• Tulameen raspberries can be found at Les Gastronomes new weekly 48-hour virtual farmers' market. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
    Tulameen raspberries can be found at Les Gastronomes new weekly 48-hour virtual farmers' market. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
  • Find plenty of seasonal fresh fruits, including passion fruit. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
    Find plenty of seasonal fresh fruits, including passion fruit. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
  • A variety of tomatoes are on sale, including pineapple, black cremian, marmande and beef heart, amongst others. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
    A variety of tomatoes are on sale, including pineapple, black cremian, marmande and beef heart, amongst others. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
  • A selection of salad leaves are on offer, from lettuce to chicory. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
    A selection of salad leaves are on offer, from lettuce to chicory. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
  • Stock up on gourmet salad materials each week. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
    Stock up on gourmet salad materials each week. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
  • Find rarer items, such as purple potatoes. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
    Find rarer items, such as purple potatoes. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
  • Guariguettes and wild woodland strawberries are also on the table. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
    Guariguettes and wild woodland strawberries are also on the table. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
  • From chilli to caviar and fresh salmon, all of your foodie needs are catered for. Courtesy Les Gastronomes
    From chilli to caviar and fresh salmon, all of your foodie needs are catered for. Courtesy Les Gastronomes

Food

Les Gastronomes: 48-hour weekly virtual farmers' market launches in Dubai

The husband and wife behind a UAE gourmet grocery delivery platform have come up with a nifty new idea

Katy Gillett
Katy Gillett

April 27, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Usually, once the summer heat descends in the UAE, outdoor markets head inside to spacious air-conditioned venues, mostly shopping centres or malls. But this year, after we've spent more than a year watching normally physical events head into the digital space, Les Gastronomes has come up with a nifty new idea for the beloved farmers' market.

Husband and wife duo Michel and Stephanie Karkour, the masterminds behind the home-grown gourmet grocery delivery platform, are launching a 48-hour weekly virtual gourmet farmers' market.

Truffles, cheese, fresh seafood and meat will all be available once a week via Les Gastronomes' virtual farmers' market. Courtesy Les Gastronome
Truffles, cheese, fresh seafood and meat will all be available once a week via Les Gastronomes' virtual farmers' market. Courtesy Les Gastronome

Making its debut this weekend, Les Gastronomes farmers market will go live every Thursday morning, with fresh produce and limited-stock items available to purchase via a website, which can only be accessed once a week.

Products, from Italian truffles to French raclette cheese, will be available in limited quantities and on a first-come, first-served basis. They will be delivered to customers' doors that same day or the following day.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood, hormone and GMO-free meats, cheeses, coffee, tea and bread will all be on offer, with a mix of local and international produce, from friseline chicory to Yarra Valley Persian feta cheese and a diverse range of tomatoes, including black cremian and beef heart.

“Over the last five years, we at Les Gastronomes have understood that the true foodies of Dubai are always on the lookout for unique seasonal ingredients and like getting their hands on them as soon as they come in, which is what inspired the idea for a 48-hour virtual market," said chief executive Michel.

"We’re excited to see the response from loyal and new customers and look forward to becoming a convenient weekend gourmet market solution, especially with the constant rise in temperatures in the UAE.”

The idea for Les Gastronomes was born from an appreciation for good meat back in 2016, and the platform has become a digital Aladdin's cave of high-end fresh produce, luxury groceries and pantry items, as well as about 70 varieties of cheese.

Its fine foods selections are personally chosen by the owners and it offers home delivery across all emirates in the UAE with the help of third-party delivery services.

Results

Women finals: 48kg - Urantsetseg Munkhbat (MGL) bt Distria Krasniqi (KOS); 52kg - Odette Guiffrida (ITA) bt Majlinda Kelmendi (KOS); 57kg - Nora Gjakova (KOS) bt Anastasiia Konkina (Rus)

Men’s finals: 60kg - Amiran Papinashvili (GEO) bt Francisco Garrigos (ESP); 66kg - Vazha Margvelashvili (Geo) bt Yerlan Serikzhanov (KAZ)

KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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

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