Tahir Shah, owner of Moti Roti, at one of his pop-ups in the Aswaaq supermarket, Knowledge Village, Dubai. Mr Shah says mobile kiosks and food trucks can greatly reduce overheads. Sarah Dea / The National
Tahir Shah, owner of Moti Roti, at one of his pop-ups in the Aswaaq supermarket, Knowledge Village, Dubai. Mr Shah says mobile kiosks and food trucks can greatly reduce overheads. Sarah Dea / The NatiShow more

Dubai Food Festival showcases homegrown restaurants



From mobile food trucks to pop-up kiosks, chefs and entrepreneurs are capitalising on the UAE’s international flavour to bring us a feast of homegrown dining options.

Dubai is fast becoming a star-studded international food hub. But this year’s Dubai Food Festival is paying homage to the diversity and entrepreneurial spirit of its homegrown restaurants.

While the emirate’s international brand reflects its love for all things luxurious and large, festival director Debra Greenwood says this year’s focus on Dubai-based brands is a testament to the burgeoning number of successful entrepreneurs in the city, who have emerged alongside the emirate’s rowing urban culture.

“In the past three years, and coming into this year, there’s been a lot more homegrown brands popping up, and there’s a lot of support for the homegrown concept,” she says.

Ms Greenwood believes the increasingly cosmopolitan Dubai is spearheading the Middle East’s homegrown food and beverage industries. Using social media, she says, is a great way for restaurants to capitalise on the community’s growing support.

“Because Dubai has more than 200 nationalities living here, the opportunities – in terms of the cuisine, and the depth and breadth of that cuisine – are what you see coming through; and that’s why they are so popular, because the concepts are across a variety of nationalities’ food choices.”

While some brands, such as Just Falafel, are already conquering the international market, Ms Greenwood says the sophistication of restaurant entrepreneurs will see more brands use Dubai as a springboard, both regionally and internationally.

“Internationally, everyone is aware of the five-star restaurants that we’ve got here, but less aware of the unique homegrown concepts that have started to come out of the woodwork.”

One recent trend, she says, is the emerging use of food trucks – which can provide restaurateurs with a much cheaper alternative. This is a trend that Moti Roti, a restaurant founded in 2012 by Briton Tahir Shah, wants to capitalise on.

The hardest part of setting up a business in Dubai, says Mr Shah, is the huge initial cost – exacerbated, he says, by the abundance of competing entrepreneurs who do have large amounts of capital at their command.

However, with a little ingenuity and experimentation he soon worked out a business model that worked for him– pop-up outlets.

“We don’t have bricks and mortar yet, because we’re so young and we don’t have the kind of financing that a big brand would enjoy,” he says.

“Historically, it was quite difficult for someone new in Dubai to set up a business in food, because it’s very tricky here, with all the different kinds of rules and regulations – not just hygiene, but for trading and business.”

Instead of leasing outlets at malls and other public areas, Moti Roti operates out of small mobile kiosks in supermarkets, hotels and other buildings.

Moti Roti’s pop-up model delivers less revenue, as the central kitchens it works with and the outlets that host its temporary counters take a cut of the profit.

However, the overheads and capital expenditure are far lower, says Mr Shah, which makes it “a great way to get to know your brand and get your idea tested”.

Mr Shah, who has lived in Dubai for eight years, used to work at Nokia. “I was a typical professional office worker. Yeah, you get a good salary, but you have very little time. You don’t have time to cook, you don’t have time for lunch. But you want something good to eat.”

He says that people move to Dubai to “upgrade their lifestyles, well-being, health, salaries and families”, so it was a no-brainer that people needed high-quality lunches, prepared with haste.

“In those days in Dubai, you just settled for a sandwich you found in a coffee shop, or a supermarket, and only now you see that burgeoning – that fast casual market, or that slightly upmarket fast food.”

