Lamya'a from Kuwait looks at the photos of Fatmagul on the walls of Gul Mutfagi where the soap was shot.
Lamya'a from Kuwait looks at the photos of Fatmagul on the walls of Gul Mutfagi where the soap was shot.
Lamya'a from Kuwait looks at the photos of Fatmagul on the walls of Gul Mutfagi where the soap was shot.
Lamya'a from Kuwait looks at the photos of Fatmagul on the walls of Gul Mutfagi where the soap was shot.

Fatmagul lures Arab tourists


  • English
  • Arabic

ISTANBUL // To the casual observer, Gul Mutfagi might be just a cute little restaurant in an otherwise non-descript neighbourhood close to a motorway in the Asian part of Istanbul. But for Lamya'a, it is a dream come true.

"I could feel my heart beating so hard when I entered," Lamya'a, who is from Kuwait and gave only her first name, said on a recent sunny day as she went around the modest one-room restaurant taking pictures of the tables, the open kitchen and other items as if she were in a museum.

Smiling happily, she examined every little detail of the restaurant, including the pictures on the walls intently. This was the highlight of her five-day visit to Istanbul.

"I remember everything, this is fantastic," she said.

Lamya'a and the five female relatives accompanying her were not drawn here by the menu of Turkish and international food. They and other Arab tourists love Gul Mutfagi because a popular Turkish soap opera, What is Fatmagul's crime?, was filmed here.

Turkish soaps have emerged as a booster for Turkey's image in the Middle East, as well as a tourist attraction and source of revenue. "Sometimes we have 250 visitors here in one day, whole busloads," said Cuneyt Sahin, who owns and runs Gul Mutfagi, or Rose Kitchen, with his wife Seval and his son Berke.

Fatmagul, which tells the story of a young girl who is gang-raped, forced to remain silent about the crime and to marry one of her rapists, is just one of several Turkish soaps that have become major hits in Arab countries in recent years.

Others are Magnificent Century, which deals with palace intrigues at the court of a 16th-century Ottoman sultan, the family saga Forbidden Love, and Silver, the story of a young woman marrying into a wealthy family that is broadcast as Noor in Arab countries. Lamya'a and her relatives said they knew all of them.

Alpay Gurbuz, of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (Tursab) in Istanbul, said the soaps were one reason for the increase in Arab tourists. "They certainly had an effect," he said.

The number of Kuwaiti tourists almost tripled between 2010 and 2012, from roughly 27,000 to about 65,000, according to Tursab. The number of visitors from the UAE rose from 30,000 to 48,000 in the same period, while the number of Saudi tourists doubled from 85,000 to 175,000.

Besides Gul Mutfagi, another attraction is a villa on the Bosphorus that was used as a backdrop in Noor, although soap-opera tourists are also drawn to many of the city's landmarks that appear in the series.

"The TV series influenced Turkey's image abroad and even created their own market," Mr Gurbuz said.

Adem Gurses, head of the private channel ATV, which has produced several soaps, told the Sabah newspaper last month that the export of Turkish television series was generating revenue of more than US$100 million (Dh367m) a year.

Fatmagul has become so famous in Arab countries that Mr Sahin said he had received offers from businessmen there to build replicas of his restaurant in the Middle East. He said he was still thinking the offers over.

"This is a famous place now, like Sultanahmet or the Hagia Sophia," said Mashail, one of Lamya'a's relatives, referring to the Sultanahmet Mosque and the former mosque and Byzantine basilica Hagia Sophia, two world-famous Istanbul landmarks. Like Lamya'a, Mashail only gave her first name.

"It has been very popular," Mashail said of Fatmagul, the final episode of which was aired in Kuwait about a month ago.

"We like the stories, the atmosphere, the lifestyle" of Turkish series, she said, adding that they had replaced Syrian shows as audience favourites in Kuwait.

Mr Sahin said Turkish TV soaps were popular because viewers in Arab countries could relate to the things they saw on the screen.

"In Turkey, women are suppressed, and in Arab countries, women are suppressed," he said. "We have the same values and the same problems."

When Mr Sahin opened his restaurant four years ago, he had Mediterranean food with a matching ambience in mind. But then it was spotted by location scouts for the company producing Fatmagul. Much of the action in the soap takes place in a restaurant run by Fatmagul, played by the actress Beren Saat.

"People want to sit where Kerim sat," he said, referring to the soap's male lead, played by Engin Akyurek. "I cannot change a single thing, because people would notice. Visitors pose with this teapot here, because it was in the series."

Every now and then, visitors pick fruit from the trees in the little garden in front of the restaurant.

Some fans go even further. Zekeriya Kul, a plastic surgeon in Istanbul, said an increasing number of his female clients from Arab countries wanted to look like Ms Saat or other Turkish actresses.

Dr Kul, who also performs surgeries in Dubai, said the trend started last year. Arab women told him they liked the "Beren Saat eyebrow and the Tuba Buyukustun nose," he said. Ms Buyukustun is the star of Asi, another hit Turkish soap in Arab countries.

Dr Kul said the phenomenon of the "Turkish actress look" was part of a general trend towards a more natural appearance, and replaced the "Lebanese singer look" that involved fuller lips, more defined cheekbones and very small noses.

Dr Kul had no doubt that Turkish soap operas played a part in the change. As Turkish films and series became hits in the Arab world, everyone chose "one actress as a model", he said.

tseibert@thenational.ae

twitter: For breaking news from the Gulf, the Middle East and around the globe follow The National World. Follow us

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm

Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm

Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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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

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

HWJN
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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Suggested picnic spots

Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

Five ways to get fit like Craig David (we tried for seven but ran out of time)

Start the week as you mean to go on. So get your training on strong on a Monday.

Train hard, but don’t take it all so seriously that it gets to the point where you’re not having fun and enjoying your friends and your family and going out for nice meals and doing that stuff.

Think about what you’re training or eating a certain way for — don’t, for example, get a six-pack to impress somebody else or lose weight to conform to society’s norms. It’s all nonsense.

Get your priorities right.

And last but not least, you should always, always chill on Sundays.

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ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope 
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold 
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph 
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck

Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?

West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up  Jebel Ali Dragons

Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Conference: Winners  Dubai Tigers; Runners-up  Al Ain Amblers

The specs

The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
 

HAJJAN
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Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5