What is Michelin's Bib Gourmand and which Dubai restaurants are included?

On Tuesday, the Michelin Guide was finally launched for the first time in the Middle East, during a glitzy ceremony at Dubai Opera.

Eleven restaurants were awarded stars, including two that got two stars, but there were another 14 that made it into the Bib Gourmand category.

Named after Bibendum, the Michelin Man and official company mascot of the Michelin Group, it's "not quite a star, but most definitely not a consolation prize," according to the guide.

It recognises "just-as-esteemed" and friendly establishments that serve good food at reasonable prices.

This is what made the cut in Dubai.

Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant

Emirati restaurant Al Khayma is in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. Photo: Al Khayma

Representing Emirati cuisine in the Michelin Guide is Al Khayma, which the inspector describes as a part-restaurant, part-museum, where diners eat in an inviting air-conditioned courtyard, served by staff dressed in traditional garments. “Bread is freshly cooked within view, and live music adds to the ambience,” says the guide. “Rustic Emirati dishes are carefully prepared, well-presented and full of flavour.” Expect everything from classic Middle Eastern mezze, such as hummus and tabbouleh, to more Khaleeji staples, including saloona, tharid and machboos.

Open daily, 8am-11am; Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Dubai; 055 180 2080; www.alkhayma.com

Bait Maryam

Bait Maryam, which opened in 2017, is the baby of chef and founder Salam Dakkak, who can still be found in the kitchen every day — or chatting with diners in the congenial dining space, which is charmingly decorated to resemble a relaxed living room. Once a school owner and cooking teacher in Saudi Arabia, Dakkak felt compelled to bring her moreish style of cooking to Dubai and offer a taste of home to those living away from their families.

Not only was it included on the Bib Gourmand list, but Dakkak and her team were also given the Welcome and Service Award.

“This passionately run home offers a warm welcome and delicious, homestyle Levantine dishes cooked with love,” said the inspector. “Ask the service professional for the chef’s specialities and make sure to add dessert to your list.”

Open daily, 10am-11pm; cluster D, Jumeirah Lakes Towers; 04 241 8447; www.baitmaryam.com

Brasserie Boulud

Award-winning French chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud opened his Dubai restaurant in 2020. Brasserie Boulud, a concept by the man behind New York’s two Michelin-starred hot spot Restaurant Daniel, offers contemporary, French-inspired cuisine, with classics including escargots and canard roti to tarte Tatin. It is the chef’s first outpost in the Middle East.

“Creating a little piece of France in Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk is this classically styled brasserie deluxe with its marble flooring, red leather banquettes and art deco touches,” writes the inspector. “Great value business lunch.”

Open Monday to Friday, 12.30pm-3pm and 6pm-midnight, Saturday, 1pm-4pm and 6pm-midnight, Sunday is closed; Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, Wafi, Sheikh Rashid Road; 04 281 4020; www.sofitel-dubai-theobelisk.com

Fi'lia

The menu at Fi’lia, the Italian-Mediterranean restaurant at SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences, features the word “nonna” (Italian for grandmother) a lot. The offerings are divided into dishes by nonna, mamma and fi’lia, the last word being a truncated form of the Italian word for daughter, figlia, in what is a conscious decision to highlight the achievements — and recipes — of women through the generations.

Chef Sara Aqel created much of the menu herself, relying heavily on traditional recipes from grandmothers — her friends' as well as her own — and her mother.

“Set on the 70th floor, it offers impressive views; menus list everything from artisan pizza and pasta to contemporary twists on traditional dishes,” says the inspector.

Open daily, noon-3.30pm and 6.30pm-midnight; SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences, Marasi Drive, Business Bay; 04 607 0737; www.sbe.com

folly

Set in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, folly has everything needed for a restaurant to be a success: location, style, a killer view and chefs who know their way around a kitchen.

Created by Nick Alvis and Scott Price, and opened in 2017, folly has since become famed locally for its inventive and seasonal food.

“The ingredient-led menu offers precise, modern dishes which are pared-back in style, with an appealing clarity of flavour,” said the inspector. "Staff are warm and engaging.”

Open Monday to Thursday, 5pm-midnight, Friday, 4pm-midnight, Saturday and Sunday, 1pm-midnight; Souk Madinat Jumeirah; 04 430 8535; www.folly.ae

Goldfish

This modern sushi and yakitori neighbourhood restaurant won the judges over for its “funky” interiors, “bright and keen” service, great food and reasonable prices. Watch the chefs work as you dig in.

“Vibrant, modern Japanese dishes from sushi, uni and yakitori to sharing plates and Wagyu steak are the order of the day at this funky, buzzing spot located in a smart mall,” the inspector writes.

