Taste of Dubai is back this weekend, from Friday to Saturday.
While its regular venue – at the Media City Amphitheatre – may have changed to Skydive Dubai, the annual food festival will continue to offer visitors delicious dishes from top restaurants at a fraction of their usual cost.
This year's participating restaurants include newbies such as Indian fine-dining spot Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia and City Social by Jason Atherton; Michelin-starred and lauded venues such as Torno Subito, Akira Back, Hutong, Indya by Vineet, Jun's and The Artisan; as well as a sneak peek at chef Akmal Anuar's latest venture Osteria Funkcoolio.
The al fresco festival is a chance for discerning diners to sample top fare at heavily discounted rates, as restaurants have been given a menu format specifying only three price points: Dh25, Dh30 and Dh35. Of these, one must be a vegan dish and one must be child-friendly.
Pricing and diet considerations aside, organisers also require restaurants to create and serve a dish exclusive to Taste of Dubai this year, making the event a must-visit for true-blue foodies.
Here is our pick of the dishes that sound most delicious – and discounted.
Duck at Hutong
Save: Dh200+
The Chinese restaurant in the Dubai International Financial Centre is serving its signature roasted Peking duck with pancakes for Dh35. Albeit in bite-sized form here, the delicacy is Dh300 at the restaurant for two to three people.
Salmon fish cake at Rhodes W1
Save: Dh140
The tribute restaurant to late British chef Gary Rhodes is serving its salmon fish cake for Dh35, down from an original Dh175 for the full-sized dish. As in the restaurant, the festival version will be made with fresh and smoked salmon, mashed potato and spring onion.
Amberjack at Torno Subito
Save: Dh110
Italian master chef Massimo Bottura will serve his Michelin-starred smoked amberjack with compressed sweet melon and Sorrento lemon sauce for Dh30 at Taste of Dubai, down from Dh140 at the W Dubai restaurant.
Tuna tacos at Akira Back
Save: Dh100
The eponymous restaurant of Michelin-lauded Korean-American chef Akira Back is a go-to for high-end celebrations in the UAE. At Taste of Dubai, visitors can sample its popular truffle tuna tacos for a mere Dh30, down from Dh130 at The Palm Jumeirah venue.
Potstickers at Jun's
Save: Dh60
The tribute restaurant to late British chef Gary Rhodes is serving its salmon fish cake for Dh35, down from an original Dh175 for the full-sized dish. As in the restaurant, the festival version will be made with fresh and smoked salmon, mashed potato and spring onion.
Guacamole tradicional at Maya
Save: Dh50
If you're feeling like Mexican, Maya by chef Richard Sandoval is on site, serving its signature freshly mixed guacamole for Dh30. Ordering it at the Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa spot will set you back Dh80.
Nashi pear crumble at City Social
Save: Dh30
Acclaimed British chef Jason Atherton's restaurant is making its debut at the festival with one of its signature sweet treats for Dh30 – half the price if ordered at the high-rise Grosvenor House venue.
Chole bhature at Atrangi
Save: Dh30
Celebrity chef Ritu Dalmia will serve the popular Indian dish at her first Taste of Dubai outing, for 50 per cent less than its original cost, so Dh30 instead of Dh60.
Food – and savings – aside, Taste of Dubai has various culinary-themed activities, from celebrity chef masterclasses to mum-and-child cooking workshops and an interactive coffee-making stand. Live entertainment is also on the cards, as well as carnival-style games, activities and bouncy castles to keep the little ones one busy.
Taste of Dubai runs from Friday to Saturday at Skydive Dubai; entry fees start at Dh75 a person; more information is available at tasteofdubaifestival.com
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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
Factfile on Garbine Muguruza:
Name: Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)
Date of birth: October 8, 1993
Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela
Place of residence: Geneva, Switzerland
Height: 6ft (1.82m)
Career singles titles: 4
Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)
Career prize money: $13,928,719
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The bio:
Favourite holiday destination: I really enjoyed Sri Lanka and Vietnam but my dream destination is the Maldives.
Favourite food: My mum’s Chinese cooking.
Favourite film: Robocop, followed by The Terminator.
Hobbies: Off-roading, scuba diving, playing squash and going to the gym.
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