We gave some of the region’s most discerning foodies – chefs, restaurateurs, food stylists and critics – a virtual Dh50 note and asked them what they would buy, be it a dish, product or ingredient. The only caveat? It must be delicious.
To be clear, this is not specifically about budget eats; there are plenty of tasty street-food snacks and thrifty bites to be found across the UAE. What we’re talking about here are bang-for-the-buck items – food that tastes so good, it’s guaranteed to put smiles on faces, evoke memories, satisfy cravings and transform a bad day into a good one.
A Greek classic for a food critic
The expert: Samantha Wood, founder of impartial restaurant review website FooDiva.net.
The dish: Feta in filo with honey at Kilikio by Mythos in Depachika Food Hall, Nahkeel Mall, Dubai.
The reason: “I am half Greek-Cypriot and desperately missing a taste of home. To help appease my longing, I turn to this honey-drizzled feta filo pie. It’s best eaten piping hot at the restaurant, rather than delivery.”
The cost: Dh45
Balinese betutu for a Japanese chef
The expert: Reif Othman, chef and restaurateur.
The dish: Ayam betutu at The Little Bali, Cluster U, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai.
The reason: “Whether I’m with the family or alone, hungry or otherwise, if I’m in JLT, I’ll be visiting The Little Bali and, more often than not, ordering their ayam betutu [chicken marinated in Balinese spices, grilled and served with rice, sambal matah and lalapan]. If you do the same, I can’t see you being disappointed.”
The cost: Dh32
Chinese dumplings for a ramen restaurateur
The expert: Neha Mishra, ramen specialist and founder of Kinoya restaurant.
The dish: Dumplings with chilli sauce at Kaffe Bloom, The Onyx Tower, The Greens, Dubai.
The reason: “My go-to order for under Dh50 is this dish at the cafe located inside 1004 Gourmet. The dumplings are delicious, light, well balanced and great value for money. The dish even comes with a side order of bubble tea.”
The cost: Dh35
French classics for a cookbook author
The expert: Flavel Monteiro, cookbook author and founder of the Best of Dubai dining series.
The dish(es): Onion soup gratinee and a dish of grilled portobello mushrooms, both at Couqley, Cluster A, JLT, Dubai.
The reason: “The onion soup is something of a French classic and my go-to comfort food after a late night, and Couqley serves it topped with a lovely layer of melted Emmental cheese, and perfectly caramelised onions. My top tip is to eat it piping hot, it really brings a smile to the stomach. The grilled portobello features on the lunch specials as well as the a la carte menu. Basically, it’s fresh mushrooms baked in a light cream with Parmesan. You could have it as a side dish or if you’re peckish, have the onion soup to start and this as the main. Both are vegetarian, but meat-eaters such as myself enjoy it, too.
The cost: Onion soup gratinee, Dh47; grilled portobello, Dh35
A stylish omelette for a food stylist
The expert: Chloe Ride, food stylist and recipe writer.
The dish: MoFo omelette at Nightjar, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai.
The reason: “A dish that’s as individual as the coffee shop it’s served in, the MoFo omelette always hits the spot. A super-fluffy omelette topped with spiced Szechuan beef, fermented tofu, crunchy bean shoots and black vinegar dressing, it’s the perfect mix of spicy, sour and salty, and best savoured over a casual brunch with friends.”
The cost: Dh50
Korean burger for gourmet store head
The expert: Chang Sup Shin, chief executive of Asian speciality store 1004 Gourmet.
The dish: Bulgogi burger by Ugly Burger, Dar Al Wasl Mall, Dubai (delivers across the UAE).
The reason: “Thinly sliced beef rib-eye marinated in sweet soy, grilled and layered between potato buns, onions and mushrooms, the Bulgogi Burger is ugly and it’s messy, but it tastes like gourmet Korean BBQ in a bun.”
The cost: Dh38
Soup and secret sauce for the Food Sheikh
The expert: Food Sheikh, restaurant reviewer and founder of Eat DXB.
The dish(es): Miso Ramen at Kinoya restaurant, The Onyx Tower 2, The Greens; and the double cheeseburger by Pickl, outlets across Dubai.
The reason: “Dh50 on the button will get you a miso ramen from the newly opened Kinoya restaurant. It’s a complete meal in itself – a bowl of complex deliciousness and, if you’re lucky, the queen of ramen herself, Neha, might be there to prepare it for you.
