Shi, Sea Fu and Hakkasan will all have special Chinese New Year offerings for the occasion
Shi, Sea Fu and Hakkasan will all have special Chinese New Year offerings for the occasion
Shi, Sea Fu and Hakkasan will all have special Chinese New Year offerings for the occasion
Shi, Sea Fu and Hakkasan will all have special Chinese New Year offerings for the occasion

Where to celebrate Chinese New Year in Dubai and Abu Dhabi


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Chinese New Year is coming up, which means restaurants around the UAE will be celebrating the Year of the Tiger with delicious feasts.

Whether it's buffet selections, set menus or family-style meals, in fine-dining restaurants or low-key street food-style eateries, there is something for everyone this spring festival.

Festivities are kicking off in the next week, ahead of Chinese New Year on February 1. Here's a look at where to celebrate in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Abu Dhabi

Hakkasan Abu Dhabi limited edition menu

Dim sum on Hakkasan's Chinese New Year menu. Photo: Hakkasan
Dim sum on Hakkasan's Chinese New Year menu. Photo: Hakkasan

The fine-dining Cantonese restaurant will welcome the Year of the Tiger with a limited-edition menu including a tiger-inspired beverage. The menu starts with a salad, with house cured salmon and plum dressing, served alongside a dim sum trio of baked truffle duck puff, tiger prawn dumpling and wild mushroom puff. Mains include baked cornfed spatchcock with chestnut, morel mushroom and angelica root and wok-fried wild sea bass with enoki mushroom and spicy sesame soy. Finish it off with a gold tiger-striped orange dark chocolate firecracker with mandarin sorbet.

Monday, January 31 to Sunday, February 13; 6pm-11.30pm; prices start at Dh488 per person; Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi; hakkasan@emiratespalace.ae; 02 690 7739

Nahaam Lunar New Year brunch

Nahaam will be hosting a special Chinese New Year brunch. Photo: Nahaam
Nahaam will be hosting a special Chinese New Year brunch. Photo: Nahaam

Nahaam at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers will host a Lunar New Year brunch with a specially curated menu of Chinese dishes. Think Cantonese spring rolls with sweet chilli dip, sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice, Peking duck, Schezwan black pepper beef, Chinese mango pudding and egg custard tarts. The restaurant will have Chinese-themed decor including wall art and hostesses decked out in traditional dress. The brunch will also feature live entertainment.

Saturday, February 5; 12.30pm-4pm; starting from Dh370; Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi; www.hilton.com; 02 811 5666

Dubai

Ewaan's one-night only menu

Ewaan will host a one-night-only exclusive Chinese New Year dinner on January 31. The restaurant will feature themed decor and live entertainment and will also serve a specially curated menu in a buffet set-up that pays homage to Chinese spices and flavours.

Expect dishes such as Peking duck rolls, dumplings and baos, as well as hoisin roast turkey and salmon fillet teriyaki. Mains include steamed ginger soy sea bream and braised beef short ribs in black pepper. For dessert, there's the Year of the Tiger (pear compote and ginger cremeux walnut sponge), Money Bag (red velvet fruit cake) and Gong Xi Fa Cai (strawberry and milk chocolate cream choux).

Sunday, January 31; 6pm-10.30pm; Dh325 per person, children dine for 50 per cent off; Palace Downtown, Dubai; dineatpalacedowntown@addresshotels.com; 04 428 7961

China Bistro's discount

China Bistro will offer dine-in guests 10 per cent off the month of February for Chinese New Year. Photo: China Bistro
China Bistro will offer dine-in guests 10 per cent off the month of February for Chinese New Year. Photo: China Bistro

The Indo-Chinese restaurant is celebrating Chinese New Year by offering 10 per cent off to dine-in guests for the the entire month of February. Signature dishes include prawn tempura, crispy potato with lime and chilly, crispy vegetable Konjeenaro, fire-roasted marinated chicken, chicken wings in a choice of Hunan or Hong Kong sauce, and roast lamb. Health-conscious diners can try the vegetable basil dumplings, chicken basil dumplings, stir-fried Asian greens, or vegetable croquette with chilly soy.

February 1 to 28; various prices; Al Karama, Al Barsha, Discovery Gardens and Sharjah; www.chinabistro.co

IMG Worlds of Adventure

The world's largest indoor theme park will celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year with themed decorations, merchandise, food, entertainment and activities. This includes an Ancient Chinese Village, special performances, character greetings and festive street food cuisines. There will also be colourful pardes with Cartoon Network and Marvel superheroes as well as activities for children such as finding the Lunar Zodiac sign and posting wishes on the Doodle Wall.

Until February 10; noon-10pm Monday to Thursday; noon-11pm Friday and Sunday; Dh335; www.imgworlds.com; 600 500 962

Hutong

Hutong will celebrate by introducing a Chinese New Year dim sum platter and new Northern Chinese dishes such as lobster lo hei and wagyu rolls with sichaun chilli sauce, available until the end of February. Those who visit the restaurant can also enjoy traditional entertainment such as a lion and dragon dance. There is also a specially themed drink to mark the occasion, with half the proceeds raised going to WWF-UK to protect all tiger habitats across the world. It will be available throughout the entire month of February.

