Nearly every restaurant across the country is offering at least one celebratory meal this Christmas weekend in honour of the festive tradition, so there is no shortage of options.
While there are plenty of good choices from established venues, why not treat yourself to something new – and try a Christmas feast at one of the notable restaurants that opened this year? Stacie Overton Johnson has scoured a mountain of festive meal offers to serve up our top picks from 10 newcomers.
Abu Dhabi
Roberto’s
Executive chef Francesco Guarracino and his team will serve a Christmas Eve dinner as well as Christmas Day lunch and dinner at Roberto’s. Guests can choose from a five-course or seven-course menu, with or without beverage pairing. Be prepared for some inspired dishes, including Wagyu beef tartare with foie gras, raspberry gel and beef jus; homemade ravioli filled with capon and clarified broth; baked turbot with artichoke, truffle and courgette; and Guarracino’s take on roasted turkey with porcini mushrooms and polenta.
• December 24, 7pm to 1am; December 25, noon to 4pm and 7pm to 1am. Dh350 for five-course lunch or dinner; Dh500 for seven-course lunch or dinner, without pairings. Call 02 627 9009.
Abu Dhabi
JW Steakhouse
For an intimate celebratory pre-Christmas dinner, check out JW Steakhouse at the new Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi. It has a festive five-course menu, with dishes that include cream of roasted guinea fowl, a turkey and duck feast and traditional Christmas pudding.
• December 24, from 6pm. Dh365 with soft drinks. Call 02 304 7777
Abu Dhabi
Crust
If you haven’t tried it yet, Christmas Day is the perfect time to try the brunch at Crust at the Four Seasons Hotel on Al Maryah Island. This family-friendly brunch includes a range of well-executed dishes, complete with a mini-brunchers menu for the kids. There is also a playroom, overseen by trained staff, which includes toys, a bouncy castle, face-painting, movies and more. Entertainment at the Christmas Day brunch will also include carol singers and a visit from Santa.
• December 25, from 12.30 to 5pm. Dh300 includes soft drinks. Call 02 333 2222
Abu Dhabi
Bu
The Pan-Latin restaurant in The Hub at the World Trade Center Mall, Abu Dhabi, is serving festive dishes until December 31. Bring your friends to share seasonal dishes from across South America, including: turkey with sweet dry chilli adobo, green beans and corn; caramelised apple with carrot chips, walnuts and hibiscus flower; and a chocolate tart with hazelnut dulce de leche and corn ice cream. Bu also has a takeaway turkey feast with which you can take home a 6kg cooked turkey with all the trimmings for Dh900. It serves six to eight people and must be ordered 48 hours in advance.
• Until December 31. Call 02 666 8066
Abu Dhabi
The Dining Room at Jannah Burj Al Sarab
The Dining Room at the capital’s new Jannah Burj Al Sarab hotel in Mina Street is hosting a five-day Christmas celebration from tomorrow until Christmas day. The restaurant will be decked out in festive decor, and executive chef Wafi Halimi has designed a three-course menu featuring modern French and Mediterranean fare, including foie gras with sautéed apple and caramelised onion, and roast turkey or veal with honey-glazed carrots.
• December 21 to 25. Dh250, including unlimited Christmas mocktails. Call 02 652 6777
Dubai
The Artisan by Enoteca Pinchiorri
This new Italian restaurant in DIFC offers an eight-course set menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, for both lunch and dinner. It includes Italian dishes with a festive twist, including double agnolotti filled with guinea fowl and burrata, and seared, marinated sea bream with sweet beetroot purée. If eight courses is too much, a four-course spread will also be available, along with the à la carte menu.
• December 24 and 25. Dh400 for four courses, Dh600 for eight. Call 04 338 8133
Dubai
Miss Lily’s
Don’t miss the festive Jamaican brunch at Miss Lily’s in the Sheraton Grand hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road. Available from December 23 to 25, it includes a fixed-price menu – comprising a jerk corn starter, a choice of appetiser, and two sides paired with your choice of roast leg of lamb, prime rib roast or jerk turkey breast for your main. Don’t miss the pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.
