How Dubai’s first Polish restaurant launched with Ziina’s Tap to Pay
case study
⬩
3 min read
⬩
Jul 01, 2025
How Dubai’s first Polish restaurant launched with Ziina’s Tap to Pay
case study
⬩
3 min read
⬩
Jul 01, 2025
David Blaszczak
Owner
Rabia Abbas & Fizza Shabbir
Authors
Summary
Polonia, the first Polish restaurant in the UAE, needed a payment solution to meet their ambitious four-month launch timeline. With traditional POS terminals requiring weeks for delivery, founder David Blaszczak turned to Ziina's Tap to Pay. The result: a 10-minute setup that enabled immediate card payments, faster table turnover, and a seamless dining experience from day one.
Polonia was born from David Blaszczak's deep hospitality roots and a clear gap in Dubai's diverse culinary scene. After moving to Dubai two years ago from Germany, where his Polish family ran several successful restaurants, David noticed something missing—authentic Polish cuisine. "Conversations with friends would naturally turn to Polish food," David recalls. "They'd share their food experiences and how Dubai was missing this hearty cuisine."
With an ambitious timeline, David set out to create Polonia—the UAE's first authentic Polish restaurant—in under four months. He swiftly secured licenses, leased a prime location in Dubai Silicon Oasis, completed interior design, and even flew in experienced chefs from Poland to ensure authenticity.
CHALLENGE
Facing a payment bottleneck with a non-negotiable deadline
As launch day approached, David hit a critical roadblock: payments. Traditional POS terminals would take weeks, possibly months to arrive, and he needed at least three devices for his team. With 90% of Dubai customers preferring digital or card payments, a cash-only approach wasn't viable for a premium dining experience.
The timeline was immovable—Polonia had reservations lined up and staff ready to start. Any delay would mean lost revenue and disappointed customers.
I was impatient to launch Polonia right away! I needed payments on my phone for myself and my wait staff. I did not want bulky POS terminals that would take weeks to arrive. I knew faster, better payment tech existed in the UAE.
David Blaszczak, Owner
SOLUTION
From search to setup in minutes with Tap to Pay
With launch day approaching fast, David searched online for "tap to pay" and discovered Ziina. What happened next surprised even him—within just 10 minutes of installing the app, Polonia was ready to accept payments.
David could invite team members to his main account and set custom access levels, allowing them to accept payments on their existing company phones. Three smartphones instantly transformed into full-featured payment terminals, creating a flexible system that could grow with the business.
The solution eliminated several pain points at once. There was no waiting period for hardware delivery and zero upfront investment in expensive terminals. David gained immediate multi-device capability across his team using familiar technology that required minimal training for his staff.
Ziina's Tap to Pay allowed us to accept in-person payments right away. With busy lunch and dinner hours, Tap to Pay was the most efficient payment option for my customers. It helped us avoid delays and turn over tables more efficiently.
David Blaszczak, Owner
RESULTS
Faster service, satisfied customers, growing business
"We transformed three standard smartphones into full payment terminals without spending a dirham on hardware," David explains. "This flexibility means we can add more devices as we grow, without the typical scaling costs."
Since opening in April 2025, Polonia has processed thousands of transactions seamlessly. The modern payment experience perfectly complements the authentic Polish cuisine, creating a memorable dining experience for all guests.
As a business owner deeply connected to the region, David appreciated that Ziina is a UAE-based company, offering local support and understanding of the market's unique needs.
If you do not want to wait weeks for a card terminal, use Ziina. Your customers will appreciate the seamless, modern payment experience.
David Blaszczak, Owner
As Polonia continues to grow in popularity, David plans to explore additional Ziina features that will further enhance the dining experience. He's considering adding QR payment codes directly to tables for self-service and implementing direct tipping to staff Ziina accounts.
With Ziina handling payments, David can focus entirely on delivering exceptional Polish cuisine and hospitality. In Dubai's competitive restaurant scene, Polonia stands out not just for its unique cuisine, but for the seamless experience it offers from the first bite to the final payment.
Products used
In Person
Tap to Pay
In-person, contactless payments right on your phone
Ziina for the whole company
Teams on Ziina
Invite team members, assign roles, and streamline operations
Ready to unlock unbelievable growth?
Our team can help get you set up with the perfect payment solution to meet your needs
Create your account in a minute with your EID
Free to start. No fees on the first 5,000 AED received
