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Current management at SFC Group assembled relatives of founder the late KM Bhatia, retired staff and regular diners at the Dubai outlet for the anniversary commemoration that coincided with the precise date of its 1976 debut. The event allowed participants to share recollections of the restaurant’s early popularity and its evolution alongside the UAE’s development into a global hospitality hub. Gulf News reported that the gathering emphasised both personal stories and the venue’s lasting contribution to culinary diversity in the country.
Kamlesh Bhatia, son of the founder and a teenager when the restaurant launched, told Gulf News that the idea originated from his father’s 1975 trip to Delhi where he waited nearly an hour for a table at a Chinese restaurant yet found the food exceptional. The elder Bhatia, who also partnered in the UAE’s first ice cream manufacturing plant, decided to replicate the concept under the same name in Dubai. Golden Dragon opened its doors in Bur Dubai the following year and quickly established itself as a destination for authentic wok-cooked dishes.
Within a short period the restaurant began attracting local families, business executives, prominent figures and members of royal families from throughout the Emirates. Reservations at peak times required booking two weeks in advance, reflecting strong demand in an era when such international cuisine was uncommon. Kamlesh Bhatia recalled that the establishment introduced many residents to Indo-Chinese flavours and became a venue for significant family and social events.
Financing proved demanding, with the company obtaining a Dh2 million loan from British Bank that ultimately rose to Dh3.2 million as expenses increased. An associate identified as Mans, now aged 84, visited China and additional Asian locations to examine restaurant design, gather concepts and acquire materials for the interior. These preparatory steps helped create an authentic environment that supported the restaurant’s initial success and long-term endurance.
The brand now forms part of SFC Group, where K Muraleedharan serves as chairman and managing director. A new flagship location at Sharjah Central Mall opened in August 2026 to align with the anniversary and was inaugurated by Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi. Muraleedharan said in a company statement that the milestone offered an opportunity to thank loyal customers, employees and the wider community while pledging continued focus on quality Asian cuisine and hospitality.
Golden Dragon maintains a farm-to-wok approach in which chefs prepare dim sum by hand, create sauces from scratch and cook every order in the wok daily, according to the SFC Group website. The anniversary occurs as the UAE food services market was valued at $23.21 billion in 2025 with the broader food and beverage sector projected to approach $43.98 billion by 2029, Khaleej Times reported citing industry analysis. Hotel revenues exceeded Dh49.2 billion in 2025 with occupancy averaging 79.5 percent, figures that the Emirates Tourism Council attributed to sustained tourism growth and economic diversification.
