Eight Inclusive Eateries Around the MENA Region

Across the MENA region, people with disabilities often face invisible barriers—simple things we take for granted, like ordering a coffee, enjoying a meal, or being part of a community. Too often, spaces aren’t built to include them, leaving talent, creativity, and connection untapped. But some regional cafés and restaurants are changing the game. These aren’t just businesses—they’re hubs of inclusion, where people with disabilities aren’t accommodated, they’re celebrated. From teaching sign language to staffing kitchens entirely with differently abled talent, these spaces are proof that hospitality can be bold, human, and inclusive. Here are eight inclusive cafés and restaurants across the Middle East that are flipping the script and showing how it’s done. Sip and Sign – Dbayeh, Lebanon

Just north of Beirut, Sip and Sign invites guests to step into the world of sign language, creating meaningful connections between Lebanon’s hearing and deaf communities. Communication here happens through signs, smiles, and patience, while regular free workshops—led by founder Elie Hanna—encourage visitors to learn sign language and carry that knowledge beyond the café’s walls. 21 Café – Dubai, UAE

Located in Dubai’s Al Ghurair Mall, 21 Café is run by individuals with Down syndrome and was founded by Raghu Raman Dhandapani as a tribute to his son. Its name references the 21st chromosome, and its mission centres on dignity, opportunity, and visibility—served alongside coffee, pastries, and plenty of warmth. Socks Coffee – Cairo, Egypt

In Cairo’s lively Korba neighbourhood, Socks Coffee is staffed by people with disabilities, including individuals with Down syndrome and physical disabilities. Beyond serving specialty coffee and desserts, Socks places its team and their stories at the heart of the experience, recently hosting a community event to mark Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October 2025. Arina Pizzeria – Qatif, Saudi Arabia


Set in one of Arabia’s oldest cities, Arina Pizzeria is a deaf-owned Italian restaurant empowering Saudi Arabia’s deaf community through meaningful employment and representation. Communication happens in Saudi Arabian Sign Language, while the menu stays true to classic Neapolitan pizza traditions—proof that inclusivity never compromises quality. Agonista Coffee – Beirut, Lebanon

Recognised by UNESCWA in 2023, Agonista Coffee is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering people with intellectual disabilities across Lebanon’s hospitality sector. In addition to employment, the café runs training programmes that equip participants with skills to work across cafés and restaurants nationwide. Since opening in 2018, Agonista has grown into a network of spaces rooted in dignity and long-term impact. Sucette Restaurant – Damascus, Syria

Located in Tishreen Park, Sucette is Syria’s first restaurant-café to fully employ individuals with Down syndrome. Founded in 2021 by the humanitarian organisation Juzour, Sucette stands as a hopeful, community-driven project—one that blends hospitality with purpose in the heart of Damascus. 312 Café – Salmiya, Kuwait

Kuwait’s first café staffed entirely by people with disabilities, 312 Café is dedicated to empowerment through opportunity. The café has partnered with institutions such as the British Embassy in Kuwait, while co-founder Georges Khoury regularly speaks at universities about inclusion, advocacy, and creating lasting social change.