Head Chef — Moroccan Cuisine
About the job
Lead the kitchen of one of Abu Dhabi's most authentic Moroccan dining destinations.
Al Afiya Maghribi Restaurant is seeking an experienced
Head Chef
with deep expertise in traditional Moroccan cuisine to lead our culinary operation. This is a high-impact leadership role where you will own the entire kitchen — from menu development and recipe standardization to team management, food cost control, and quality assurance.You will lead a brigade of 14 kitchen professionals, including specialists in tagines, bastilla, couscous, grills, and Moroccan pastries. You will work hand-in-hand with the General Manager to shape the culinary identity of the brand, drive consistency across every plate, and build a kitchen culture rooted in pride, discipline, and Moroccan hospitality.
What you'll own:
- The full menu — design, costing, seasonality, and innovation while preserving authenticity
- Daily kitchen operations across all stations (hot, cold, pastry, grill, prep)
- A team of 14 — hiring, training, scheduling, mentoring, and performance management
- Food cost (target ≤ 32%), waste control, portion standardization, and recipe compliance
- HACCP, Abu Dhabi Food Safety Department compliance, and supplier quality standards
- Ramadan, Iftar, and Suhoor special menus
- Catering and private event execution
Who you'll work with:
Reports directly to the General Manager. Works closely with Floor Manager, Inventory Controller, and Marketing on menu launches, costing reviews, and guest experience.
- Department: F&B kitchen
About you
Experience:
- Minimum 8 years in professional kitchens, including at least 4 years as Head Chef or Executive Chef in an authentic Moroccan restaurant
- Proven track record running a kitchen with 10+ staff and 100+ covers per day
- GCC / Middle East experience preferred but not mandatory
Culinary expertise:
- Mastery of traditional Moroccan cuisine: tagines (lamb, chicken, kefta, fish), couscous (royal, seven vegetables, Friday), bastilla (pigeon, chicken, seafood), harira, rfissa, mechoui, briouates, Moroccan pastries (kaab el ghazal, chebakia, m'hancha)
- Deep understanding of Moroccan spices, ras el hanout blends, preserved lemons, and chermoula
- Comfortable with hybrid menus — traditional + modern presentation for premium dining
Management & business skills:
- Strong leadership and team development skills
- Solid grasp of food costing, recipe engineering, P&L impact, and inventory control
- Disciplined, calm under pressure, leads by example
- Comfortable with kitchen tech (KDS, recipe systems, Excel/Sheets for cost cards)
Languages:
- Arabic — Native or fluent (essential — team and supplier communication)
- French — Strong plus (Moroccan culinary heritage)
- English — Working level (for management reporting)
Compliance:
- HACCP / Food Safety certification (or willingness to obtain within 60 days)
- Valid passport with minimum 12 months validity
- Willing to relocate to Abu Dhabi (visa & sponsorship provided)
Personal:
- Passionate about Moroccan culinary heritage
- Hands-on operator — not afraid to cook the line
- Hygienic, organized, and a perfectionist on plate presentation
- Languages required: Arabic and English.
The company
Al Afiya Maghribi Restaurant brings the authentic soul of Morocco to the heart of Abu Dhabi. Located in the prestigious Khalidiya district, we serve traditional Moroccan cuisine the way it was meant to be — slow-cooked tagines simmered for hours, hand-folded bastilla layered with fragrant spices, fluffy couscous prepared every Friday, and warm mint tea poured with grace.
Founded with a passion for preserving Moroccan culinary heritage, we are more than a restaurant — we are a destination where families gather, where the warmth of Maghrebi hospitality meets the elegance of fine dining, and where every dish tells a story.
We are building a team of passionate hospitality professionals who share our commitment to excellence, authenticity, and creating memorable guest experiences. If you take pride in your craft and love what you do, we want to hear from you.
