A high-end restaurant in Dubai has apologised after a waiter accidentally spilled liquid nitrogen on a diner during a theatrical presentation of dishes.
Tabu in Downtown Dubai said it was working with local authorities to ensure safety was a top priority after the accident on Friday.
“We are very sorry for our guest’s experience, following this unfortunate incident,” the Japanese restaurant’s founder, David Lescarret, told The National in an email.
“The Tabu team immediately offered first aid and looked after our guest and we are in contact with her.
“We have been working closely with Dubai Municipality, identifying all precautionary measures in place.
We have been working closely with Dubai Municipality, identifying all precautionary measures in place
David Lescarret,
founder, Tabu at the St Regis
“The safety and well-being of all our guests is always our priority, so we gave the authorities every assistance in their investigation, and will make any changes they recommend.”
The restaurant is in the St Regis in Downtown Dubai, but the hotel has no responsibility over the operations of the venue, staff said.
Liquid nitrogen has become popular in more restaurants as it instantly freezes food and drink, creating theatrical plumes of mist and vapour when exposed to the air.
Aline Fleihan, an architect who lives in Saudi Arabia, suffered minor burns when the liquid nitrogen spilled down her back as waiters served a nearby table.
“I hadn’t visited Dubai for three months so I was really looking forward to the trip,” she told The National.
“Thank goodness I was wearing a T-shirt, which prevented worse injuries.
"The liquid nitrogen is minus 196ºC so it doesn’t cause an actual burn, but can destroy the skin and causes instant damage to the contact area.
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“I have injuries on my neck and lower back, now those areas are very dry and itchy. It is not quite frostbite but I have to constantly bathe it in warm water and moisturise my damaged skin.”
After receiving emergency hospital treatment, Ms Fleihan was invited back to the restaurant for a free meal for four.
“When I reached the hospital my back was okay but I was feeling a burning sensation," she said.
“The doctor asked for a photo and when he saw the bottle of liquid nitrogen he was shocked.
“He said I was very lucky to escape with nothing worse. If it had dropped on my face I would have been blinded.
“The waiter was holding the tray above his head, loaded with drinks and plates of sushi.
“It was not well balanced and it could have fallen on to him. It is not just a matter of client safety, but also the staff.”
Diners at the restaurant are promised interactive live cooking, to help them appreciate the ‘beautiful art’ behind Japanese cuisine.
Tasting menus there start at Dh600 per person while a platter of moriawase sushi by chef Roberto Segura will set you back almost Dh800.
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
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- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
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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.
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.”
