Abu Dhabi Welcomes Revolutionary Robot Chef Capable of Preparing Meals in Under Four Minutes

Abu Dhabi has introduced a groundbreaking kitchen robot, the CA-1 from Circus Group, capable of preparing four hot dishes simultaneously, with each meal ready in approximately four minutes. This advanced system is currently undergoing trials at First Clique in Paragon Mall, in collaboration with the catering company Royal Prestige. Circus Group, a German company, has confirmed that this marks its inaugural installation in the UAE, with plans to expand its presence to various high-traffic locations such as hospitals, universities, shopping malls, petrol stations, and airports, where access to fresh food can be challenging.

Michael Bassler, a shareholder at Circus Group, stated, “The goal is to help people have great food in places where they normally don’t have food.” The CA-1 is equipped with 36 ingredient silos, four induction plates, and two robotic arms – one for cooking and one for serving. Its current menu features 10 dishes, including chicken fajita, chicken biryani, lentil soup, chicken curry, and pasta. The machine has the capacity to produce up to 50 hot meals or 100 cold meals per hour, depending on the menu selection. A single load of ingredients can yield up to 200 dishes with the existing menu configuration. Ingredients are stored in temperature-controlled silos and typically replenished within 48 hours.

Addressing the necessity of the CA-1 in existing restaurant settings, Mr. Bassler explained, “The best locations we focus on are places where you have no food or really bad food.” The company is targeting 24-hour locations like petrol stations, central stations, and airports, with Abu Dhabi Airport’s VIP terminal identified as a potential prime location. The Paragon Mall site serves as a showroom where potential customers can sample the meals. According to Mr. Bassler, customers have been dining at the location for about two months.

Sana Pathan, a visitor from India, shared her positive experience after trying the quinoa salad and chicken biryani, commenting, “For something made by AI, I think this biryani is really fresh and it feels like it’s made with love. It does really taste human-made.” She expressed a desire to see this technology implemented in restaurants and public spaces, including beaches, sports centers, and university campuses.

The cost of meals begins at Dh40, with a chicken curry priced around Dh48. Mr. Bassler indicated that the machine itself costs approximately Dh1 million. “The big goal is to find the best locations where the clients can make the money back,” he added.

Circus Group currently operates around 10 CA-1 machines in Germany, including installations at sites for Mercedes-Benz and Meta, as well as within a supermarket chain. The company, founded five years ago, dedicated approximately four years to developing the CA-1 before its market introduction in Germany about 18 months ago. They also produce a smaller model, the CA-A, designed for smoothies and protein shakes, described by Mr. Bassler as “a small vending machine, just for fresh smoothies.” A larger version for military applications is also under development.

The company is continuously enhancing the CA-1's software and visual recognition system to optimize cooking processes and prevent food from burning. In Germany, customers can place orders via touchscreen or through voice commands, which can also provide meal recommendations based on dietary needs. These advanced ordering options are slated for testing in Abu Dhabi.

The robot is not intended to replace human staff; it still requires personnel for loading ingredients, managing orders, and serving meals. Dylan Frayne, Circus Group’s culinary research and development chef, plays a crucial role in developing and testing recipes before they are programmed into the machine. When asked about job displacement, Mr. Frayne stated, “It hasn’t replaced my job. It’s given me a another job.” Mr. Bassler reiterated that the CA-1 is designed to offer an additional convenient option for freshly cooked meals, not to supplant existing restaurants. “You will always have restaurants. You will always have chefs in restaurants. We don’t replace anyone in this scenario. We offer an additional option for people to have fresh food that didn’t exist before,” he concluded.