New development J1 Beach in Dubai is on track for September. Located in what used to be La Mer South, the open-air venue will be home to 13 restaurants, beach clubs and cafes.
These “premium destinations” will replace the 40 “mostly middle-market, fast food brands” that were part of La Mer, and that were “not performing to the level we expected”, says Shahram Shamsaee, chief executive of Merex Investment.
The National gets a first look at four of the eateries – and their menus – that diners and loungers can sample when the weather starts to cool.
Gitano
One for bona-fide beach club buffs, Gitano began life in party hotspot Tulum in 2013, and is famed for its giant disco ball and neon pink signage. In 2018, Gitano opened its doors in New York City, with hundreds of 30-foot coconut palms set against the skyline.
The Dubai outpost will merge the essence of Tulum and NYC, with a focus on dancing, dining and modern Mexican cuisine.
“Born in the jungle, Gitano’s design philosophy embraces wabi-sabi, celebrating beauty in imperfection. However, understanding that a more polished approach resonates in Dubai, it has evolved its concept to emphasise bohemian glamour,” says James Gardner, founder and chief executive of Group Gitano. “The J1 Beach venue will combine Spanish-colonial architecture of Yucatan towns such as Merida and Valladolid with Tulum Beach’s rustic and lush jungle ambience.”
Signature dishes include – mushroom sopes with black truffle; lobster tostada; branzino in banana leaf with kiwi; and 12-hour slow-roasted short-rib birria.
African Queen Dubai
Film buffs Lila and Pierre Brizio founded African Queen – inspired by the Humphrey Bogart-starring movie of the same name – on the French Riviera in 1969. Bogart himself has visited the venue in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, as have Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Bono.
Far from being stuffy, however, the Dubai outpost aims to channel a “warm and inviting atmosphere”, says Riccardo Giraudi, chief executive of Giraudi Group, realised through its plentiful use of rattan furniture, earthy colour palette, vintage posters and ambient lighting that will shift through the day.
“Diners can expect an immersive experience that blends the elegance of the French Riviera with the vibrant energy of Dubai,” adds Giraudi.
Five time-tested dishes that will be available on African Queen Dubai’s Mediterranean menu include – a family recipe of salad niçoise, with tuna ventresca, Taggiasca olives and fava beans; wood-fired truffle pizza with hand-stretched dough; fresh fish served with Virgin sauce made from extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes and herbs; artichoke salad with Piedmont hazelnuts, aged Parmesan cheese and truffle; and warm shrimps with Menton lemon.
Lunico
Taking its design cues from all things lunar, the shimmering decor at Lunico – a DJ-powered restaurant and lounge – is dominated by graphic displays and light effects. “Lunico draws inspiration from the phases of the moon and guests can expect the moon to appear in all its different forms at various points during their dining experience,” says Eva Greppelova, the restaurant's marketing brand manager.
The menu is dominated by Spanish and Latin American flavours, and signature dishes include: Basque red mullet fish with cassava croquettes and chilli sauce; vieiras with caviar; Spanish guacamole bonbon with almond citrus sauce and corn tortillas; and crema Catalana with berries and lemon balm.
Kaimana
Underscoring the diversity of the restaurants at J1 Beach, Kaimana serves “island flavours”, with a focus on Polynesian ingredients from Oahu and Maui in Hawaii, combined with Far East Asian cooking techniques.
“Sustainability continues to be an important and conscious food trend we should all prioritise and sourcing sustainable ingredients and local produce will be key at Kaimana,” says Nikhil Mehra, chief operating officer, Royal Orchid Hospitality.
Signature dishes include – smoked kalua chicken tacos; moa fa’Asaina (Samoan-inspired chicken wings with dark soy, apple cider vinegar and pickled onions); pan-seared Alaskan black cod; and short ribs cooked in the Hawaiian Pulehu style, which translates to “roasted over hot embers”.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
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- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
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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.”
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
