Nohm Hospitality takes control of Pauly and eyes global expansion

The Dubai-based hospitality group behind Pauly Dubai has acquired a controlling stake in the French restaurant and nightlife brand Pauly, marking a shift from franchise operator to owner. The deal, signed in Paris on Oct. 12, sets up potential openings in luxury destinations including St. Tropez, Bodrum and Courchevel.

Why it matters: - The deal gives an Emirati group control of a well-known French hospitality brand with international recognition. - Nohm Hospitality can now expand Pauly beyond Dubai and use the brand as a platform for wider global growth. - The transaction reflects the UAE's growing influence in premium hospitality, a sector long shaped by European brands expanding into the Gulf.

What happened: - Nohm Hospitality acquired a controlling stake in Pauly, the Cannes-based restaurant and entertainment brand. - The transaction was signed in Paris on Oct. 12. - Brandon Joseph, senior vice president of strategy and business development at Downtown Ventures, led the negotiations and deal structure. - Nohm Hospitality is the food and beverage arm of Downtown Ventures, a Dubai International Financial Centre-based investment company.

The details: - Downtown Ventures has built a diversified portfolio across hospitality, real estate, technology and pharmaceuticals over more than 40 years. - Sanjeev Nanda, Downtown Ventures' CEO, took over the family hospitality group in 2005. - His portfolio includes Taj Dubai, Billionaire Mansion and the Toto restaurant in London. - Nohm Hospitality first connected with Pauly in 2022 through a franchise agreement for the brand at G1 Beach in Dubai. - Pauly Dubai opened in November 2024 and has become one of Dubai's leading beach destinations. - The brand launched its first venue in Cannes in 1999. - Dubai received 6.97 million international visitors in the first eight months of 2026, according to Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. - Western Europe ranked as one of the top source markets for visitors to Dubai.

Between the lines: - The acquisition marks a reversal in a long-running pattern, with Gulf groups traditionally licensing European luxury brands rather than owning them. - Pauly's success in Dubai appears to have changed the brand's growth path from franchise-led expansion to ownership-led expansion. - Control from the UAE may make it easier to move Pauly into other high-spending leisure markets while keeping the brand's French identity.

What's next: - Nohm Hospitality is studying new Pauly locations in St. Tropez, Bodrum and Courchevel. - The company plans to bring Pauly's mix of fine dining and late-night energy to new luxury destinations. - Downtown Ventures and Pauly's founder, Christophe Causino, said they want to preserve the brand's identity while introducing it to broader audiences in new cities. - Causino said the brand will continue to build on the character that made Pauly popular in Cannes and Miami.

The bottom line: - Nohm Hospitality is moving from operator to owner, and Pauly is becoming the vehicle for a broader UAE-led push into global luxury hospitality.