About Us
Comida was created to meet the rapidly growing need for diverse choice and quality in food and beverage and out of home dining. Much more than traditional F&B, the Comida team work on projects that make a difference.
Whether acting as developers for concept and brand creation or investors- we work with every client to make their concept come to life and operations return the highest possible ROI. Answering a need for franchise development or expansion, operating management change -all of our hospitality specialists have a proven background spanning 20 years of success and experience in launching and operating the best in the MENA region’s food and beverage.
Our Team
“For more than twenty years, Ròya has been dedicated to the growth and evolution of hospitality both in the MENA region and internationally. Our experience has taught us that at the core of excellence in hospitality is excellence in F&B. Whether we dine in a five star restaurant or a casual family restaurant, sharing a meal is at the heart of all our lives. Comida, whose name means food, is a group of industry professionals focused on the fast-growing future development of new and exciting concepts in F&B. I am very proud to welcome Comida to the Ròya Group of companies.”
Ahmed Ramdan, Chairman
Ròya Group of Companies
AHMED RAMDAN
Founder | Group Chief Executive Office
Ahmed Ramdan, the founder of Ròya International. Now the most recognized hospitality advisory firm in the GCC, Ròya is directly responsible for over a hundred completed assignments.
Before branching into his own ventures, and driven by a passion for the hospitality industry, Ahmed had a highly successful, 30 year long career journey across all the various fields in hotel management, including the running of multiple properties on behalf of global hotel brands such as InterContinental Hotels and Le Meridien Hotels.
Ahmed’s dynamic vision and deep experience led him to identify the need for transferring his valuable knowledge and independent industry guidance to investors developing their own hospitality portfolio
His involvement was an instant success in all key areas. Shaping investor visions, transforming them into highly regarded, often iconic hotels and mixed-use developments, Ahmed is an industry champion of efficient hospitality designs. He and the Roya team are committed to delivering significant cost-savings, ultimately leading to enhance long term return on investments.
As a result of Roya’s achievements, Ahmed and the Roya team have served as key advisors to prominent government institutions on some of the region’s most iconic master plans, such as Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Media City, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Reem Island and Saadiyat Island.
Ahmed is a strong and passionate advocate for the development of young Emirati and GCC talent to join the field.
Hani Sleiman is the F&B Operations Manager of Comida Investment – a subsidiary company of Roya International. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business & Administration Management from the American University of Science & Technology in Beirut with over 22 years of F&B experience, he is currently responsible for several brands and multiple outlets within the UAE and other GCC countries; that consists of various concept modules ranging from cafés to casual and upper scale dining and being run through different management styles from directly owned and managed to managed, franchised and others under partnership.
HANI SLEIMAN
F&B Operations Manager
Shairra Mae Bartirzal is a graduate of Business Administration major in Marketing Management at San Sebastian College-Recoletos, Manila, Philippines. At 21, she already started her Marketing career on established F&B brands in UAE such as Burger King, Buffalo Wild Wings and Texas Chicken to name a few. She joined Comida Investment as the Marketing Coordinator who is now responsible for achieving revenue goals by developing and executing marketing plans, including marketing through telephone calls, in-person marketing meetings and networking, marketing the entire restaurant and functioning as a public relations spokesperson to promote the restaurant locally.
Shairra Mae Bartirzal
F&B Marketing Coordinator
In her capacity as Senior Manager-Hospitality Advisory, Kate brings nearly twenty years of international hospitality experience, most of which have been in the U.A.E. and GCC region.
Starting her career working for leading organizations in the UK and then the Middle East, Kate supports two key functions in the Hospitality and Asset Management divisions. As a qualified Lead Auditor with a quality assurance background, Kate advises Client’s through operational assessments on the quality and efficiency of hotel operations, develops operational manuals and suggests compliance guidelines using smart process driven, future-facing brand standards and mandatory requirements in sensitive areas such as health and safety, hygiene, HACCP, and international and/or applicable tourism standards, as well as hospitality project management.
Kate Harrison
Senior Manager | Hospitality Advisory
Mikko describes himself as a man who discovered his calling early in his career, then dove into the intensity of the field, and never looked back.
Following his passion, he established his career in the industry beginning with university. Mikko holds an MBA from Hult International Business School as well as a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management from the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Science in Finland. Additionally, he holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) degrees.
Since 2002, he has actively pursued the chance to experience new cultures through hospitality and developed a broad international F&B experience by working with global brands like Alain Ducasse Restaurants in Paris, Jumeirah Group in Dubai, and the Starwood Luxury Collection in Helsinki as well as individual establishments in Italy, Spain, and Norway.
A chef by trade, Mikko has extensive experience in developing and launching new concepts and operational processes from intimate restaurants to large-scale event venues such as the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Mikko Polkki
Hospitality Consultant