He believes the incoming food truck concept will fit perfectly alongside Moti Roti’s pop-up model. The food-truck revolution will see homegrown brands lease and decorate trucks imported from the United States.

Mr Shah says events such as the Dubai Food Festival are a breath of fresh air for start-ups, because they raise awareness of local talent.

“It might be a cuisine that’s influenced by expat lifestyle – mixing the different lifestyles here in Dubai – and people don’t get to know about that, simply because we don’t have the clout to get into a big mall or a high profile location.”

Another curious new entrant to the homegrown market is Moylo’s Burgers, founded in September by Emirati brothers Ismail and Jamal Alsharif. The Jumeirah restaurant prides itself on its uniquely eco-friendly design, which incorporates recycled wood and energy-efficient lamps.

The menu began with a “special sauce”, crafted by Ismail Alsharif himself.

“It was hard coming up with the rest of the menu,” he says, “but, with the help of my sisters and our executive chef, we all came up with a great menu”.

Though the selection is small, with just five types of burgers, Mr Alshaer, a 27-year-old from Dubai, says it is meticulously crafted.

Mr Alshaer’s love of food began at a young age. Even at the age of 17, he knew he wanted to run a restaurant. “I wanted a fine dining restaurant, but it turned out to be a burger place,” he laughs.

When he went overseas to study, he would grill for his friends, and continued doing so when he returned to Dubai – especially “when the weather was perfect”, he says.

Mr Alshaer is very hands-on with his restaurant. “I try to go every day, just to see how the operation’s going. I try to help in the kitchen sometimes and I like to serve the customers,” he says.

He celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit, enthusing that while Dubai used to lack enough restaurants, it is today “one of the best cities” in the world for quality and a range of cuisines.

“I think the food even tastes much better now than before,” he says.

Looking forward, he hopes to conquer the local burger market and possibly venture into a more diverse range of food chains in the next few years.

However, he remains proud that the business is Emirati-owned and an Emirati idea: “From A to Z, even the interior was with the help of my sister and our designer.”

Meanwhile, the food festival is a good platform for the restaurant and other “crazy, funky” concepts, he says.

“A lot of expats go to the food festival – it had a footfall of around 40,000 people last year – so I think it’s going to help.”

One homegrown company that knows all about expanding across different markets is Coffee Planet, which is in its 10th year of operation. According to managing director, Robert Jones, there is a lot of room for Dubai-based brands to succeed in foreign markets.

“We’re present in about 10 countries now, through distribution and franchising, so I think as long as you create something stable that works, and is scalable and can work across various markets, then there’s a great deal of room.”

Mr Jones says trying to find good retail spots within Dubai can be hard, as landlords and retailers often prefer international brands.

However, he says successful Dubai brands are often seen as international brands in other markets.

Although business has never been better, safeguards put in place after the 2008 financial crisis have forced businesses like Coffee Planet to remain flexible.

“We’re constantly trying to predict the future when it comes to buying coffee, and we try to ensure that we’re protected against any spikes or major changes in the market,” says Mr Jones.

The company supplies coffee to hotels, airlines, retailers, supermarkets and other customers, as well as coffee machines at petrol stations.

Mr Jones says support for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) has grown drastically over the past decade. However, there is still more that banks can do to help ease start-ups’ cash flow problems.

“To give you an example – as a business, trying to get an overdraft is impossible. There’s certain things like that where the banks are very risk-averse, whereas for SMEs, they have to be a bit more lenient.”

The Dubai Food Festival began last weekend and runs until the end of the month. Visit www.dubaifoodfestival.com for more details.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4

Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
​​​​​​​Bloomsbury Academic

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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

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The Details

Article 15
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Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

The specs: 2018 Maxus T60

Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

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Name: Almnssa
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Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

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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
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Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

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Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

65
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
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2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Najem Al Rwasi, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Fandim, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri

3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
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4pm: Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m
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4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m
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RACE SCHEDULE

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm

Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm

Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

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.”