Welcome to
The Authentic Turkish Market
Mahalle began its operations in 2022 as an “Authentic Turkish Grocery in the UAE,” with a strong foundational promise: “We don’t sell anything we wouldn’t eat as a family.” This commitment to quality, paired with a carefully curated selection of products, has been central to the brand’s growth and appeal in the market.
We spoke to Burak Arcan, Founder & Managing Partner of Mahalle to understand how the brand is serving Turkish flavours, locally in the most authentic way and decode his growth plans for the region. The conversation brings out Mahalle’s unique value proposition, its potential for growth, and its appeal to investors interested in scalable businesses given that the size of Turkish community is growing very fast and Turkish products are loved by also other nationalities in the UAE.
What inspired you to start something like Mahalle?
Our move to Dubai in 2021 was the catalyst. My wife received a great career opportunity, and I decided to support her by relocating our family. While settling in, we connected with the Turkish community and quickly discovered that although Turkish products were available, they were mostly industrial and lacked the authentic “taste and smell of home.” This led to the idea of bringing authentic Turkish flavors to the UAE, focusing on geo-identified products made using traditional methods, without chemicals. To realize this vision, we partnered with women’s cooperatives in Turkey, empowering them economically while introducing these unique products to the UAE market. This approach has allowed us to not only fill a market gap but also create a business with a strong social responsibility component.
What is the need gap that you were able to meet since the time this concept was started?
We’ve brought something truly unique to the market: authentic, home-made Turkish products that go beyond the industrial offerings. This has filled a significant gap for both Turkish expats and locals looking for high-quality, traditionally made goods.
Get the latest updates on new products and promotions
Thanks for subscribing!
This email has been registered!