Join The National and Table Tales on a culinary journey around the Middle East to savour the quintessential dishes that embody the spirit of Ramadan. From table staples to family favourites, this series of recipes – one for each day of Ramadan – pays homage to the holy month and the home cook alike.
Aish el saraya, which translates as bread of the royal palace, is a luscious sweet of Ottoman origin. It is popular in the Levant, Egypt and Turkey, and is served in speciality sweet shops and cafes across the region.
Hanan Sayed Worrell, of Table Tales, says: "This is essentially a bread pudding made with aishta, the thick cream that rises to the top when milk is boiled, and garnished with pistachio slivers and a sprinkle of preserved safflower blossoms. It's a dish that's fit for a sultan, but surprisingly easy to make."
Recipe contributor Roulana Jarrar says: “This is one of my favourite Arabic sweets, not only because it is delicious, but also because it is simple and adaptable. I can make it anywhere we live as the ingredients are readily available: bread, cream and sugar. You can use clotted cream or canned cream, such as Nestle or Puck, which is very common in the Gulf, or mascarpone cheese.
“The key is to caramelise the sugar to a rich brown hue. It is easiest to make in one large dish, but you can also make it in ramekins for individual servings.”
Roulana Jarrar's aish el saraya – bread pudding
Serves 8 to 10
Ingredients:
- 12-15 slices bread
- 600g sugar, divided
- 3 tbsp orange blossom water
- 1 tbsp strong coffee
- 1 tbsp honey
- 340g canned or clotted cream
- 105g pistachios, ground or slivered
- Preserved safflower blossoms or pomegranate seeds
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C. Remove the crust from the bread, place on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden. Remove and crush to form breadcrumbs.
- Place 400 grams of the sugar and three cups of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- In another saucepan, add the remaining sugar over medium heat. Swirl the pan until the sugar dissolves and turns golden brown.
- Remove from the heat before the sugar crystallises and pour in the sugar syrup. Stir vigorously until all the sugar dissolves.
- Add the orange blossom water, coffee and honey.
- Pour two cups of the syrup over the breadcrumbs and mix well. If needed add more.
- Cover the bread mixture and leave for 15 to 30 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the syrup. (This can also be made several hours ahead of time, with the remaining steps done just before serving.)
- Spread the bread mixture in a circular or rectangular serving dish that is at least five centimetres deep and level with the back of a spoon.
- Evenly spread the cream over the top to cover the bread and garnish with the pistachios. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
- Sprinkle with the preserved safflower blossoms or pomegranate seeds.
This dish has been brought to you by Roulana Jarrar and curated by international recipe hunter Hanan Sayed Worrell, author of Table Tales: The Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi. The Table Tales concept celebrates the people and stories that give flavour to recipes of the Middle East.
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More desserts in the Ramadan recipe collection:
Ramadan recipe: qatayef – Middle Eastern stuffed pancakes
Ramadan recipe: kunafa with cream
Ramadan recipe: luqaimat – sweet dumplings
Ramadan recipe: aniseed cake with tahini glaze
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
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INDIA SQUAD
Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami
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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.
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Jawbone Press
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Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Daniella Weiss and Nachala
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Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Tamkeen's offering
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Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
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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.
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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.”
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The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
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Sarfira
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Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
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Lexus LX700h specs
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Gothia Cup 2025
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