Dubai's sprawling Marina is one of the city's most popular spots. Thanks to its pedestrian walkways, scenic views and abundance of cafes and eateries, it's the perfect place to while away a day.
And if you are looking for somewhere to grab a bite during your next visit, here are some of The National's favourite spots.
Although this is not all the destination has to offer foodies, it's a selection of the best, newest and most popular.
Asia Asia
The Marina’s Pier 7 complex is known for its multi-restaurant offerings, but perhaps the most famous is Asia Asia. This upmarket restaurant and lounge serves up – you guessed it – pan-Asian cuisine, with a side of chic decor and impressive views over the Dubai Marina. Its Friday brunch and ladies' nights remain among some of the city’s most popular, so it’s best to book well in advance.
Daily, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, 6pm-1am, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 6pm-2am; Asia Asia, 6th floor, Pier 7; 04 276 5900; asia-asia.com
tasha’s
Tasha’s is well known around Dubai, and for good reason. This casual cafe and bistro’s Dubai Marina Mall branch is the perfect place for a lazy weekend breakfast. With an outdoor terrace that backs directly on to Marina Walk, you can take a break from shopping and watch the world go by outside. On the menu are all-day breakfast dishes, sandwiches and salads, as well as fresh cakes, so you’d be hard pushed not to find something you fancy.
Daily, Saturday to Wednesday, 9am-11pm, Thursday and Friday, 9am-12am; tasha’s, Marina Mall; 04 458 5611; tashascafe.com
Bistro Des Arts
This chic restaurant brings a slice of 1970s Paris to Dubai Marina. It serves bistro-style fare, from breakfast through to late-night supper, in a relaxed and laid back environment. It also hosts an excellent weekend brunch (not Dubai brunch, but proper brunch), with a mixture of fresh pastries, breakfast dishes and a cheese table.
Daily, 8am-11pm; Bistro Des Arts, Marina Promenade, Dubai Marina Mall; 04 551 1576; bistrodesarts.ae
Marina Social
For a modern twist on British classics paired with waterside views, head to Marina Social. With a menu from Michelin-acclaimed chef Jason Atherton, you can expect strong yet unpretentious culinary fare. Be sure to try the Marina Social tomato and burrata on the starter menu – the restaurant’s signature – and if you’re craving a weekend roast, you’ll find a mean one here.
Daily, Sunday-Thursday, 6pm-10.45pm, Friday and Saturday, 1pm-10.45pm; Marina Social, InterContinental Dubai Marina; 04 446 6664; marinasocialdubai.com
Iran Zamin
If you want to sample authentic Persian fare against a Marina backdrop, check out Iran Zamin. This family-run spot is a long-running favourite along Marina Promenade, serving up classic dishes including tahdig, baghali polo ba morgh and biryani.
Daily, 9am-2am; Iran Zamin, Marina Promenade; 04 432 9661
The Scene
British celebrity chef Simon Rimmer is behind the menu at Pier 7’s The Scene restaurant, which gives classic home-cooked food a contemporary twist. From chip shop fish and chips to a classic chicken Kiev, there are plenty of British staples that will bring on a sense of nostalgia.
Sunday to Thursday, 3pm-12am; Friday and Saturday, 12pm-12am; The Scene, Pier 7, Dubai Marina; 04 422 2328; thescene.xyz
Toro Toro
Located in Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai, Toro Toro brings the taste of South America to Dubai Marina. This fine-dining spot, set across two floors, features an open kitchen, ensuring the whole restaurant is filled with the aromas of the food being cooked up. Menu favourites include ceviche, crispy prawns, and of course, plenty of Brazilian-style meat fresh from the grill.
Saturday to Thursday, 7pm-1am; Fridays, 1pm-4pm, 8pm-1am; Toro Toro, Grosvenor House, Dubai Marina; 04 317 6000; torotoro-dubai.com
Counter Culture Cafe
This casual cafe is tucked away on the ground level of the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites. Serving from early breakfast right through to dinner, it’s a great spot for a leisurely morning bite, a day of co-working or an after-work catch-up. Try the stewed apple pancakes for a great morning pick-me-up. And its outdoor terrace is pet-friendly, so expect to see plenty of dogs here.
Daily, 7am-10pm; Counter Culture Cafe, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, Dubai Marina; 04 319 4000; marriott.com
The Butcher
An import from Amsterdam, The Butcher is known for its famous patties, chunky chips and cool vibes. The restaurant started life as a pop-up in 2012 in Amsterdam’s bustling De Pijp neighbourhood, before quickly expanding across the city. Its popularity led the chain to open restaurants in Berlin and Ibiza, and Dubai Marina is its first outpost outside of Europe.
Daily, 12am-12pm; The Butcher, Marina Gate 1; 04 554 9245; the-butcher.com
Read more
Bluewaters Island restaurant guide: 9 of the best places to eat at the Dubai hot spot
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SPECS
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Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
More on Quran memorisation:
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Uefa Champions League last 16 draw
Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur
Basel v Manchester City
Sevilla v Manchester United
Porto v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas
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
The 10 Questions
- Is there a God?
- How did it all begin?
- What is inside a black hole?
- Can we predict the future?
- Is time travel possible?
- Will we survive on Earth?
- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
- Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
- How do we shape the future?
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Company profile
Name: GiftBag.ae
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2011
Number of employees: 4
Sector: E-commerce
Funding: Self-funded to date
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
MATCH INFO
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
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Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
