Pitfire comes up in almost every conversation about the best pizzas in Dubai, and this week, it's been recognised internationally.
The home-grown UAE brand was named one of the 50 Top World Artisan Pizza Chains 2022, coming in at No 13 on the online guide 50 Top Pizza's list.
The top 50 were announced at a ceremony in Madrid, Spain on Monday at the first World Pizza Summit.
"We are incredibly humbled, honoured and proud to see our efforts recognised on a world stage. We are inspired meeting so many industry giants at an event by 50 Top Pizza which dedicates itself to and celebrates pizza as a food loved around the world," Michele Johnson, co-founder and managing partner of Pitfire told The National.
"We are very proud to say that Pitfire was born in the great city of Dubai and to show the world that great brands can be born there. That pretty much sums up how we feel, and it’s safe to say we will be floating on air for the next few days!"
The awards were presented by Spanish television host Veronica Zumalacarregui at El Beatriz Madrid auditorium.
"The pizza [at Pitfire] is halfway between Neapolitan and New York-style pizza, while maintaining its artisan characteristics. The 72 hours of leavening time makes the dough light and digestible," 50 Top Pizza says of the Dubai-launched pizzeria's product.
"The pizza is baked in most venues in a gas oven. The crust is crunchy and thin, and the centre of the pizza is soft and fragrant. This is a true indicator of the quality of the ingredients used."
Johnson launched Pitfire with her husband Bill Johnson in 2014. They now have several Dubai locations to their name, including dine-in and delivery-only venues, and serve pizzas at a popular stand at Time Out Market Dubai.
Da Michele in Naples was named the best artisan pizza chain in the world at the event, followed by the Big Mamma Group, which has outposts in France, Spain, England and Germany. In third place was Grosso Napoletano, which was started in Madrid and now has locations around Spain.
Italian pizzeria chain Berbere took the fourth spot, followed by Brazil's Braz Pizzaria, 400 Gradi in the US and Australia and London's Pizza Pilgrims. Eighth position went to Errico Porzio pizzeria in Naples, Campania and Rome, and Swiss pizza chain Luigia took the ninth spot. Luigia also has a Dubai outpost, located at the Rixos Premium Dubai JBR. Luigia also won the Best Training Programme 2022 Special Award from 50 Top Pizza.
Closing the top 10 was Sorbillo, which has eight pizza restaurants around the world, including in Naples, New York and Tokyo.
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
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
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Kane (50')
Newcastle United 0
'Hocus%20Pocus%202'
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Anne%20Fletcher%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Bette%20Midler%2C%20Sarah%20Jessica%20Parker%2C%20Kathy%20Najimy%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Teaching in coronavirus times
