It seems like there's a new restaurant announcement coming from Yas Bay, the up-and-coming destination located in the south of Yas Island, almost every week.
The Yas Bay Waterfront is soon to be a vibrant leisure and entertainment district, housing a number of top-notch restaurants, cafes and bars. Although no official launch date has been announced, most restaurants are scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2021.
Here’s a look at some of the exciting concepts that have been confirmed so far.
Akiba Dori
Home to Tokyo-Neapolitan pizzas, the modern Japanese street food restaurant in Dubai announced this year that it would be opening a branch in Yas Bay.
Guests can expect a location right on the pier, with sunset and water views, the restaurant's signature pizzas, and some new dishes exclusive to Abu Dhabi.
The interiors will stay true to the brand's retro-modern vibe.
Asia Asia
It’s already made waves in Dubai and now the gourmet pan-Asian concept will be coming to the capital.
Paul Evans, chief executive of Solutions Leisure Group, says the Abu Dhabi branch will be "one of the most beautiful restaurants" they have designed.
A rendering depicts a vast space, complete with cherry blossom trees at the entrance.
Bushra
A new Middle Eastern restaurant will be coming to the area, with a sharing-style menu created by award-winning Australian chef Greg Malouf, who is widely recognised as an authority on the cuisine.
His dishes tend to take inspiration from the region's cuisine, but also offer a contemporary flair.
Emmy Squared
The American restaurant, known for its Detroit-style pizza and handcrafted sandwiches, will be opening its debut international branch in Abu Dhabi's Yas Bay Waterfront.
Customers can expect its signature square shape pizza with a crispy bottom, fluffy focaccia dough and caramelised cheesy crusts. Apart from the pizzas, it will also have handcrafted sandwiches including options served on a buttery pretzel bun (such as the double-stacked grass-fed burger “Le Big Matt”), fresh, seasonal salads, and appetisers such as sriracha crystal glaze wings and cheesy garlic sticks.
The restaurant has been brought to the region by Samer S Hamadeh, founder of Akiba Dori, Stereo Arcade and Republique, who called its food "a revelation".
"The moment I finished my meal at Emmy Squared in NYC, was the moment I got in touch with the team and brought up the idea of launching Emmy Squared in the UAE. I like to create my own concepts and that’s not a secret, but this was just too good to pass up.”
Hunter & Barrel
The Australian brand recently opened its first branch in Dubai, bringing its “gather and fire-inspired” concept to the region.
Now Abu Dhabi residents will also soon be able to indulge in its wide array of barbecued meats and vegetables, as it’s opening a branch in the capital.
Rob De Villiers, Middle East Managing Director of Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group, which operates the restaurant, says guests can expect plenty of charcoal-roasted dishes and tender cuts of beef.
La Carnita
Visitors can expect fusion street food, art and music and a menu with a variety of tacos (with gluten-free and vegan options available) from the trendy Mexican restaurant, which is from Toronto.
There will also be an outdoor terrace.
Lock Stock & Barrel
The popular Dubai venue, also by Solutions Leisure Group, is known for its lively ambience and will be making its way to the capital this year.
Paradiso
Originating in Cannes, France, Paradiso is a Mediterranean restaurant helmed by Nicole Rubi, the woman behind LPM Restaurant, and Michelin-lauded chef Pierre Gagnaire. So you know it’s going to be something special.
There’s a lot of be excited about, as the restaurant promises to bring a “unique Mediterranean dolce vita flavour” to the region.
The Buddha-Bar Group and Capital Motion are collaborating with Miral to launch Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar – a sleek spot that will come alive in the evenings, serving mainly Asian and Mediterranean delicacies. Expect sushi, tapas, maki rolls and more.
The Central
The Central, another project by Solutions Leisure Group, will be a new addition to the UAE's food scene. It's all set to be a family entertainment complex, similar to the one found in Wavehouse at Atlantis, The Palm.
Expect classic American bites – think burgers and shakes – within a fun, casual space that features arcade games, soft-play areas for children and a four-lane bowling alley.
The Lighthouse
Home-grown restaurant brand The Lighthouse announced that it will be making its first foray into the capital in the fourth quarter of the year. This will be the restaurant's third branch in the UAE.
The 100-cover licensed restaurant will include a chef's table, bakery, retail store and events space.
Meanwhile, the menu boasts Mediterranean-inspired soul food, along with new dishes exclusive to the location.
Zeera
A modern Indian restaurant, with cuisine inspired by India’s rich history, has also been confirmed for Yas Bay Waterfront.
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Read more:
8 places to eat at Abu Dhabi’s Hudayriyat Island: from a cupcake ATM to Chips Oman ice cream
UAE entrepreneur Paul Evans on how to pandemic-proof restaurants and open new ones
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
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
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
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
