ABOUT US
OUR STORY
Oryx started in 2024 as a group of beer aficionados in the UAE with an ambition to deliver a new beer range designed just for the UAE. We wanted to build something fun, full of flavour and quality, but very much grounded with local roots.
Our goal is to create something that residents here can relate to and enjoy, tourists can sample as part of their experience of the region, and ultimately something we can all be proud of.
Launching our beers in 2026, this is step 1 in our journey.
This is your beer, something we want everyone to feel a part of.
Time to get involved!
Our formula
Real beer starts with real ingredients. No shortcuts. Every drop of Oryx is brewed with whole hops and clean, natural ingredients — no cheap adjuncts, no rice, no corn syrup, no added sugars to bulk it out or fake the flavour. We brew for taste, not for margins, and we sweat every ingredient that goes into the tank.
While we work through the challenges that brewing in the UAE currently presents, we are starting this journey as "nomad brewers" — meaning we don't own or run a factory ourselves. Instead, we team up with specialist breweries who bring the brewing equipment, the operational know-how and the quality control, while we focus on what we do best: designing bold recipes built for the UAE and making it available to thirsty patrons in the country.
Right now, our beers are brewed at a specialized contract brewery in Belgium — a team obsessed with the details, running state-of-the-art kit built for exactly this kind of small-batch, high-craft brewing. But let's be clear: these are our recipes, brewed to our exact spec. Every batch is developed and signed off by our Head Brewer, Lee, who works hand-in-hand with our Belgian partners to make sure each beer matches exactly what we set out to create. Nothing generic, nothing off-the-shelf — original Oryx beer, brewed properly.
As we grow, so does our journey home. Once the UAE landscape makes it possible, we'll bring production on-shore and brew Oryx where Oryx belongs. Until then, Belgium is where the magic happens.
JOHN, FOUNDER
Based in Dubai since 2012, John works as a lawyer specialising in the hospitality industry, supporting the development, structuring and delivery of hotels, bars, restaurants, clubs, golf resorts and other facilities.
BRUNO, Founder
Bruno is the co-founder of Cerveja Musa, Portugal’s leading craft beer brand that offers nationwide distribution and four directly owned and managed brewpubs. Now based in Abu Dhabi, he is widely respected in the industry and his unique experience of developing and launching a similar project has proved invaluable throughout our journey.
Lee, Head Brewer
Now based in Dubai, Lee began his brewing journey whilst studying Microbiology at university, and his passion quickly turned into a career. In 2014 he joined the world’s 2nd largest brewer, SAB Miller, as a Microbrewery Technician, while his decade-long career has afforded him the opportunity to work in some of the largest breweries in Africa, and to produce both local and globally renowned beer brands. Having studied and trained as a brewer, he brings a wealth of technical and practical knowledge to the Oryx team.
And the crew?
Too many legends to name, but each one’s part of the UAE community helping us build something awesome.