"Or go for one of the best burgers in town, the double chuck patty with Stevo’s secret sauce, cheese, home-made pickles and a potato bun from Pickl. It’s a messy, carb-heavy umami heaven.”
The cost: Kinoya’s miso ramen, Dh50; Pickl’s double cheeseburger, Dh45
Cheesy bao for a British chef
The expert: Gerard Brack, head chef at folly Workshop, Time Out Market Dubai.
The dish: Chicken bang bang by BB Social Dining at Time Out Market Dubai.
The reason: “A bobby-dazzler of a dish – the steamed and toasted bun alone is worth Dh50. The combination of fried chicken, spicy sauce, lightly pickled red onion and all-important freshly grated Parmesan [which cuts through the sharpness of the onion and mellows the heat from the sauce] make this a harmoniously flavoured little bao banger.”
The cost: Dh49
Chocolate cookies for the Maine man
The expert: Joey Ghazal, founder and managing partner of The Maine New England Brasserie Company.
The dish: Milk chocolate milkways cookies from Milk Bar, Al Wasl Road, Dubai (delivers across the UAE).
The reason: “These cookies are dangerously good – freshly baked, soft, chewy, just the right amount of chocolate. They’re the perfect late-night munchie, making the fact that I live close to the bakery both a good and bad thing.”
The cost: Dh65 for a box of five (we’re letting this slip past our Dh50 rule because you get five cookies in a box, meaning that "technically" each costs Dh13 a pop)
Edible plants for Pangolin head
The expert: Sergio Lopez, founder and chief executive, The Pangolin Group.
The ingredient(s): Chilli and calamansi plants.
The reason: “For me, the best way to enjoy Dh50 at the moment is to head down to Satwa. Once you’re there, buy two items: a chilli plant and a calamansi plant [spend any change on delicious sweets from one of the shops nearby]. The plants will not only look good on your balcony or in your home, but will also provide you with fruit year-round. It is also a great way for all the family to see produce growing in front of their eyes.”
The cost: Chilli plant, Dh20; calamansi plant Dh20 without fruit, Dh30 with fruit
Tacos and steak for a fine-dining expert
The expert: Matt Broderick, aka restaurant reviewer Fine Dining Matt.
The dish(es): Taco Tuesdays at Maiz Tacos, Cluster Y, JLT, Dubai; and Wagyu skirt steak on the lunch menu at BB Social Dining, Gate Village 8, DIFC.
The reason: “Visit Maiz Tacos on a Tuesday and in return for Dh49, you’ll get two moreish tacos that are always freshly cooked and brimming with light, balanced flavours. Wash the tacos down with home-made lemonade and chips with guacamole and salsa [included in the price] and you’ll leave one very happy diner. Alternatively, the Wagyu skirt steak on the 4B lunch menu at BB Social is served with sticky sesame beef sauce and grilled rice. It’s so perfectly balanced I had to check the menu to see if it really was only Dh50.”
The cost: Taco Tuesdays, Dh49; Wagyu skirt steak, Dh50
'The National' recommends …
The dish(es): Baklava cheesecake and iced Spanish latte at Brunch & Cake (locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi).
The reason: Because an iced Spanish latte done right is a rarity and Brunch & Cake’s version is rather special: smooth, velvety, just the right side of sweet and creamy without losing the caffeine kick. The baklava cheesecake, meanwhile, features crisp, golden, syrup and drenched filo pastry encasing a rich yet delicate rose-infused filling – pretty to look at, even better to eat.
The product: Marmite Crunchy Peanut Butter (available at Spinneys and Waitrose stores across the UAE).
The reason: This is a divisive one, so if you’re not a fan of the salty, yeasty spread that is Marmite, stop reading now. For anyone who does embrace the uniquely umami joy that only Marmite can bring, we feel it’s our journalistic duty to draw this crunchy peanut butter-Marmite fusion to your eating attention. Try it spread on a hot buttered English muffin or crumpet and report back.
The cost: Iced Spanish latte, Dh34; baklava cheesecake, Dh48; Marmite Crunchy Peanut Butter, Dh27
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)
Monday Celta Vigo v Cadiz (midnight)
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand
October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
More on animal trafficking
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
US households add $601bn of debt in 2019
American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.
Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.
In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.
The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.
"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Company%20profile
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In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Switching%20sides
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
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