February 1 to 4; prices vary; noon-2.30pm, 6pm-1am; Gate Building 6, ground floor, DIFC; hutongreservations@aqua-dubai.com; 04 220 0868

Sea Fu special menu

Sea Fu will have a special Chinese New Year menu for five days. Photo: Sea Fu
Sea Fu will have a special Chinese New Year menu for five days. Photo: Sea Fu

Sea Fu is ringing in the Chinese New Year with a special menu for five days. Located in the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, the outlet will have a number of key dishes on the menu that signify helping bring luck, opportunity and fortune into the new year such as dumplings, xiao long bao, Alaskan King crab and chicken with winter black truffle.

Monday to Friday, January 31 to February 4; 12.30pm-midnight; prices vary; Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Dubai; seafu.dubaijb@fourseasons.com; 04 270 7777

SHI limited edition menu and brunch

Shi will be celebrating the Lunar New Year with a limited-edition menu as well as a special brunch. Photo: Shi
Shi will be celebrating the Lunar New Year with a limited-edition menu as well as a special brunch. Photo: Shi

Authentic Chinese fine-dining eatery SHI is celebrating with a limited-edition daily menu as well as a special brunch with traditional and modern Chinese dishes.

The brunch menu will consists of a four-course meal with hot and sour soup and an option of assorted sushi platter. Then there are classic Chinese starters such as crispy duck bao ban, dim sum, crispy soft-shell crab and Cantonese char siu beef. Mains include Wagyu beef in black pepper sauce, wok-tossed lobster and Alaskan black cod with miso sauce. Those with a sweet tooth can finish the brunch off with taro creme brulee and mochi.

Saturdays, January 29 and February 5; 1pm-4pm; starts at Dh420; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; reservations@shirestaurant.com; 04 393 9990

There is also a limited-edition a la carte menu that will commemorate the Lunar New Year. The menu will be available for one week during lunch and dinner with dishes such as black Angus beef char siu boa, duck salad with peanut sauce, coral sea bass with chef’s home town sauce and wok tossed lobster with guilin sauce.

Saturday to Saturday, January 29 to February 5; 1pm-3.30pm and 6pm-2am; prices vary; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; reservations@shirestaurant.com; 04 393 9990

Buddha-Bar Dubai

Buddha-Bar is hosting a special Buddha-Bar Nights event, with a Chinese New Year theme, for four nights. There will be new shows and entertainment as well as a specially curated menu for the occasion. Expect starters such as duck salad, truffle mushroom chicken bao and soft shell crab. Mains include char sui Wagyu short rib and mushroom rice clay pot, sweet and sour sea bream and grilled five spices corn-fed chicken. Finish it off with mango pudding, chocolate or sesame dice. The venue will be filled with colourful flowers, orchids and traditional Chinese decorations.

Wednesday to Friday, February 2 to 5; 7pm-1am on Saturday and Wednesday, 7pm-2am on Thursday and Friday; prices vary; Grosvenor House, Dubai; www.buddhabar-dubai.com; 04 317 6000

Ras Al Khaimah

Manar Mall and Al Hamra Mall

Manar Mall and Al Hamra Mall in Ras Al Khaimah are celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year with daily live shows between 4pm and 8pm. Expect to see Chinese drummers as well as fan and folk dancers as they make their way around the malls. There will also be a dragon dance, symbolising power and boldness, as well as a lion dance, for strength, stability and superiority. The event also includes Kung Fu and acrobat shows.

Runs until February 1; Ras Al Khaimah; www.manarmall.com and www.alhamramall.com

If you go...

Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.

Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.

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.

 

 

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20PRO%20(12.9%22%2C%202022)
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FA Cup quarter-final draw

The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March

Sheffield United v Arsenal

Newcastle v Manchester City

Norwich v Derby/Manchester United

Leicester City v Chelsea

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

3 out of 5 stars

(Syco Music/Arista Records)

Match info:

Wolves 1
Boly (57')

Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

In numbers

- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100

- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100

- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India

- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100

- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth

Empty Words

By Mario Levrero  

(Coffee House Press)
 

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

The specs

A4 35 TFSI

Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder

Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic

Power: 150bhp

Torque: 270Nm

Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)

On sale: First Q 2020

A4 S4 TDI

Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel

Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic

Power: 350bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)

On sale: First Q 2020

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo 

 Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua

 Based: Dubai, UAE

 Number of employees: 28

 Sector: Financial services

 Investment: $9.5m

 Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. 

 
How tumultuous protests grew
  • A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
  • Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved 
  • Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
  • At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
  • Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars 
  • Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
  • An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital 
AS%20WE%20EXIST
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Updated: February 01, 2022, 8:44 AM`