Chinese New Year is coming up, which means restaurants around the UAE will be celebrating the Year of the Tiger with delicious feasts.
Whether it's buffet selections, set menus or family-style meals, in fine-dining restaurants or low-key street food-style eateries, there is something for everyone this spring festival.
Festivities are kicking off in the next week, ahead of Chinese New Year on February 1. Here's a look at where to celebrate in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Abu Dhabi
Hakkasan Abu Dhabi limited edition menu
The fine-dining Cantonese restaurant will welcome the Year of the Tiger with a limited-edition menu including a tiger-inspired beverage. The menu starts with a salad, with house cured salmon and plum dressing, served alongside a dim sum trio of baked truffle duck puff, tiger prawn dumpling and wild mushroom puff. Mains include baked cornfed spatchcock with chestnut, morel mushroom and angelica root and wok-fried wild sea bass with enoki mushroom and spicy sesame soy. Finish it off with a gold tiger-striped orange dark chocolate firecracker with mandarin sorbet.
Monday, January 31 to Sunday, February 13; 6pm-11.30pm; prices start at Dh488 per person; Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi; hakkasan@emiratespalace.ae; 02 690 7739
Nahaam Lunar New Year brunch
Nahaam at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers will host a Lunar New Year brunch with a specially curated menu of Chinese dishes. Think Cantonese spring rolls with sweet chilli dip, sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice, Peking duck, Schezwan black pepper beef, Chinese mango pudding and egg custard tarts. The restaurant will have Chinese-themed decor including wall art and hostesses decked out in traditional dress. The brunch will also feature live entertainment.
Saturday, February 5; 12.30pm-4pm; starting from Dh370; Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi; www.hilton.com; 02 811 5666
Dubai
Ewaan's one-night only menu
Ewaan will host a one-night-only exclusive Chinese New Year dinner on January 31. The restaurant will feature themed decor and live entertainment and will also serve a specially curated menu in a buffet set-up that pays homage to Chinese spices and flavours.
Expect dishes such as Peking duck rolls, dumplings and baos, as well as hoisin roast turkey and salmon fillet teriyaki. Mains include steamed ginger soy sea bream and braised beef short ribs in black pepper. For dessert, there's the Year of the Tiger (pear compote and ginger cremeux walnut sponge), Money Bag (red velvet fruit cake) and Gong Xi Fa Cai (strawberry and milk chocolate cream choux).
Sunday, January 31; 6pm-10.30pm; Dh325 per person, children dine for 50 per cent off; Palace Downtown, Dubai; dineatpalacedowntown@addresshotels.com; 04 428 7961
China Bistro's discount
The Indo-Chinese restaurant is celebrating Chinese New Year by offering 10 per cent off to dine-in guests for the the entire month of February. Signature dishes include prawn tempura, crispy potato with lime and chilly, crispy vegetable Konjeenaro, fire-roasted marinated chicken, chicken wings in a choice of Hunan or Hong Kong sauce, and roast lamb. Health-conscious diners can try the vegetable basil dumplings, chicken basil dumplings, stir-fried Asian greens, or vegetable croquette with chilly soy.
February 1 to 28; various prices; Al Karama, Al Barsha, Discovery Gardens and Sharjah; www.chinabistro.co
IMG Worlds of Adventure
The world's largest indoor theme park will celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year with themed decorations, merchandise, food, entertainment and activities. This includes an Ancient Chinese Village, special performances, character greetings and festive street food cuisines. There will also be colourful pardes with Cartoon Network and Marvel superheroes as well as activities for children such as finding the Lunar Zodiac sign and posting wishes on the Doodle Wall.
Until February 10; noon-10pm Monday to Thursday; noon-11pm Friday and Sunday; Dh335; www.imgworlds.com; 600 500 962
Hutong
Hutong will celebrate by introducing a Chinese New Year dim sum platter and new Northern Chinese dishes such as lobster lo hei and wagyu rolls with sichaun chilli sauce, available until the end of February. Those who visit the restaurant can also enjoy traditional entertainment such as a lion and dragon dance. There is also a specially themed drink to mark the occasion, with half the proceeds raised going to WWF-UK to protect all tiger habitats across the world. It will be available throughout the entire month of February.
February 1 to 4; prices vary; noon-2.30pm, 6pm-1am; Gate Building 6, ground floor, DIFC; hutongreservations@aqua-dubai.com; 04 220 0868
Sea Fu special menu
Sea Fu is ringing in the Chinese New Year with a special menu for five days. Located in the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, the outlet will have a number of key dishes on the menu that signify helping bring luck, opportunity and fortune into the new year such as dumplings, xiao long bao, Alaskan King crab and chicken with winter black truffle.
Monday to Friday, January 31 to February 4; 12.30pm-midnight; prices vary; Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Dubai; seafu.dubaijb@fourseasons.com; 04 270 7777
SHI limited edition menu and brunch
Authentic Chinese fine-dining eatery SHI is celebrating with a limited-edition daily menu as well as a special brunch with traditional and modern Chinese dishes.
The brunch menu will consists of a four-course meal with hot and sour soup and an option of assorted sushi platter. Then there are classic Chinese starters such as crispy duck bao ban, dim sum, crispy soft-shell crab and Cantonese char siu beef. Mains include Wagyu beef in black pepper sauce, wok-tossed lobster and Alaskan black cod with miso sauce. Those with a sweet tooth can finish the brunch off with taro creme brulee and mochi.
Saturdays, January 29 and February 5; 1pm-4pm; starts at Dh420; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; reservations@shirestaurant.com; 04 393 9990
There is also a limited-edition a la carte menu that will commemorate the Lunar New Year. The menu will be available for one week during lunch and dinner with dishes such as black Angus beef char siu boa, duck salad with peanut sauce, coral sea bass with chef’s home town sauce and wok tossed lobster with guilin sauce.
Saturday to Saturday, January 29 to February 5; 1pm-3.30pm and 6pm-2am; prices vary; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; reservations@shirestaurant.com; 04 393 9990
Buddha-Bar Dubai
Buddha-Bar is hosting a special Buddha-Bar Nights event, with a Chinese New Year theme, for four nights. There will be new shows and entertainment as well as a specially curated menu for the occasion. Expect starters such as duck salad, truffle mushroom chicken bao and soft shell crab. Mains include char sui Wagyu short rib and mushroom rice clay pot, sweet and sour sea bream and grilled five spices corn-fed chicken. Finish it off with mango pudding, chocolate or sesame dice. The venue will be filled with colourful flowers, orchids and traditional Chinese decorations.
Wednesday to Friday, February 2 to 5; 7pm-1am on Saturday and Wednesday, 7pm-2am on Thursday and Friday; prices vary; Grosvenor House, Dubai; www.buddhabar-dubai.com; 04 317 6000
Ras Al Khaimah
Manar Mall and Al Hamra Mall
Manar Mall and Al Hamra Mall in Ras Al Khaimah are celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year with daily live shows between 4pm and 8pm. Expect to see Chinese drummers as well as fan and folk dancers as they make their way around the malls. There will also be a dragon dance, symbolising power and boldness, as well as a lion dance, for strength, stability and superiority. The event also includes Kung Fu and acrobat shows.
Runs until February 1; Ras Al Khaimah; www.manarmall.com and www.alhamramall.com
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 715bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,289,376
On sale: now
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Credits
Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
