The best beef short ribs I have ever tasted. That is my top takeaway from Tatel, the latest addition to Downtown Dubai’s burgeoning fine-dining circuit.
The restaurant opened at Hotel Boulevard, Autograph Collection last month and has hit the ground running, living up to its promise to serve up haute Spanish cuisine in an ambient 1920s-style venue. Co-founded by football, tennis and basketball superstars Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal and Pau Gasol, the brand launched in Madrid in 2014 and has since expanded to Ibiza, Beverly Hills, Mexico City, Riyadh and Valencia.
It arrives in Dubai with a big reputation, one that has been growing around the world. Indeed, USA Today lists Tatel as a fine-dining establishment worth flying to. An hour-long drive from Abu Dhabi must be worth the effort, then, I conclude. And so my dining partner and I drive down Sheikh Zayed Road from the capital, arriving at Tatel intrigued to find out what all the fuss is about.
Where to sit and what to expect
After being greeted like celebrities at the grand double-door entrance, we are escorted inside to a marble-topped table for two. It is still bright outside so our eyes need to adjust as we enter a luxurious and charming interconnected space dimly lit by the soft glow of antique-style ceiling and table lamps.
Cobbled flooring, plush chairs, dark wood panelling and the rich, warm hues of maroon create an intimate, ambient atmosphere. The dining area has an open kitchen and there are private spaces available for a VIP service. Tatel also has a garden terrace that will be open in the cooler winter months and that frames Burj Khalifa as a picture-perfect backdrop.
Our immediate backdrop, though, is a small stage where a pop duet later begin a set, their warm, rhythmic sounds of Spain giving off Mediterranean beach resort vibes.
The menu
Jose, our charming waiter from the Dominican Republic, talks us through the options and offers to make recommendations. The menu has meat, vegetarian and seafood dishes, each prepared with Spanish-imported and local ingredients, he explains. We take up his suggestion of signature dishes to share for a quintessential Tatel experience.
Crusty warm bread and Spanish olive oil arrive first before we tuck in to Iberian Cecina croquettes (Dh70), beautifully served from a bed of hot stones. Crisp golden potato stuffed with cured beef and rich bechamel sauce stimulates memories for my taste buds of haggis and peppercorn sauce. The prawn (Dh70) and mushroom (Dh65) croquettes are equally delicious, while the Cecina de Leon Iberian cured beef (Dh125) is an excellent cold starter choice for those who – like me – appreciate the full flavour of traditional dry-aged Spanish jerky.
Sticking with signature dishes, our evening highlight comes next. Arroz Tatel con costilla de vacuno (Dh340) is a sharing platter of glazed slow-cooked beef short ribs served with rice. The marinated melt-in-the-mouth meat apparently takes 18 hours to cook in the oven, locking in the lip-smacking flavour. I’ve enjoyed ribs in more than a few locations, but nothing comes close to this. The sharing platter, however, leads to a passive-aggressive fork fight for the flaky and flavoursome final mouthful.
I win and concede some Jasper-grilled asparagus (Dh55) in return. It is an ideal side dish accompaniment to the sensational ribs. We are already more than satisfied, but Jose insists we try Tatel’s famous cheesecake, nuestra famosa tarta de queso (Dh65) for dessert.
Incredibly creamy with a crisp coating and gooey centre, the traditional Basque region speciality is quickly devoured even though we are already full to bursting.
A chat with the chef
Head chef Alejandro Maestro is a man who clearly lives up to his name in the kitchen. He arrived in Dubai after two years at Tatel’s Riyadh branch and five spent where it all began in Madrid before that.
Brimming with enthusiasm for this exciting new project in Dubai, chef Maestro isn’t giving away any secrets about his majestic ribs recipe but is delighted with my feedback. “We have done a deep search into the available produce to ensure we are sourcing the absolute best and bringing the real taste of Spain to Dubai,” he says.
Price point and contact information
Appetisers start at Dh60, mains start at Dh95 and desserts start at Dh50.
Tatel is open from 7pm to 1am from Sunday to Wednesday, and from 7pm to 2am from Thursday to Saturday. Reservations can be made by calling 04 215 2121 or visiting tatelrestaurants.com.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
Other IPL batting records
Most sixes: 292 – Chris Gayle
Most fours: 491 – Gautam Gambhir
Highest individual score: 175 not out – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Highest strike-rate: 177.29 – Andre Russell
Highest strike-rate in an innings: 422.22 – Chris Morris (for Delhi Daredevils against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017)
Highest average: 52.16 – Vijay Shankar
Most centuries: 6 – Chris Gayle
Most fifties: 36 – Gautam Gambhir
Fastest hundred (balls faced): 30 – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Fastest fifty (balls faced): 14 – Lokesh Rahul (for Kings XI Punjab against Delhi Daredevils in 2018)
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders
Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
NATIONAL%20SELECTIONS
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2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5