Expo 2020 Dubai promises to have more on show than culture, technology, performances and architecture – it's also set to be a foodie haven.
Ahead of the exhibition's opening in October, new details have been released about its culinary offerings. This includes pop-ups from Michelin-starred chefs, cuisines for every budget and palate, and a plethora of international restaurants debuting in the UAE.
"One of the best ways to discover a country is by sampling its cuisine, and at Expo 2020, visitors are able to eat their way around the world without it leaving the UAE," says Marjan Faraidooni, chief visitor experience officer of Expo 2020 Dubai.
“Many of the 191 participating countries will also be serving authentic dishes and drinks at their pavilions."
Here’s a look at some of the things to expect at the global fair.
Celebrity chefs
Expo 2020 Dubai will feature a lauded line-up of award-winning chefs representing restaurants that have earned Michelin stars.
This includes American restaurateur David Myers, who will combine classic American fast food with an international influence at Adrift Burger Bar, and celebrated Armenian-American chef Geoffrey Zakarian, who will debut The National Bar & Dining Rooms, his vision of a grand cafe, offering modern bistro cuisine. Both restaurants are new concepts making their debut at Expo 2020.
Celebrity chef, author and entrepreneur Matthew Kenney, meanwhile, will serve renditions of American, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours through three plant-based restaurant concepts from the US.
Mory Sacko, a rising talent in Paris's restaurant scene whose MoSuke restaurant was awarded a Michelin star only two months after opening, will bring his signature African-Japanese fusion cuisine to the UAE.
Finally, Rohit Ghai – known for his work at various Michelin-starred restaurants – will bring an outpost of acclaimed restaurant Kutir from London’s Chelsea to Dubai. Kutir draws inspiration from the royal tradition of hunting expeditions in the Indian countryside to create an experimental menu. Some of the restaurant's most famous dishes include the truffle and mushroom khichdi and a 24-hour slow-cooked rogan josh.
New concepts
UAE residents will be able to taste new flavours as internationally acclaimed restaurants are introduced at Expo 2020. These include famous Italian venue Scarpetta, which will launch its first burrata bar, and Australian chef David Thompson’s renowned Thai street-food chain Long Chim.
Other tasty arrivals include the British concept Bread Ahead, which specialises in doughnuts and gluten-free sourdough; Beirut’s neighbourhood Mediterranean joint Baron; and Kojaki, a fusion concept that melds Japanese and Korean cuisines.
Residents can also expect to find a host of new foodie experiences. Alkebulan African dining hall, curated by former opera singer-turned-restaurateur Alexander Smalls, will feature 11 chef-led concepts from across the African continent.
Taste of the Gulf will celebrate the region’s rich culinary heritage, while Talabat will host a cloud kitchen, with delivery robots and robotic baristas also touted to make an appearance.
Home-grown favourites
Visitors can also sample the best the UAE has to offer at Expo 2020 Dubai, including the nation's hidden culinary gems.
Local favourites, serving everything from authentic Middle Eastern fare to Indian and Filipino cuisines, will be on display.
This includes stalwarts such as Arabian Tea House; Al Farwania, famous for its biryani and karak tea; Filipino hot spot Dampa Seafood Grill; Lebanon's Al Reef Bakery; and Hanon Feras Sweets, famous for its delicious kunafa.
The six-month spectacle also features Pakistani street food go-to Ravi Restaurant; Maraheb Yemeni Restaurant; Chicken Tikka Inn; and Sarouja Restaurant and Cafe, a popular Syrian and Mediterranean spot.
Expo 2020 Dubai, a celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture, will run from Friday, October 1, 2021 to Thursday, March 31, 2022.
Details on tickets and timings are available here.
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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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
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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
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First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
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Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
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