashas' official channels or contact the location directly once Sharjah confirms its opening details.

Accessibility, parking and payment methods will follow local venue practice; bring a card plus a contactless option in case cashless payment is preferred. For the best experience, aim for midweek morning visits when possible to avoid launch crowds and allow staff to settle into the new service rhythm.

tashas has expanded its UAE presence with two new cafés: Al Ain opened on May 19 and Sharjah will open later this week (date to be confirmed). These launches extend the brand beyond Dubai, offering the same casual, bakery-led café experience to new emirate audiences while practical details such as Sharjah's exact hours will be published by tashas ahead of that opening.