The Palm Fountain in Dubai is dotted with a number of restaurants with views of the water, light and sound show.
The Palm Fountain in Dubai is dotted with a number of restaurants with views of the water, light and sound show.
The Palm Fountain in Dubai is dotted with a number of restaurants with views of the water, light and sound show.
The Palm Fountain in Dubai is dotted with a number of restaurants with views of the water, light and sound show.

Food

Restaurants with the best views of Dubai's Palm Fountain at The Pointe

Head to these venues to catch a show from the city's latest dancing fountain

Janice Rodrigues
Janice Rodrigues

October 20, 2020

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  • Arabic

The Palm Fountain is all set for its launch event on October 22. On the day, representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records will be on hand at The Pointe in Dubai to assess whether the fountain, which spans 14,000 square metres, is indeed the world's largest.

Between 7pm and 9pm, the fountain will come alive with more than 3,000 LED lights and music.

The free tickets on PlatinumList are now sold out, and ticket holders must also reserve a seat to watch the show by booking a table at one of the many restaurants located on The Pointe.

If you’re unable to make the opening event, fret not – the Palm Fountain will run year round, playing at 30-minute intervals after sunset.

If you’re looking for some of the best seats in the house for the colourful water show, here are the restaurants with the best views.

On the west side

Kyo Restaurant and Lounge

Kyo is one of the more upscale venues in the area
Kyo is one of the more upscale venues in the area

The fine-dining Japanese restaurant is located on the far west side of The Pointe, and serves a variety of maki rolls, teppanyaki and more. Outdoor seating is available on the ground floor and the first floor terrace.

Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, 3pm-midnight; Friday, 1pm-midnight; Saturday 2pm-2am; Monday 3pm-2am; West Marina, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 557 5182; www.kyorestaurant.com

Chuan

Located beside Kyo, this Chinese restaurant specialises in seafood delicacies. Sit outdoors on the ground floor or on the upstairs terrace, which features lounge-style seating, wicker furniture and pops of blue.

Open daily; noon to midnight; West Marina, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; Dubai; 04 564 3888; www.chuanseafood.com

Le Pirate

Another seafood joint with an outdoor seating area, Le Pirate features nautical-themed interiors across the ground and first floors. The restaurant has a number of seafood and meat options, including fish with Tunisian fried peppers and eggs, lamb couscous and spaghetti lobster.

Open daily; 5pm-2am; West Marina, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 242 5585; www.lepirate.ae

Grove Road by Bystro

Launched by the team behind Bystro in Dubai, Grove Road is located on the upper deck of The Pointe, and serves a range of salads, tacos, burgers and rolls. Plus mains such as cauliflower steak, veal Milanese, chicken Kiev and fish 'n' chips. Guests can sit on the terrace for views of the Palm Fountain.

Open Sunday-Wednesday, 4pm-11pm; Thursday, 4pm-midnight; Friday, noon to midnight; Saturday, 11am to midnight, Sunday closed; Level 2, the West zone, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; Dubai; 04 564 9874; www.groverd.com

Al Safadi 

The Lebanese chain is known for its authentic manakeesh, shawarma and barbecued meats. Its location at The Pointe has seating across two floors, with both the outdoor areas offering great views of the dancing fountain.

Open daily, 9am-1am; Zone A, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 241 4846; www.alsafadi.ae

Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe

While the menu includes sandwiches, salads and mains, this is ultimately a chocolate cafe, so expect freshly baked pastries, waffles, tarts, ice-cream concoctions and more. The ground floor outdoor seating area offers good views.

Open Sunday-Wednesday, 9am-11pm; Thursday-Saturday, 9am-midnight; ground floor, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 587 6518

Bareburger

The burger chain is known for its unique offerings – including camel, venison and lamb burgers. More than a third of its menu is vegetarian and there are gluten-free options too. The indoor seating area offers cosy booths, while the outdoor seating area is a relaxed place to lounge while tucking into gourmet burgers.

Open daily, Saturday-Wednesday, noon-11pm; Thursday-Friday, noon-midnight; The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 557 5514; www.bareburger.ae

Starbucks

If you prefer to stick to tried-and-tested favourites, you can always head to the Starbucks branch at The Pointe for coffee, sandwiches or baked treats, and enjoy views of the fountain from the outdoor seating.

Open daily; 7am-1am; The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 815 4345; www.mena.starbucks.com

On the east side

Chicago Meatpackers

The Chicago Meatpackers serves steaks and gourmet burgers
The Chicago Meatpackers serves steaks and gourmet burgers

The meat-lovers' paradise specialises in steak and gourmet burgers. Vegetarians and vegans won't feel left out either, as the venue offers Chicago dogs made with a Beyond Meat sausage and meatless short ribs. The interior has an upscale American diner vibe – think brick pillars and cosy booths – while the outdoor seating area has cushioned wooden seating overlooking the fountain.

Open Sunday-Wednesday, noon-midnight; Thursday, noon-1am; Friday, 11am-1am; Saturday, 11am-midnight; East Marina, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 580 7983; www.meatpackers.ae

Chalet Berezka

Feast on honey cake, borscht and pelmeni at this Russian restaurant, with eclectic art-filled interiors, an open kitchen and a two-level outdoor area. Fountain views aside, the latter benefits from a cosy ambience, with plush cream cushions and tiny lamps on every table.

Open daily, 5pm-2am; East Marina, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 052 156 7405; www.berezka.ae

A Cappella

Located along the first floor, this licensed tapas spot offers one of the best seating options overlooking the fountain. The menu includes dishes from around the world, including pani puri, chicken tikka masala, kung pao, cheese burgers, lamb kebab, patatas bravas, wasabi prawns and risotto.

Open daily; 4pm-1am; East Wing, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 058 971 9542; www.acappelladxb.com

Amira's Deli

A combination of an American deli and a European bakery, this menu includes a range of pizzas, pastas and burgers. It has ground floor outdoor seating that is minimalistic and located right beside the fountain.

Open daily, 8am-midnight; The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 587 6772

Fnajeen Restaurant & Cafe

Located beside Amira’s Deli, Fnajeen is a charming venue set across two levels. The restaurant specialises in Iraqi cuisine, so expect plenty of kebabs, grilled meats and mezzes. The interiors are well-lit, with dining and lounge-style seating available outdoors. The upstairs terrace is spacious and offers good fountain views.

Open daily; Sunday and Wednesday, 10am-1am; Monday, 9am-1am; Tuesday, 10am-1am; Thursday, 9am-2am; Friday-Saturday, 10am-2am; The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 589 3300

Il Passaggio

Il Passaggio channels the Amalfi Coast
Il Passaggio channels the Amalfi Coast

A home-grown Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, Il Passaggio serves soups, salads, burgers, pizzas and pastas. The upscale interiors feature a black-and-white colour scheme and marble tabletops. Meanwhile, the outdoor seating area, featuring plenty of wicker furniture, is designed to transport guests to the Amalfi Coast.

Open Sunday-Thursday, 9am to 10pm; Friday-Saturday, 8am to 10pm; The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 587 3111; www.ilpassaggio.com

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

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

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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