Bringing the Indoors Out: The Rise of Outdoor Kitchens and Pizza Ovens in the UAE
Why limit your cooking and entertaining to inside the house? Outdoor kitchens have become one of the hottest trends for homeowners in the UAE who want to maximize their living space and enjoy alfresco dining. From built-in BBQ grills to wood-fired pizza ovens, the backyard is the new frontier in kitchen design. Let’s explore how to create your perfect outdoor kitchen, and why additions like a pizza oven (for example, the popular DeliVita ovens) can take your outdoor entertaining to the next level.
The Appeal of Outdoor Kitchens in the UAE
An outdoor kitchen effectively creates a second kitchen in your garden or on your patio, complete with cooking, prep, and storage areas. The appeal is multi-fold:
- Entertainment: It’s perfect for hosting. Guests can gather around while you grill and cook, without everyone being cooped up indoors. It becomes a social hub at parties and family gatherings, think summer BBQs, birthday celebrations, or even just weeknight dinners under the stars.
- Lifestyle: Cooking outdoors is a sensory joy, the sizzle of food on the grill, the smell of wood smoke or charcoal, and the open air. It often feels more relaxed and fun than using the indoor kitchen. You’re effectively expanding your living space and spending more time outside, which many find improves their leisure time.
- Resale Value: A well-designed outdoor kitchen can boost property value. It’s a sought-after feature nowadays. Even a simple built-in grill with a nice counter can make a home stand out. It signals a sort of luxury, resort-like lifestyle that appeals to buyers.
- Keep Indoors Cool & Clean: In hot months, using an outdoor kitchen keeps the heat (and smoke or strong food smells) out of your house. Frying fish outside or baking pizza at 400°C in a pizza oven means your indoor AC doesn’t fight the kitchen heat, and your house smells fresh.
Key Components of an Outdoor Kitchen
Designing an outdoor kitchen can range from a basic grill station to a full-blown second kitchen. Here are common components to consider:
- Grill or Cooktop: The heart of most outdoor kitchens is a grill (whether gas, charcoal, or kamado style). Choose a quality grill that will last, many outdoor kitchen grills are built-in units made of stainless steel to withstand weather. Gas grills offer convenience and control, charcoal or wood grills (like a Big Green Egg or similar) offer flavor. Some designs even incorporate side burners or a flat-top griddle for cooking sauces or breakfasts outdoors.
- Countertops and Prep Space: You’ll want some work surface. Materials need to be weather-proof, common choices are stone (granite, bluestone, etc.), concrete, or stainless steel. Newer compact surfaces like Dekton (by Cosentino) are also great outdoors, since they are highly UV- and heat-resistant and won’t fade or stain. Having at least a bit of counter to set platters, do chopping, etc., is invaluable.
- Storage and Cabinetry: Outdoor-rated cabinets can store your tools, dishes, and cushions. Brands like Cubic Outdoor Living specialize in high-quality outdoor kitchen cabinets and furniture that use weather-resistant materials (e.g., stainless steel frames, sealed ceramic or stone fronts) to withstand the elements. Look for materials that won’t warp or rot, marine-grade polymer or stainless steel are common for cabinet boxes. It’s also wise to include some closed storage to keep critters out of your supplies.
- Sink and Bar: If you can plumb water outside, a small sink is a huge convenience for prepping food and cleaning up. Even if it’s cold water only or fed by a garden hose adapter, it makes the space more self-sufficient. Many outdoor kitchens include a drink station or bar, this could be as simple as an under-counter fridge for beverages, a built-in ice chest, or a wine cooler. A sink can double as a ice-filled beer cooler in a pinch.
- Refrigeration: At minimum, consider a mini-fridge for keeping meats, salads, and drinks cool outside so you’re not running in and out. There are many undercounter outdoor fridges available, they’re usually front-vented like indoor wine fridges and built robustly. Some people also opt for kegerators (for draft beer) or dedicated wine fridges in their outdoor setups.
- Shade and Shelter: Plan for comfort, a roofed pergola, umbrella, or sail can help block sun over the cooking and seating area. Also consider a simple shelter or cover for your appliances so they last longer (grill covers, etc.). In rainy climates, a permanent roof or pavilion over the kitchen means you can use it more often.
- Seating and Dining Area: Coordinate your outdoor kitchen with a dining table or bar counter seating. A counterside bar with stools facing the grill island allows guests to chat with the chef. Or a nearby dining table creates that open-air restaurant feel at home.
- Fire Features and Heaters: While not part of the kitchen per se, things like a fire pit, patio heater, or outdoor fireplace can extend the use of the area into cooler evenings or seasons. People might gather at the fire after dinner, or you can keep the party going into late fall with a bit of warmth.
