What The Food returns to Alserkal Avenue for the fourth year this weekend.
The local food festival is an annual event that brings together industry professionals and food enthusiasts alike for immersive experiences that explore the evolving dynamic between food and society.
This year’s theme is Disrupting The Table, which calls for rethinking the structures that shape our culinary systems and food cultures towards a more sustainable future.
Visitors can expect a variety of talks, workshops, exhibitions and food pop-ups from 10am to 10pm on October 25 and 26.
Here’s an overview of key events at What The Food 2025.
Interactive workshops for hands-on experience
Tomorrow Today at Piehaus
When: October 25 and 26, Noon to 1pm
An 11-year-old Serbian baker, Lena, is taking over Piehaus, the pie shop from the team behind Balkan restaurant 21grams, for the weekend. Through a series of demonstrations, visitors will be able to see Lena throw dough and make burak. Stick around to try signature Piehaus creations, including filo pies with pepperoni and pastrami, as well as sweet fillings including strawberry and caramel tahini.
Free at Piehaus
Farm to Table: Dubai in a Dish
When: October 25 and 26, noon to 1pm
Led by chef Stephanie Haywood, this hands-on workshop explores Dubai’s historic and evolving culinary scene through a focus on premium ingredients. Drawing on her experience at six Michelin-starred kitchens, Haywood will soon become head chef at upcoming restaurant Orizonta at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab. Participants will be guided through the preparation of Wagyu kufta and a garden salad.
Free; at Jossa by Alserkal
Waste is a Failure of the Imagination: Building Kitchens for the Future
When: October 25, 2pm to 3pm
This masterclass will offer an up-close experience with British chef and culinary sustainability innovator Douglas McMaster. Founder of Silo London, the world’s first zero-waste restaurant, McMaster will share the techniques behind his closed-loop model.
Tickets for Dh1,000 at Jossa by Alserkal
Nightjar Presents The Journey of the Bean
When: October 26, 4pm to 5.30pm
Nightjar Coffee Roasters' Matthew Wade and Gabriel Ade Kisworo are hosting an unconventional brewing experience with an interactive workshop that explores the journey of the bean, from micro-lot farming to the artistry of brewing. Attendees can taste a diverse flight of unique coffees.
Free at Jossa by Alserkal
Food pop-ups
A number of eateries and speciality brands are popping up at Alserkal Avenue for the festival. Restaurants represented include Iraqi-fusion Feka; woodfire specialist Yamara; Syrian comfort food joint Hanoon; and Nama Yoso, a modern Japanese concept created in 2023 by four Emirati friends.
Also on offer are Kazakh brand Dastarkhan, a vegan selection from Alserkal favourite Kave, pizzas from Crust by Lopo, and shawarma at CarniStore's ShawarMoo pop-up.
British steakhouse The Little Fox by Rowley's is offering steak frites to go; and popular London burger joint Manna is also in town for the weekend.
Art and film
Discover artistic expressions of food, sustainability and resilience through a captivating art exhibition and poignant screening.
Tindahan Sa Tahanan Co
When: October 25 and 26, 10am to 10pm
The exhibition at Warehouse 46 pays homage to Filipino tindahan, everyday convenience stores that have become cultural cornerstones for the community both at home and abroad. Eight international artists have come together to embody a spirit of migration and memory through sculpture, photography, film and design.
Heaven Without People screening
When: October 26, 8pm
The award-winning feature film by Lebanese filmmaker Lucien Bourjeily, Heaven Without People (2017), will be screened at The Yard and presented by Cinema Akil. The film follows a large family who, after two years apart, reunite over Easter lunch. The time away brings underlying tensions to the surface, sparking clashes between older and younger generations. A live question-and-answer session with Bourjeily will follow the screening. Free to attend, but requires registration.
Talks
Gain insights from community experts, including chefs, farmers and culinary trail-blazers, at Alserkal Avenue's Concrete venue. The line-up is curated by journalist Claudia de Brito, who will lead the event’s opening and closing remarks. The talks below are all free to attend upon registration.
Asma Khan's Food for Tomorrow
When: October 25, 10.15am to 11am
British-Indian restaurateur and cookbook author Asma Khan will take the stage as a keynote speaker. Khan is the mind behind London’s Darjeeling Express restaurant and was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024. In her seminar, she will invite audiences to rethink kitchens as key hubs for sustainability and recognise the diverse, community-driven efforts involved in sustainable food processes.
Reviving Ancient Flavours
When: October 25, 12.15pm to 1pm
Bridging the gap between old and new, this panel explores how regional culinary heritage is being revived to offer sustainable solutions for today’s food systems. Moderated by media personality Nadir Nahdi, the conversation features pioneering voices from the region’s food scene: Emirati pastry chef Sahar Parham Al Awadhi, Bahraini chef Tala Bashmi and entrepreneur Ahmed Abdul Hakim.
New Tech in Food Production
Details: October 26, 11:15am to noon
This panel will unpack technological advances in food processing and delivery. The discussion, moderated by journalist Nica Richards, features diverse voices across industries. Panelists include Dionysia Angeliki Lyra, senior research agronomist; Sky Kurtz, founder and chief executive of Pure Harvest Smart Farms; and Necip Camcigil, managing partner of One Life Kitchen & Cafe.
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
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
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.”
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
HIV on the rise in the region
A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.
New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.
Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.
Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.
Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
