Dine your way down Dubai’s Jumeirah Road: from Brew Cafe to Falafel Al Zaeem

As part of a series of culinary guides to various areas in the UAE by The National, we explore Dubai’s Jumeirah Road, a staple in the city’s independent eatery scene.

Starting at the Burj Al Arab end, eat your way down Jumeirah Beach Road, ticking each of these favourites off as you go. This guide ends at the Dubai Canal and features Middle Eastern favourites, cosy coffee shops and quirky burger joints.

1. Brew Cafe

A minimalist neighbourhood cafe with Los Angeles vibes that serves brews starting at Dh18. Visit and sip on classic coffees, with piccolos, flat whites and Americanos, as well as expertly prepared V60, Kalita, Chemex and AeroPress coffees. Brew Cafe offers a limited food menu, with sourdough toast, with your choice of toppings, acai bowls and chia pudding. It is also known for its selection of eclairs.

Open daily, 7am-10.30pm; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; instagram.com/brewcafeuae

2. Leen's Jumeirah

Keto steak and eggs at Leen's Jumeirah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

One of four Leen’s eateries in the UAE, the Jumeirah outlet is a family and pet-friendly spot, and an Instagram favourite. Particularly popular for lazy weekend breakfasts, it offers acai bowls, omelettes, steak and eggs, French toast and a full vegan breakfast on the menu. Later in the day, hearty salads, Japanese favourites, poke bowls and tacos are menu highlights.

Open daily, 8am-10.30pm; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 04 346 6292; leens.com

‍3. Single Fin Cafe

The exterior of Surf House and Single Fin Cafe on Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Surf House Dubai’s Single Fin Cafe is the place to go after a few hours spent on the beach or out surfing. Dog-friendly, the cafe serves up hearty breakfasts, tacos, burritos, burgers and poke bowls, with a sweet menu of ice cream sandwiches to finish. Rumour has it that it’s a favourite of Chris and Liam Hemsworth when they’re in Dubai, so if that’s not a reason to park up in the cafe for the weekend, we don’t know what is.

Open daily, 7am-7pm; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 050 504 3020; surfingdubai.com/pages/single-fin

4. Tania's Teahouse

A selection of tea and cakes at Tania's Teahouse. Chris Whiteoak / The National

If there is a spot in Dubai known for its Instagrammability, its Tania’s Teahouse – which was, in fact, recently voted the seventh most Instagrammable cafe in the world by Big 7 Travel website. Pink, floral, cute and very homely, the cafe moves with the seasons – so it is currently stocked full of pumpkin-spiced everything, with creepy-themed cookies and Halloween treats on the menu.

Open daily, 8am-6pm; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 04 324 0021; taniasteahouse.com

5. Heat Cafe

The name Heat stands for healthy eats and treats, and the eatery very much lives up to its moniker. One of four Heat eateries in Dubai, established in 2013, the cafe offers up a menu of fresh, healthy food, as well as delivering meal plans around the UAE. The menu accommodates diners with keto, Atkins, vegetarian and vegan dietary requirements, with salads and build-your-own diet bowls available, as well as low-carb pizzas, grilled dishes and burgers.

Open daily, 7am-11.45pm; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 04 338 8831; heatcafe.ae

6. Shawarma Grill House

Shawarma Grill House’s menu features all of your Middle Eastern favourites. Hummus, moutabel, tabbouleh and fattoush are available for Dh19 each. There is shish tawook and lamb tikka on the menu and shawarmas from Dh26, which come with a side of chilli sauce and fries.

Open noon-1am, Saturday to Wednesday, noon-2am, Thursday and Friday; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 800 70707; shawarmagrillhouse.com

7. Nomad

A quirky fast food eatery that specialises in starters, bao, burgers and pasta, Nomad has the appeal of a popular neighbourhood joint. The menu certainly packs heat, with the tabasco lolly pop chicken, lava cheese bites, Spiderman tempura and the explosion salad among the spicy dishes on the menu.

Open daily, noon-1am; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 058 954 1613; instagram.com/nomad.uae

8. The Hamptons Cafe

A staple for lazy lunches and long weekend brunches, The Hamptons Cafe brings that American seaside feel to the UAE. The menu features hearty main dishes, moreish breakfast items and show-stopping desserts; expect a macaron to come with every coffee. The cafe is identifiable by the classic car parked outside.

Open 8am-11pm, Saturday to Wednesday, 8am-1am, Thursday and Friday; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 04 331 5118; hamptonsdubai.com

9. Graffiti Burger

Crunchy chicken burger at Graffiti Burger. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The colourful interiors are impossible to miss at Graffiti Burger. The menu comprises a selection of delicious burgers, including the beef samurai burger, garlic chicken burger and maharaja chicken burger (all Dh30), and a range of sides, with mozzarella sticks, cheese bites, chicken sticks and messy fries all standing out.

Open 11am-2am, Saturday to Wednesday, 11am-3am, Thursday and Friday; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 600587002; instagram.com/graffitiburger_uae

10. Machu Picchu

The interiors of Machu Picchu on Dubai's Jumeirah Road. Chris Whiteoak / The National

South American street food anticuchos, prawn or shrimp kebabs, are the stars of the menu in this Peruvian-American eatery. You'll find hot wings, saltado steak wraps and a selection of hearty burgers, with meat, chicken and veggie options available. Another must-try is the chicha morada, a Peruvian purple corn lemonade, or the churros for dessert.

Open 12pm-1am, Saturday to Wednesday, 12pm-3am, Thursday and Friday; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 04 397 1808; instagram.com/machupicchudubai

11. Falafel Al Zaeem

Everyone's favourite chickpea staple at Falafel Al Zaeem. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Head down to stock up on all of your favourite chickpea dishes at one of the best-rated falafel spots in the city. To make sure you get the best of the menu, order the combo for two for Dh75, which includes falafel, fava beans, hummus, moutabel, mfarakeh alaya potatoes, al balad salad, qudsieh and fried vegetables, or keep it simple with classic falafel which costs Dh1 per ball.

Open daily, 8am-1.30am; Jumeirah Road, Dubai; 04 269 2334; falafel-alzaeem.com

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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

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