Meet Diafa, a company that aspires to be the largest operator of luxury restaurants in the world

In this K-shaped economy, much focus has been on the “have nots.” But companies targeting the “haves” see a world of opportunity.

Consider Diafa, a hospitality powerhouse with offices in Abu Dhabi and London, which is positioning to become the world’s “most exemplary luxury hospitality group,” according to press materials. The group now includes 133 venues across 32 brands and five operating groups in 25 countries, including the U.S. And expect to see more expansion here.

Diafa has been on a bit of a buying spree in recent years.

A year ago, Diafa completed a deal to acquire Los Angeles-based H.wood Group, parent to the high-end concepts Delilah, The Nice Guy, Harriet’s and others — a move that, at the time, gave H.wood a nine-figure valuation.

In October 2025, Diafa also acquired 49% of Azumi Ltd., which is now co-owned by London-based Dogus Hospitality. That group, which began with Zuma in London in 2002, has grown around the world with more than 30 locations from Phuket to Istanbul. Sven Koch remains at the helm as CEO.

There are six Zuma locations in the U.S., according to its website, and the group’s brands also include Roka, Etaru, Oblix and more. (And the company said it is planning a new format: Zuma Beachhouse Dubai, a daytime beach and pool concept scheduled to open in 2027.)

Earlier this year, Diafa acquired a controlling stake in Richard Caring’s posh restaurant empire in the U.K., which includes The Ivy Collection, Scott’s, Sexy Fish, Caprice Restaurants and private member clubs, like Annabel’s and more. The stake was reportedly acquired for about $1.8 billion.

Already, Diafa appears to be bringing its U.K. holdings to the U.S. Caprice Holdings, a division of the Richard Caring group, in July acquired the Herring Building at 675 Hudson St. in New York’s Meatpacking district for a reported $100 million. Pending approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, that will become a U.S. outpost of the private club Annabel’s.

And the company also said it is exploring the potential of bringing The Ivy — considerered to be a British institution — to the U.S.

It should be noted that Diafa is an affiliate of IHC Group, which is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is the deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi and national security advisor. He has also reportedly been involved in negotiations around the war with Iran and was a backer in the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Needless to say, these are deep pockets. It’s sovereign wealth. In a statement, Diafa said it provides “tailored access to patient capital, operating expertise, technology, talent, real estate, hotel and developer relationships and shared intelligence.”

While food and beverage are the core focus, the group aspires to potential opportunities with hotels, wellness products and perhaps more over time. And then there are regions of the world the group has barely touched, including Asia and Latin America.

Diafa Group CEO Ravi Thakran said, in a statement, “Our ambition is to give exceptional regional businesses a global framework without losing what made them special in the first place. Growth will be curated and measured — creating global brands with a local soul, while accreting their value and protecting their legacy and DNA.”

Diafa also appears to be keeping founders/operators in place.

H.wood Group, for example, was co-founded by Brian Toll and John Terzian, who still lead the group they founded in 2008. It was initially more of a nightlife company, once known in particular for the 1960s burlesque club Bootsy Bellows founded with actor David Arquette, though it closed earlier this year (there’s still an outlet in SoFi Stadium).

But the group has evolved into more of a restaurant company offering vibrant and glamorous experiences, and sometimes live music. These are places where the wealthy and wannabes play, and not just in Los Angeles. Delilah now has outlets in Dallas, Las Vegas and Miami, and a Lady Delilah is coming soon to New York City, according to the H.wood website.

And more are planned, including the group’s private club The Bird Streets, which now operates in Los Angeles. In addition, a new Japanese concept Little Luck is scheduled to open soon in West Hollywood, and a speakeasy-style restaurant and lounge called Montana’s is coming to Brentwood.

A report out this week revealed how consumers today are being split into two camps. Revenue Management Solutions found that 48% of consumers earning more than $100,000 say they’re spending a bigger share of their income on both dining out and takeout, a 15% increase over last year.

For companies like Diafa this provides fertile ground.

But the world of $200 seafood towers, $300 A5 snow beef from the Hokkaido prefecture and $135 Osetra caviar service (on funnel cakes, per Delilah’s menu in Dallas) has become increasingly competitive. And scaling brands that lean so heavily on exclusivity can be a challenge.

But if there is a race to claim the bejeweled gold ring of becoming the largest luxury restaurant company in the world, it appears we have a serious contender.

Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts.