The dining scene in Abu Dhabi is growing by the day.
Following the Mena’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony in February, there has been a flurry of new openings across the city.
From a waterfront pizza joint on Yas Bay to Abu Dhabi’s first Mamafri, here are four new restaurants in the capital that are worth putting on your visit list.
Mamafri
Mamafri, a Dubai-born concept that's known for its upscale South-East Asian dining, is coming to the capital.
Set to open on Friday, April 1 at Sheikha Fatima Park, Mamafri will serve up some of the brand's most popular dishes. Making use of the finest local and international ingredients, expect favourites such as Wagyu sando, chicken toast bites and mama special fried rice, then wrap things up with a pretty pastel-coloured plate of chilled mochi.
The Abu Dhabi outpost of this Emirati-owned restaurant will also have a brand new sushi bar experience and a tasty breakfast menu.
Laung by Peppermill
Bringing another new addition to the capital's Indian restaurants, Laung by Peppermill is now open at Nation Towers and is the place to go to feast on slow-cooked Indian dishes.
The restaurant serves many of the much-loved regional classics that were cooked in royal kitchens and served to maharajas and emperors in India in the early 1800s. The chefs at Laung by Peppermill have worked their magic to make sure each of the dishes also has a contemporary or creative twist. Favourites include mahi tikka, soybean kebab and homestyle chicken curry and dishes come with the distinctive flavour of being slow-cooked over wood charcoal.
Emmy Squared
The New York restaurant chain, known for its Detroit-style pizza, is now open at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Bay Waterfront. Drawing inspiration from the original Brooklyn outpost, the restaurant serves square-shaped pizzas with crisp bases, fluffy focaccia dough and caramelised cheesy crusts.
It’s the 13th outpost of the eatery and the first in the UAE. Meat lovers will appreciate the Big Ang pizza, with ricotta, double pecorino, meatballs and spicy banana peppers while vegetarians might want to try the eggplant parm sandwich, with fresh burrata, Calabrian chilli and fried capers, all served on a pretzel bun. With indoor and outdoor seating and a location offering views of the waterfront, this new spot is also pet friendly — with dogs welcome to join on the terrace.
Beam Restaurant
Another recent opening at Nation Towers, Beam Restaurant is the place to go for breakfast, dessert and locally inspired dishes served with awesome views of the Abu Dhabi skyline.
With its pastel pink sign and plenty of Instagrammable dishes, the restaurant also has views over the capital’s waterways. A favourite for breakfast, diners can tuck into sharing platters with dishes such as French toast domes, halloumi garden bruschetta, Greek-style eggs and much more. Main courses include fried feta with pistachio and shawarma fries, while those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the saffron milk cake, cheesecakes and Arabic coffee tiramisu.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Scoreline
UAE 2-1 Saudi Arabia
UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’
Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’
Man of the match Ahmed Khalil (UAE)
