• Italian chef Massimo Bottura's restaurant Torno Subito opened at the W Hotel, Dubai, on February 10. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Italian chef Massimo Bottura's restaurant Torno Subito opened at the W Hotel, Dubai, on February 10. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Dining booths on the beach at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Dining booths on the beach at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Beachside vibes at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Beachside vibes at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Gelato cart at Torno Subito in the W Hotel. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Gelato cart at Torno Subito in the W Hotel. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Torno Subito evokes a retro Italian Riviera vibe. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Torno Subito evokes a retro Italian Riviera vibe. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The reception area, complete with chef Massimo Bottura in wall-art-form. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The reception area, complete with chef Massimo Bottura in wall-art-form. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Chef Massimo Bottura. Getty
    Chef Massimo Bottura. Getty
  • Polaroids of the chef, his staff and diners are placed above the bar. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Polaroids of the chef, his staff and diners are placed above the bar. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Tagliatelle at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Tagliatelle at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Muddled strawberry, cucumber, capsicum and marjoram at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Muddled strawberry, cucumber, capsicum and marjoram at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Caesar's salad at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Caesar's salad at Torno Subito. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Massimo Bottura's Torno Subito reopens in Dubai after five-month closure


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Chef Massimo Bottura, the culinary mastermind behind the renowned Osteria Francescana, has reopened his Italian restaurant in Dubai.

Torno Subito, the signature Italian dining spot at W Dubai – The Palm is welcoming guests again after a five-month closure.

During the closure of what is Bottura's only eatery outside of Italy, Chef De Cuisine Bernardo Paladini travelled back to his home country where he spent three months honing his skills under Bottura's masterful eye.

Diners who haven't been to Torno Subito yet can expect a feast for the senses.

The Dubai restaurant is Massimo Bottura's only eatery outside of Italy.
The Dubai restaurant is Massimo Bottura's only eatery outside of Italy.

The restaurant brims with colourful Riviera vibes combined with a distinct retro feel thanks to quirky 1960s decor, designed by the superstar chef himself. Evoking laid-back summer days in Rimini, guests can sit in the pastel-hued interiors or opt for alfresco dining with a terrace overlooking the beach and Arabian Gulf.

From the bold monochromatic stripes at the entrance, to the sunshine yellow tiles, glossy teal counters and pink-washed ceilings, the entire place is a fusion of perky hues that shouldn’t work together, but somehow do.

And the food is just as experimental. Think traditional Italian dishes with a Bottura twist. Favourites include tagliatelle Al ragu, polpo-roasted octopus and Tiramisubito – the chef's extra light take on classic Tiramisu with Mascarpone, espresso coffee, chocolate crumble and cocoa powder. The pizza menu is just as creative with around 80 per cent of the ingredients flown in direct from Italy.

Torno Subito is now open for dinner on weekdays, and for lunch and dinner on weekends. There are several new safety measures in place to protect diners against the coronavirus including a limited numbers of diners per table and new social distancing rules.

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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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Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
 

Visa changes give families fresh hope

Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income

Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.

Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process

In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.

In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.

To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation

 

 

 

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