Open daily, noon-midnight; Galleria Mall, Al Wasl Road; 04 886 4966; www.goldfishsushiyakitori.com

Ibn AlBahr

The fresh Lebanese seafood dishes and nautical themes at this Club Vista Mare location won over inspectors’ hearts. Not to mention the “beautiful terrace with a great view of the beach”.

The food includes cold and hot mezze staples, salads and classic dishes with fish, including kebab, biryani and curry. There’s also a small kids’ menu.

"Head to the fresh fish counter to choose what you’d like to eat; simple yet delicious dishes let the ingredients speak for themselves," says the guide.

Open daily, 8am-midnight; Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah; 04 553 9575; www.ibnalbahr.me

Indya by Vineet

Located at the Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Indya by Vineet serves "vibrant, modern Indian cooking".

The restaurant is located poolside at the hotel and serves a street food-style menu with "choices from the earth (vegetarian), land (meat) and sea". Indian chef Vineet Bhatia is behind the eatery.

Open daily from 12.30pm-3.30pm, 6pm-midnight; Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa; 04 399 5555; www.indya-dubai.com

Kinoya

Buzzing neighbourhood eatery Kinoya has an authentic izakaya feel. Started by chef Neha Mishra in The Greens, there are five ramen varieties on the Japanese menu, alongside sushi, sashimi, robata and tempura.

"Ingredients are good quality, cooking is careful, prices, low and flavours, delicious," says the guide.

Loyal patrons will know to watch out for a rotating specials, often created with seasonal ingredients.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, noon-1am; The Onyx Tower 2, The Greens, Dubai; 04 548 6776; kinoya.ae

Ninive

A chic eatery at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, the design of Ninive reflects the style of a Bedouin tent, with low-lighting care of lanterns, plush rugs, low tables and cosy sofa seating. The guide describes menu highlights as "well-priced dishes from all over the Middle East and North Africa".

The cuisine spans the Middle East and North Africa, with influences from Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Morocco, offering a taste of the "region’s culinary history" created using modern techniques.

Open Sunday to Thursday, 6pm-2am, Friday and Saturday, 6pm-3am; Jumeirah Emirates Towers; 04 326 6105; www.ninive.ae

Orfali Bros

Orfali Bros is a modern, minimalist bistro in Jumeirah 1's wasl 51. It is the kind of place chefs like to eat, including folly's Nick Alvis. "They're doing some really cool stuff and I love the food," Alvis has previously told The National. The menu is an exercise in boundary-pushing, experimenting with taste, textures and ingredients to create something unique, from red umami prawns to fluffy pides in various creative flavours.

Open daily, noon-midnight; wasl 51, Jumeirah 1, Dubai; 04 259 2477, www.orfalibros.com

Reif Japanese Kushiyaki

The casual-dining concept in Jumeirah is helmed by chef Reif Othman with a focus on kushiyaki — Japanese grilled meat and poultry held together on a kushi (skewer). Aside from the chicken and beef skewers, there are also clay pots, ramen, gunkan sushi, gyoza and raw dishes to be had. A star dishes section reads like chef Othman's greatest hits, with wings, angel hair pasta, steamed bun burgers and Wagyu sandos.

Open Monday to Thursday, noon-11pm; Friday, noon-midnight; Saturday and Sunday, 11am-midnight; dar wasl mall, Al Wasl Road, Dubai; 050 235 7071, www.reifkushiyaki.com

Shabestan

Deira restaurant Shabestan is synonymous with authentic Persian fare in Dubai. Located in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, it has been run by one family for three generations.

With views overlooking Dubai Creek, the menu features classic Persian dishes, with grilled meats, fish and vegetables, including a selection of authentic starters.

Open Wednesday to Monday, noon-11pm, Tuesdays from 12.30pm-11pm; Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek; 04 222 7171

Teible

New to the Dubai food scene, Teible opened its doors in February at the Jameel Arts Centre.

The brainchild of entrepreneur Peter Ahn, Teible aims to offer a vibrant menu designed around an increasingly important eat-local philosophy, which is motivated by a four-pillar value system: sustainability, seasonality, simplicity and integrity.

Fresh produce takes centre stage at Teible, with executive chef Carlos Frunze working closely with farmers across the UAE. A home-grown food-for-thought concept in every sense of the expression, Teible takes diners not only on a culinary journey, but also an intellectual one of curiosity, surprise, experimentation and awe.

The guide notes that the menus "showcase seasonal, local — and occasionally fermented — ingredients in great value dishes".

Open Wednesday to Monday, 8am-4pm and 6pm-11pm; Jameel Arts Centre, Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai; 04 243 6683; www.teible.com

Scroll through the gallery below to see the Michelin Guide event in Dubai

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What is a calorie?

A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.

One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.

A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.

Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.

Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram.

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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.”

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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association

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Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.

Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.

The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.

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