How Abu Dhabi’s India Palace became an ‘urban treasure’

K. Muralee Dharan came to Dubai in 1976 when the UAE had an expanding road network, free water and a nominal electricity bill.

“It was unparalleled generosity at the time and I was delighted to be here. I joined the firm where my brother worked as an accounting clerk, and for 14 years or so I went on to work for the same firm into sales, accounting and management ,” Muralee Dharan, 66, and Abu’s managing director of India Palace, the group behind Dhabi-based Southern Franchise Company (SFC), told Gulf News.

In his mind, the Indian expat has always harbored entrepreneurial hopes. Muralee Dharan took the leap when he finally became the firm’s managing partner in 1990.

It was an unassuming coffee shop at the Mafraq gas station, but the joint venture proved to be a success, operating for two years.

“Eventually my contract was not renewed when another franchisee took over the same location and that’s when I decided to build a well-known brand with international standards. It was a turning point for me because I realized brand recognition And quality is key,” said Muralee Dharan.

The expat trained for weeks at a British company that helped develop the fast-food restaurant, and in 1992, Southern Fried Chicken was born.

“We offer fried chicken with a unique recipe and in our second branch we also have pizza and sandwiches. The formula works well and we have built a loyal customer base. To me, that’s a sign of growing the business , especially since I want to bring a real Indian experience to the UAE,” said Muralee Dharan.

Although he himself is from Kerala, Muralee Dharan’s idea was a restaurant that fused the flavors of the Indian states, while also offering diners a royal experience. To this end, the businessman visited several cities in the north of the country, including Delhi and Jaipur.

Over the course of 18 months, he and his team set out to design the first Indian Palace restaurant in a building on Sheikh Zayed Street in Abu Dhabi. Hyderabad architects designed the restaurant’s theme, including its famous terracotta awning and jalli accent walls. Muralee Dharan chose to source handcrafted teak furniture and multiple paintings to convey the grandeur of India.

“There were a lot of Indian restaurants in Abu Dhabi at the time, but I wanted to create something new and instantly recognizable,” says Muralee Dharan.

The restaurant opened its doors to its first customers in late 1997 and officially opened on February 20, 1998. It can accommodate 100 diners, and a skilled jewellery maker from Rajasthan sells his creations. Soon India Palace or Qasr Al Hind (Qasr Al Hind in Arabic) became a popular and much-loved restaurant in the capital.

“We offer what I call the Maharaja experience. It may be a familiar concept to South Asians, but for me the measure of success is that Arabs instantly recognize Qasr Al Hind,” Muralee Dharan said.

The restaurant continues to increase its achievements and now has 13 branches in the UAE. The original Sheikh Zayed Street branch still stands, seating 175 diners.

“It has hosted many dignitaries over the years and we were delighted to accommodate the entire Indian cricket team for a visit in 1998.

Muralee Dharan’s family has seen the restaurant business – which now includes 12 separate entities, including 49ers and Pizza Pan – also grow.

“My wife actually joined me in 1986 and my three children grew up here. In fact, my son is now the Concept and Gastronomy Director of SFC Group,” says Muralee Dharan.

Indian Palace continues to serve up delicious food, and its signature Butter Chicken – Grilled Chicken with Creamy Tomato Gravy – remains a favorite. Customers also love daal makhni – a creamy lentil dish, as well as Dum chicken biryani.

Muralee Dharan’s own preferences are slightly different. He chooses prawn biryani most often and must eat chicken tikka kabab at least once a week.

“I’ve been working hard and I’m delighted to be recognised as an urban treasure and to receive this award,” he said.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Muralee Dharan is already working to take the Palace of India globally, starting with the GCC region and then to Europe.

“I believe that the UAE – where I really started living – made who I became and what I was able to achieve. In fact, we run many charities in India and contribute to many more. This It also reflects the generosity of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE,” said Mulally Dhahran.