It’s no secret that the UAE loves its brunches. From budget meals to over-the-top affairs that last more than five hours, brunch is one of the best ways to experience a smorgasbord of flavours and a vivacious ambience at a set price.
So, when you hear the words “brunch” and “Expo 2020” in the same sentence, most residents and visitors will likely make a beeline to sample this uniquely “Dubai” experience.
Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here
Emaar Hospitality Group has launched a brunch experience at the Expo, to be held every Friday from noon to 3pm, at 2020 Club by Emaar. They promise “a spread as extravagant as it is sustainable”.
Exploring the brunch at Expo 2020 Dubai
It’s hard not to be impressed, and that’s even before I got to the spread. The venue is located right in the centre, next to Al Wasl Dome and the UAE pavilion, and its third-floor vantage point offers some of the best views of the Expo 2020 Dubai site.
With expansive windows lining the walls, there’s plenty of natural light for photos, plus outdoor seating for the cooler months.
The interior is clean, modern and minimalistic, with neutral shades of grey and an exposed pipe ceiling, with geometric themed chair cushions adding a pop of colour, and a DJ spinning lively beats to add to the ambience.
The buffet-style brunch features a rotating menu and includes separate stations for cold starters, hot mains and dessert, while beverages and some appetisers are brought directly to the table.
A glass of fresh watermelon juice and a refreshing blueberry and rosemary concoction provides just the right burst of energy and sugar needed after walking through the Expo site to the venue.
My dining partner and I start off with a Middle Eastern spread of hummus, kibbeh, baba ghanoush, sambosa and bread.
This is followed by a dim sum basket (complete with an Instagrammable green version, and lashings of sweet and spicy sauce). There's also proof that you don’t even need to hit the buffet to get full here as we're also given a mixed grilled seafood platter.
With succulent pieces of lobster and jumbo shrimp, perfectly grilled, and presented with a delicate garlic sauce on the side, this may very well be the highlight of the meal.
If that’s not enough to satiate the appetite, the cold appetiser station has more options: gazpacho, cold cuts, salads, mezze, oysters, calamari, crab, bread and a cheese station.
The main courses, too, are an embodiment of the international nature of the Expo. Paneer makhni, jeera rice, roasted potatoes with Cajun spice, butternut squash, eggplant moussaka, roasted duck, braised beef, tempura and empanadas all vie for attention.
Dessert is another extravagant affair if you’ve managed to save enough room: bite-sized portions of chocolate brownie, strawberry panna cotta, mango mousse and tiramisu are some of the sweet treats to end the meal with.
At most buffet-brunches, there is the general risk of the problem of plenty, and that does hold true here, too. But be sure to eat up – you'll need all the sustenance you can get if you're planning to spend the day exploring Expo 2020.
The brunch at 2020 Club at Expo 2020 takes place every Friday until Thursday, March 31, 2022; noon to 3pm; Dh280 for soft drinks and Dh395 for select beverages; 2020 Club by Emaar, Expo 2020 Dubai; 04 248 8653; Expo2020@emaar.ae
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
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
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%C2%A0profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
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Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
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