Outdoor Kitchen Furniture and Build Quality
Your outdoor kitchen will face sun, rain, wind, and maybe sand storms in the UAE, so build it to endure. Materials matter: use stainless steel fasteners so they don’t rust, use masonry base (stone/bricks) or welded aluminum/stainless framing for structures. High-quality brands (like the aforementioned Cubic Outdoor or some kitchen cabinet makers who have outdoor lines) often use finest weather-resistant materials to ensure the outdoor kitchen lasts years. Polymer or metal cabinets won’t swell or decay like regular wood. If using wood accents, teak or cedar can hold up, but will need maintenance.
For DIY or lower budget, you can even buy modular outdoor kitchen units or kits. These often have a base structure you finish with your choice of stone or tile, and cut-outs for a grill, etc. Just remember to provide ventilation in any enclosed grill area (gas grills especially need vents in the cabinets for safety).
Drainage and utilities should be planned… e.g., ensure rain can drain off countertops and that electricity is GFCI-protected outdoors. If doing a sink, you’ll need a drain plan (even if it’s just a greywater drain to the garden).
The Magic of Pizza Ovens (Featuring DeliVita)
One of the most popular additions to outdoor cooking is a pizza oven. There’s something undeniably fun about baking your own artisan pizzas in a real fire oven, blistered crusts, melted cheese, woodsmoke aroma… it’s an experience! Pizza ovens can also bake bread, roast meats and veggies, and even desserts in unique ways.
DeliVita is a brand that has made a splash in this arena. They produce compact, stylish wood-fired pizza ovens that have gained acclaim in the UK and beyond. In fact, the DeliVita wood-fired oven was featured in The Telegraph’s “12 Best Pizza Ovens” list in 2025, highlighting its popularity. What makes a DeliVita appealing is its size and design, it’s relatively lightweight (~30kg) and portable, with a cool curved shape and vibrant color options, so it can sit on a tabletop outdoors. Despite its manageable size, it reaches the high temperatures needed for true Neapolitan-style pizzas (over 450°C if needed) in a short time, and can cook a pizza in about 90 seconds.
By adding a pizza oven like DeliVita to your outdoor kitchen, you’re not just limited to grilling. You unlock a whole new menu: think wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas with charred leopard-spotted crusts, cast iron skillet dishes that pick up wood smoke, even baked fish or casseroles with a hint of flame-kissed flavor. It becomes a centerpiece for parties, guests (especially kids) love customizing their own pizzas and watching them bake in a minute or two.
Modern wood-fired ovens like DeliVita are also relatively fuel-efficient and heat up quicker than old-school brick ovens. DeliVita specifically has also branched out, they introduced a gas-fired model (the DeliVita “Diavolo”) in 2025 for those who want the convenience of gas flames with the design of their ovens. That gives options if one doesn’t want to manage wood or if local regulations restrict open wood burning.
Other popular pizza oven brands include Ooni and Gozney, which offer portable models (often gas or wood pellet fired). If you want a permanent fixture, you could consider building a traditional brick oven or getting a larger refractory oven. But for many, a portable yet authentic oven like DeliVita strikes a great balance.
One more thing: outdoor pizza ovens have won awards not just for pizza quality but for design and innovation. For instance, DeliVita’s own brand pizza dough even won a Great Taste Award in 2025. This shows the level of culinary quality you can bring to your home setup.
Tips for Maintaining and Using Outdoor Cooking Spaces
Weatherproofing: Invest in covers for your grill and any appliances when not in use. If your climate has harsh winters, consider winterizing (shutting off water to the sink, etc.) and protecting equipment.
Clean regularly: Even stainless steel can show weather stains, so wipe surfaces and use appropriate cleaners. Keep grills clean to avoid flare-ups. For pizza ovens, clear out ash after use once cooled.
Plan Utilities Safely: Use a certified plumber/electrician for gas lines, water lines, and electrical outlets in your outdoor kitchen. Safety first, you want proper hookups, shutoffs, and ground fault protections.
Think of the Neighbors: An outdoor kitchen can produce smoke and noise. Be considerate in placement (e.g., site the grill where smoke won’t billow straight into a neighbor’s window) and perhaps avoid very late-night noisy cookouts if you’re in close quarters.
Enjoy Year-Round: Don’t limit yourself to summer. With a patio heater or a fire pit nearby, you can be flipping burgers in November or firing pizzas in March. Some enthusiasts even grill on New Year’s Eve! It can be quite cozy.
Outdoor kitchens and features like pizza ovens are transforming backyards into extensions of our homes. It’s about creating an experience, cooking under the open sky and sharing that with friends and family. Whether you start small with just a grill and portable pizza oven, or go all-out with a fully equipped outdoor culinary haven, the joy and relaxation it brings are immense. So fire up that grill, slide a pizza into the oven, and savor the good life outdoors. Your home just got a whole lot bigger and more fun!
