![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGGW7DPPFX643NTO7ZF2KJBGSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=629f786d5ab3f70b9574e706651d731cb74f09169b9c5fa6166f883e45ab78c8&width=400&height=225)
The exterior of the Bur Dubai restaurant. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZMCCVEE7RSC2YIRKBHKXTW32EA.jpg?smart=true&auth=295fe5318988356a6dfbb2f21daa85bb7df94ff09ca64e1b2c80368c6487e5b3&width=400&height=225)
NOW: The Dubai institution, which has been operating for 42 years, says the coronavirus pandemic has been its biggest challenge yet.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6FD5B6BFE4A476PFWUKRRFWUZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=71511e43a0dbe36dfb19b3819aba2f61aa496594e4044697d81346cc05a570eb&width=400&height=225)
THEN: Ustad Special Kabab in January 2019. Pawan Singh / The National
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Pictures of celebrities and fans on the wall. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S4SZJGQA6PXVWCKFIBGIXBV5XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d557c9cc7cc7f9640bbb65690171c1bb2d38e89c98534fe368801e0b21948fce&width=400&height=225)
Majeed Al Ustad, the passionately hospitable Iranian whose family run Ustad Special Kabab Iranian restaurant in Bur Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/42TXGOTUF5UOLXXHZMFPHBL664.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d79dceeee8de6ab381c51b194deda98424a75e33c0366a1c7a9d6e5a44e928b&width=400&height=225)
Pictures of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai at the Ustad Special Kabab. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7V3FHDAH4PGFJOWXUAKUANYN54.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb31c027d70dbb289cb939fd34c09ff7004eb60a299d2a5e11d190165e549ee9&width=400&height=225)
The restaurant has always been famously cash only with a traditional till, but is now doing deliveries. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZFFTPC2UM4WUADQMEGF2BMEMHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb2d8ff9275a8b078356a7df6c6d90ac6a466039c2c648cb6838dbe6ce2bbde5&width=400&height=225)
The famous chicken and mutton kebabs. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGGW7DPPFX643NTO7ZF2KJBGSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=629f786d5ab3f70b9574e706651d731cb74f09169b9c5fa6166f883e45ab78c8&width=400&height=225)
The exterior of the Bur Dubai restaurant. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZMCCVEE7RSC2YIRKBHKXTW32EA.jpg?smart=true&auth=295fe5318988356a6dfbb2f21daa85bb7df94ff09ca64e1b2c80368c6487e5b3&width=400&height=225)
NOW: The Dubai institution, which has been operating for 42 years, says the coronavirus pandemic has been its biggest challenge yet.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6FD5B6BFE4A476PFWUKRRFWUZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=71511e43a0dbe36dfb19b3819aba2f61aa496594e4044697d81346cc05a570eb&width=400&height=225)
THEN: Ustad Special Kabab in January 2019. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EF2JCJRDFILHIDDMS3UFOISFTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d4174d44583334594da728a0a9da4ec88c5cc5d23420e87e193e2183b70b249&width=400&height=225)
Pictures of celebrities and fans on the wall. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S4SZJGQA6PXVWCKFIBGIXBV5XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d557c9cc7cc7f9640bbb65690171c1bb2d38e89c98534fe368801e0b21948fce&width=400&height=225)
Majeed Al Ustad, the passionately hospitable Iranian whose family run Ustad Special Kabab Iranian restaurant in Bur Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/42TXGOTUF5UOLXXHZMFPHBL664.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d79dceeee8de6ab381c51b194deda98424a75e33c0366a1c7a9d6e5a44e928b&width=400&height=225)
Pictures of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai at the Ustad Special Kabab. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7V3FHDAH4PGFJOWXUAKUANYN54.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb31c027d70dbb289cb939fd34c09ff7004eb60a299d2a5e11d190165e549ee9&width=400&height=225)
The restaurant has always been famously cash only with a traditional till, but is now doing deliveries. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZFFTPC2UM4WUADQMEGF2BMEMHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb2d8ff9275a8b078356a7df6c6d90ac6a466039c2c648cb6838dbe6ce2bbde5&width=400&height=225)
The famous chicken and mutton kebabs. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGGW7DPPFX643NTO7ZF2KJBGSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=629f786d5ab3f70b9574e706651d731cb74f09169b9c5fa6166f883e45ab78c8&width=400&height=225)
The exterior of the Bur Dubai restaurant. Pawan Singh / The National
Open for 42 years, Dubai's Al Ustad Special Kebab reflects on the pandemic
In 2008, the Bur Dubai restaurant's sales were down by about 25%, but in recent weeks they've seen a dip as low as 95%
![Janice Rodrigues](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F1e80f047-6d8b-4b24-8de9-576f7c9effb8.png?smart=true&auth=8d80e708ea65b51a9fc1bb69f7e542e5b29cea806f0ac845961a73f0946eedc2&width=70&height=70)
Janice Rodrigues
13 May, 2020
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