During the height of the UAE summer, dining outside is a luxury most of us will delay until the return of the cooler months.
And while we may pine for those beautiful al fresco moments, they don't have to be completely off the table.
Several spots across Dubai take steps to adapt their terraces and gardens for diners to still make the most of the UAE's beautiful outdoors.
Here are some restaurants where you can enjoy outdoor dining, albeit with the help of a few clever tricks, and plenty of air conditioning.
3Fils
3Fils, which earlier this year took the top spot in the Mena’s 50 Best Restaurants list, has added a fully air-conditioned enclosure over its terrace, allowing diners to still enjoy the views out across Jumeirah Fishing Harbour this summer.
The casual Asian dining spot has also added several new summer specials to its menu, including a home-made beverage called Kakush Aji, created with fresh pineapple, fennel seeds and non-alcoholic mirin. There’s also the goma-soba, which consists of cold buckwheat noodles and light sesame sauce topped with Korean seaweed nori, spring onion and a dash of wasabi.
Lastly, there’s the Mayura Wagyu Grade 9+ striploin, served with a savoury demi-glaze.
Open daily, midday-11.30pm; Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, Al Urouba Street, Jumeirah 2; 056 273 0030, www.3fils.com
Carine
With views across Emirates Golf Club, this beautiful spot, known for its impressive French fare, leaves you feeling like you are enjoying the outdoors, even in the summer months.
Its terrace, which overlooks the golf greens with the Marina skyline as a backdrop, has been covered, but floor-to-ceiling windows ensure an airy space and plenty of natural light, keeping its al fresco feel.
Menu classics include burrata salad, tarte flambee, grilled tiger prawns with apple-harissa relish and truffle tortellini.
Monday to Wednesday, 12pm-3pm, 7pm-10.30pm; Thursday and Friday, 12pm-3pm, 7pm-11.30pm; weekends, 9am-3pm, 7pm-11.30pm; Emirates Golf Club, 04 417 9885, www.dubaigolf.com
The Pods
Instagrammable restaurant The Pods opened its doors on Bluewaters Island in May, offering a unique dining experience.
Featuring 22 all-glass, air-conditioned private pods of different sizes, the spot takes outdoor dining indoors, which is perfect for the summer months.
The pan-Asian menu is a fusion of Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisines with a modern twist, and the pods’ interiors, packed with foliage and unique design features, offer the perfect backdrop.
Open daily from noon-1am; Bluewaters Island; 04 453 8994, bookings@thepods.ae
Twiggy by La Cantine
Serving up serious Mediterranean vibes, this chic beach club and restaurant at the Park Hyatt’s stunning lagoon boasts spectacular views across Dubai Creek and the Downtown skyline.
During the day, expect laid-back vibes as you soak up the sun on its comfy loungers, and when it’s time to eat, head upstairs to the open-air restaurant, which has been covered for the summer months, but still looks out over the pool below.
The menu features Mediterranean classics such as burrata, prawns, gnocchi and lamb, as well as lighter bites.
Daily, lagoon, 9am-sunset, restaurant 12pm-1am; Twiggy by La Cantine, Park Hyatt, Dubai Creek Club St, Port Saeed, Dubai; 04 602 1105, www.twiggy.ae
Phileas Fogg's
This buzzy and relaxed bar boasts a large outdoor garden that is covered with an air-conditioned tent during the summer months, so you can still enjoy the feeling of sitting al fresco in comfort.
With regular live music, quiz nights and sports matches, as well as an extensive menu serving up classic pub fare and drinks, it’s a great family-friendly spot to while away a summer afternoon.
Daily, 8am-2am; Montgomerie Golf Academy; 04 572 4477, www.foggs.xyz
Ninive
With its stunning Arabic decor and twinkling garden lights, Middle Eastern restaurant Ninive has long been a favourite for al fresco dining in Dubai.
And during the summer months, a tent is erected to keep the heat at bay, turning the space into a cosy spot that can still be enjoyed when the weather heats up.
On the menu, expect elevated mezze classics such as zaatar hummus, fattoush and spiced beef kibbeh.
Sunday to Thursday, 6pm-2am, Friday and Saturday 6pm-3am; Emirates Towers Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road; 04 326 6105, www.ninive.ae
TJ’s
Sports bar TJ’s, at Taj Jumeirah Lake Towers, covers its cosy garden in the summer, meaning you can still get the feel of sitting outdoors with some air conditioning.
Decorated with foliage and fairy lights, the classic pub garden boasts a relaxed atmosphere and has TVs showing all the biggest sporting games. On the menu, expect classic pub grub including burgers and wings.
Daily, 11am-midnight; Taj Jumeirah Lake Towers; 058 857 3554, tajhotels.com
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Specs
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Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Hales' batting career
Tests 11; Runs 573; 100s 0; 50s 5; Avg 27.38; Best 94
ODIs 58; Runs 1,957; 100s 5; 50s 11; Avg 36.24; Best 171
T20s 52; Runs 1,456; 100s 1; 50s 7; Avg 31.65; Best 116 not out
The five pillars of Islam
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Iran's dirty tricks to dodge sanctions
There’s increased scrutiny on the tricks being used to keep commodities flowing to and from blacklisted countries. Here’s a description of how some work.
1 Going Dark
A common method to transport Iranian oil with stealth is to turn off the Automatic Identification System, an electronic device that pinpoints a ship’s location. Known as going dark, a vessel flicks the switch before berthing and typically reappears days later, masking the location of its load or discharge port.
2. Ship-to-Ship Transfers
A first vessel will take its clandestine cargo away from the country in question before transferring it to a waiting ship, all of this happening out of sight. The vessels will then sail in different directions. For about a third of Iranian exports, more than one tanker typically handles a load before it’s delivered to its final destination, analysts say.
3. Fake Destinations
Signaling the wrong destination to load or unload is another technique. Ships that intend to take cargo from Iran may indicate their loading ports in sanction-free places like Iraq. Ships can keep changing their destinations and end up not berthing at any of them.
4. Rebranded Barrels
Iranian barrels can also be rebranded as oil from a nation free from sanctions such as Iraq. The countries share fields along their border and the crude has similar characteristics. Oil from these deposits can be trucked out to another port and documents forged to hide Iran as the origin.
* Bloomberg
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets