Four years later than planned, world-renowned Japanese restaurant Nobu is gearing up to open its first Qatar branch by the end of this year, the Four Seasons Doha Hotel has announced.

The restaurant will be the second Nobu in the Middle East, following the opening of one at the Atlantis in Dubai in 2008.

The Doha branch was originally scheduled to open in early 2010.

When asked about the reasons for the delay, a Four Seasons Doha spokesperson told Doha News that changes were made to the materials used for the restaurant’s interior, and that murals and furniture have been brought in from all over the world, including Japan, Thailand and Italy.

She continued:

“There were also delays in construction. The change in technology used played a part due to technological advancements. Building the restaurant on water also made things a little complicated, but as you know, construction deadlines are often missed in this country.”

However, when asked the name of the construction company in charge of building the restaurant, the spokesperson said that information was not allowed to be disclosed.

The restaurant was designed by New York-based architecture firm Rockwell Group, and revolves around a pearl theme — a key part of Qatar’s pearl-diving heritage.

Ribbons of river stone plated with bronze accents make up the building’s exterior, forming a coiled shell.

The restaurant is to be enclosed within a 26,000 square-foot, three-story building that sits on reclaimed land in the Four Seasons Doha marina.

Panoramic views can be seen from the some 280 seats scattered among an interior dining area, a sushi counter and a rooftop lounge area, according to Four Seasons.

With regards the menu, the hotel said in a statement that local culture would be infused with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Japanese cuisine:

“Nobu Doha will showcase Nobu’s signature new style Japanese cuisine, as well as new creations infusing local ingredients representative of the region, such as exotic spices and a bounty of fresh catch from the Arabian Gulf including black-streaked monocole bream and orange-spotted trevally.”

Although Nobu stands separately from Four Seasons, it will not be the first to serve Japanese cuisine there.

Nusantao, a pan-Asian restaurant located within the hotel, also serves Japanese on its menu and has a sushi bar area.

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