We may be approaching the end of the year, but Dubai’s food scene is far from slowing down. There have been exciting new openings across the city in the past few weeks, including chic beachfront spots, a Prohibition Era-inspired speakeasy and a long-awaited permanent spot for one of the city’s best-loved pop-ups.
Here are nine new restaurants to check out in Dubai:
The Farm House
The Farm House is calling itself Dubai’s first live-fire kitchen, rather than a smokehouse, and it will be serving up farm-to-table fare. The rooftop spot overlooks the glistening waterways of Madinat Jumeirah, with the huge smoker, nicknamed Glenda, placed front and centre.
On the menu, expect a mix of locally sourced meat and seafood, homemade sauces and flavour rubs, and plenty of sides and small dishes, served up against beats spun by the resident DJ.
Monday to Thursday, 6pm – midnight, Saturday and Sunday, 12pm-12am; The Farm House, Souk Madinat, Dubai; @farmhousedubai
Piatti by the Beach
This gorgeous fine-dining spot at Raffles The Palm Dubai offers, as the name suggests, beachfront views and decor that takes you straight to the Mediterranean.
The menu is a mix of classic and experimental fare, with dedicated pizza and pasta menus, as well as specialities including jumbo Carabineros prawns and grilled langoustines.
Daily, lunch 12pm-4.30pm, dinner 7pm-11.30pm; Piatti by the Beach, Raffles The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 248 8889, www.rafflesthepalmdubai.com
Urla
Directly overlooking the Dubai Fountains and straight out on to the Burj Khalifa is Urla, a chic new Mediterranean spot in the heart of Downtown Dubai.
Occupying the spot where Zeta formerly stood, the rooftop restaurant and bar has had a complete makeover, with Aegean-inspired decor and flowing, open spaces.
The menu features Mediterranean-inspired light dishes and sharing mezze, as well as plenty of fresh seafood. Menu highlights include lobster confit, monkfish skewer and braised beef rib.
Daily, 12pm-3am; Urla, Address Downtown Hotel, Dubai; 052 554 5997, @Urla
Jolie
French restaurant Jolie has opened its doors in Downtown Dubai’s new Edition hotel. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Jolie describes itself as a “quintessentially Gallic dining experience”.
On the menu, you’ll find French classics including escargots, truffle tart and pan-fried foie gras, as well as a raw bar, pasta menu, and plenty of meat and fish options. The decor is contemporary and pared back, with dark oak panelling inspired by the bars and bistros of Paris.
Weekdays, breakfast 7am-11am, lunch 12pm-3pm, and dinner 7pm-11.30pm, weekends, breakfast 7am-11am, lunch 12pm-3.30pm, dinner 7pm-midnight; Jolie, The Dubai Edition, Downtown Dubai, 04 602 3366, www.jolie-restaurants.com
Basko
Inspired by the speakeasies of America's Prohibition Era, Basko is a newly opened bar and lounge in the Zaha Hadid-designed Opus building in Business Bay.
With eccentric decor and a terrace offering Burj Khalifa views, Basko serves up specialised drinks and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.
The menu is made up of salads, a raw bar, fish and meat, with standout dishes including lobster fregola, langoustine risotto and smoked whole chicken.
Daily, 12pm-1am; Basko, The Opus, Business Bay; 058 551 9143, www.baskorestaurant.com
Tamoka
Beachfront restaurant Tamoka is now open at JBR, with a restaurant, beach bar and outdoor terrace.
Designed with laid-back, boho decor, this place is set to become a hotspot for sundowners and those looking for a laidback destination to enjoy waterfront views.
The menu features Latin-American-inspired dishes, designed to share, with a special focus on meat and seafood.
Weekdays, 12pm-1am, weekends, 12pm-2am; Tamoka, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, JBR; 04 318 6099, www.tamokadubai.com
MetaTerrace
Step into the future at MetaTerrace, a new DIFC lounge run by a crypto consultancy, which is set to offer a glimpse into the metaverse.
Opening on Thursday, the restaurant and lounge will act as a space for enthusiasts and innovators to “launch their projects, host meet-ups, and uphold the community spirit", said Ciro Arianna, co-founder and chief executive of ColossalBit and MetaTerrace.
The space will fuse the real and virtual world, offering a virtual-reality room and modern space at Gate 32 in DIFC.
MetaTerrace, Central Park Towers, Gate 32, DIFC; 056 316 3491. @metaterrace
Coming soon
Belcanto
Upmarket Italian restaurant Belcanto is set to open at Dubai Opera in the early part of 2022.
Led by Tuscan chef Giacomo Lombardi, the fine-dining spot will offer what it describes as a “classic European experience”, mixed with a little opulence.
The restaurant will be designed with touches of gold and centred around a grand piano, which will often be used to entertain diners with live music.
On the menu, you can expect pizzas, chef Lombardi’s speciality, and classic pasta dishes. There will also be a selection of sweet treats on offer courtesy of pastry chef Anthony Falcone.
Opening in early 2022; Belcanto, Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai; www.belcantorest.com
Social Distrikt
Described as an “experiential food and bar hall venue”, Social Distrikt is set to open its doors at The Pointe on Palm Jumeirah in January.
The food hall will offer views across the Palm Fountains at Atlantis, while offering a hand-picked selection of food stalls including a speciality coffee stand, a dessert spot and plenty of other options.
Among the stands to be announced is Ichiban Sushi, an import from Lebanon, which offers sushi with a “modern twist”.
Opening in early 2022; Social Distrikt, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirha, Dubai; www.socialdistrikt.com
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.8%22%20edge%20quad-HD%2B%20dynamic%20Amoled%202X%2C%20Infinity-O%2C%203088%20x%201440%2C%20500ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20120Hz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204nm%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%20Gen%202%2C%2064-bit%20octa-core%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F12GB%20RAM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20128%2F256%2F512GB%2F1TB%20(only%20128GB%20has%20an%208GB%20RAM%20option)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2013%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20quad%2012MP%20ultra-wide%20f%2F2.2%20%2B%20200MP%20wide%20f%2F1.7%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%20f%2F4.9%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%202.4%3B%203x%2F10x%20optical%20zoom%2C%20Space%20Zoom%20up%20to%20100x%3B%20auto%20HDR%2C%20expert%20RAW%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208K%4024%2F30fps%2C%204K%4060fps%2C%20full-HD%4060fps%2C%20HD%4030fps%2C%20full-HD%20super%20slo-mo%40960fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%20f%2F2.2%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205000mAh%2C%20fast%20wireless%20charging%202.0%2C%20Wireless%20PowerShare%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205G%2C%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.2%2C%20NFC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3B%20built-in%20Galaxy%20S%20Pen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESIM%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20single%20nano%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20cream%2C%20green%2C%20lavender%2C%20phantom%20black%3B%20online%20exclusives%3A%20graphite%2C%20lime%2C%20red%2C%20sky%20blue%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh4%2C949%20for%20256GB%2C%20Dh5%2C449%20for%20512GB%2C%20Dh6%2C449%20for%201TB%3B%20128GB%20unavailable%20in%20the%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
SNAPSHOT
While Huawei did launch the first smartphone with a 50MP image sensor in its P40 series in 2020, Oppo in 2014 introduced the Find 7, which was capable of taking 50MP images: this was done using a combination of a 13MP sensor and software that resulted in shots seemingly taken from a 50MP camera.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