• December 23 to 25, noon to 4pm. Dh320. Call 04 354 4074
Dubai
Scape Restaurant and Bar
For a holiday dinner with stunning views, check out Scape Restaurant and Bar at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. The vast, open-air terrace is a posh spot to spend a festive afternoon or evening with friends and family. The restaurant will serve a three or four-course festive lunch, or a four-course dinner from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day. If you would rather just enjoy sunset, you can get a choice of three drinks, two drinks with one tapas or one drink and two tapas for Dh220 from 5pm to 8pm.
• December 24 to 26. Lunch from noon to 3.30pm; Dh360 for three courses, Dh420 for four. Dinner from 6pm to 11pm; Dh420 for four courses. Call 04 301 7777
Dubai
The Tap House
For a more casual affair, book the Christmas Day brunch at The Tap House, a new beachfront bar and restaurant at Club Vista Mare on The Shoreline, Palm Jumeirah. The kids can play on the beach as parents while away the hours in this chic, industrial space, which includes an expansive terrace. The brunch features dishes such as slow-cooked beef cheeks and vanilla-poached salmon. The tables even have built-in coolers to keep your drinks extra-cold.
• December 25, noon to 4pm. Dh195 with soft drinks, Dh120 for kids under the age of 12. Call 04 514 3778
Dubai
Bazxar
For a memorable holiday feast, take in the vibrant, yet laid-back atmosphere at Bazxar in DIFC. This food hall-style restaurant has a three-course seasonal menu that includes roasted, honey-glazed turkey with gravy, stuffing, buttermilk mashed potatoes, sautéed brussels sprouts, roasted acorn squash, and pumpkin cheesecake and chestnut mousse with berry jelly.
• Daily until December 25, 7pm to midnight. Dh300. Call 04 355 1111
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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Day 5, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Given the problems Sri Lanka have had in recent times, it was apt the winning catch was taken by Dinesh Chandimal. He is one of seven different captains Sri Lanka have had in just the past two years. He leads in understated fashion, but by example. His century in the first innings of this series set the shock win in motion.
Stat of the day This was the ninth Test Pakistan have lost in their past 11 matches, a run that started when they lost the final match of their three-Test series against West Indies in Sharjah last year. They have not drawn a match in almost two years and 19 matches, since they were held by England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2015.
The verdict Mickey Arthur basically acknowledged he had erred by basing Pakistan’s gameplan around three seam bowlers and asking for pitches with plenty of grass in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Why would Pakistan want to change the method that has treated them so well on these grounds in the past 10 years? It is unlikely Misbah-ul-Haq would have made the same mistake.
Results
5pm: Warsan Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Dhaw Al Reef, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Quadra Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mrouwah Al Gharbia, Sando Paiva, Abubakar Daud
6pm: Hatta Lake – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Yatroq, George Buckell, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adries de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Listed (PA) Dh180,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Zakher Lake – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Alfareeq, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Match info
Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4 (Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)
Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Dunki
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RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.
Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff
By Sean Penn
Simon & Schuster
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Fight card
- Aliu Bamidele Lasisi (Nigeria) beat Artid Vamrungauea (Thailand) POINTS
- Julaidah Abdulfatah (Saudi Arabia) beat Martin Kabrhel (Czech Rep) POINTS
- Kem Ljungquist (Denmark) beat Mourad Omar (Egypt) TKO
- Michael Lawal (UK) beat Tamas Kozma (Hungary) KO
- Zuhayr Al Qahtani (Saudi Arabia) beat Mohammed Mahmoud (UK) POINTS
- Darren Surtees (UK) beat Kane Baker (UK) KO
- Chris Eubank Jr (UK) beat JJ McDonagh (Ireland) TKO
- Callum Smith (UK) beat George Groves (UK) KO
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Company%C2%A0profile
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