“People” may sound like just a buzzword when used as a restaurant’s founding principle – and name – but at the latest offering from the team behind Goat Burger, it’s not just a slogan, it’s the entire point.
Co-founders Maryam Alobeidli, Shehab AlHarmoodi and Sultan Kayed set out to blend global techniques, Emirati hospitality and a sense of belonging at People, at Al Khawaneej Walk in Dubai.
The restaurant's interior, created by Bone Studio, centres around a sunken U-shaped seating area inspired by a majlis. Burgundy tiles, red marble and draped fabric lend a theatrical dimension, while bookshelves and greenery soften the space. It’s inviting and polished without pretence.
The menu
Executive chef Sameer Bhalekar's background includes kitchens in New York, London and Barcelona, and training under leading culinary names such as Gordon Ramsay and Thomas Keller. Bhalekar has created an expansive menu of eclectic influences, blending Italian, Asian and Emirati flavours – which Dubai residents are perfectly acclimatised to.
The hoisin crispy beef taco (Dh61), served in a wonton shell with guacamole, coriander and pickled onion, is the standout. The ratio of filling to shell is ideal, the sweetness of the hoisin cut cleanly with a squeeze of lemon. It’s the kind of dish that feels casual yet carefully thought through.
The Wagyu bolognese spring roll (Dh51), wrapped in filo and finished with barbecue mayo and pickled cucumber, is less successful: technically neat but weighed down by a thick crust. However, the chicken karaage gua bao (Dh53), is excellent: crisp chicken, shiso leaves and yuzu-spiced mayo come together in a soft bao that delivers flavour and texture.
The sweet and sour chicken (Dh69) with sticky rice leans classic Chinese takeaways – glossy, tangy and satisfying in the way that only something deeply familiar can be. Dessert continues the theme: the mocha chocolate mousse (Dh69), a play on textures, is rich and best shared; while the aseeda panna cotta (Dh54), dotted with saffron caviar, brings a local note to a traditional Italian form.
Standout dish
The hoisin crispy beef taco encapsulates what People does best – familiar flavours, precisely balanced. The crunch of the wonton shell, the tenderness of the beef, and the sweetness of the glaze all land exactly where they should.
Save or splurge?
For a balanced, lower-spend meal, try the yuzu burrata (Dh58), sweet and sour chicken (Dh69) and aseeda panna cotta (Dh54) – about Dh181 per person, before drinks.
For something more indulgent, opt for the Wagyu carpaccio tostada (Dh132), Alaskan king crab au gratin (Dh175) and mocha chocolate mousse (Dh69), that will add up to Dh376 per person.
The restaurant sits comfortably in the mid- to upper-casual bracket, with enough finesse in presentation and portioning to justify its price point.
The verdict
People is a well-executed concept that focuses on comfort over complexity. The food is consistent, the service is attentive, and the design supports the restaurant’s community-driven idea without overshadowing it.
Some dishes could use refinement, but the overall standard is high. The menu’s strength lies in its restraint: recognisable flavours presented with a clear point of view.
Best for
Relaxed dinners with friends, weekend family gatherings, or anyone who values atmosphere and flavour over showmanship.
Contact information
People, at Al Khawaneej Walk in Dubai, is open Sunday to Thursday from 10am to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 1am. Reservations can be made by calling 058 900 8900.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
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.”
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
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