With Eid expected to start in the early days of May, the holy month will draw to an end in a week. This means you have about seven days left to sample an iftar in the UAE, which has lived up to its reputation for top-class culinary offerings this Ramadan, as this list of 30 iftars and 15 suhoors proves.
Book a seat at one of the seven spots below that have impressed us with their menus, ambience and attention to detail.
Iftar at the zoo
If, like us, you enjoyed an iftar with the lions in Al Ain Zoo, maybe you would like to dine with giraffes or elephants next. Emirates Park Zoo in Abu Dhabi offers both these options. Extending its breakfast with the giraffes offer, the zoo is open to iftar groups of up to five people, who can feast with the friendly giraffes for two hours from 6.30pm. Smaller or larger groups can head to the elephant arena, where you can eat with and feed the gentle giants. Both include full-day admission to the zoo and an African drumming performance.
Dh250 per person for iftar with elephants (up to 12 people); Dh1,785 for a group of five for iftar with giraffes; 6.30pm-8.30pm; Emirates Park Zoo, Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi; 02 501 0000, www.emiratesparkzooandresort.com
Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi
The in-house restaurant at Louvre Abu Dhabi is known for its fine French fare, crafted by Michelin-lauded chef Pierre Gagnaire. Its three-course iftar menu starts with local tiger prawn fritters served with the restaurant’s signature creamy white bean puree and black sesame seeds. This is followed by confit lamb shoulder with a side of lentils and kale; and a decadent dried fruits tartelette with saffron-spiced syrup, date tuile and honey; and lime cottage cheese ice cream.
Dh390 per person; 6.30pm-10pm; Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island; 02 205 4200, contact-fouquets-abudhabi@groupebarriere.com
Punjab Grill
The fine-dining Indian restaurant has branches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and is offering diners a choice of two set menus for iftar. The first serves four courses, for Dh150, and includes classic dishes such as butter chicken, biryani and Umm Ali. The second, for Dh350, has appetisers such as chicken dumplings in onion tomato curry, followed by a choice of 12 mains including Kabuli pulao, Ambarsari fried fish, Bhopali chicken in a yoghurt and cashew curry, Hyderabadi mutton haleem, and a personal favourite, raan-e-Sikandari, a whole leg of mutton baked with spices and dried fruits.
From Dh150; 6.30pm-8pm; 02 449 9839 (for The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal); 050 194 1107 (for The Oberoi, Dubai)
Yava
Specialising in Mediterranean-Middle Eastern cuisine, Yava has put together a well-curated, three-course menu that will appeal to most palates and pockets. For Dh160, begin your meal with creamy hummus, soothing lentil soup and indulgent cheese and sausage burek pastry. Mains are kept meaty, with chicken meatballs served with tiny orzo pasta; minced beef moussaka with aubergine; and slow-cooked tender lamb shanks in a rich sauce. Rounding off the hearty meal are light-as-air pistachio eclairs and baklava. The meal also includes traditional drinks such as qamar al deen and sahlab.
Dh160; 6.30pm-9pm; wasl 51, Jumeirah 1, Dubai; 04 548 5733
Masti
Its name translates to mischief and nowhere is this more evident than in Masti’s playful melding of flavours. A true-blue fusion restaurant, it marries butter chicken (or cottage cheese, if you’d prefer) with burrata; and serves the traditional Indian sweetmeat gulab jamun in the form of a brulee tart. Both these options are part of the restaurant’s iftar menu, as are items such as bhel tacos, corn haleem, cassava chaat, beef empanadas with tamarind sauce, green pea nimona, prawns moilee and miso aubergine salan.
Dh175; 7pm-8.30pm; La Mer, Dubai; 800 62784
Bosporous
For authentic Turkish dishes, consider Bosporus, which is serving a buffet-style iftar at various branches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. For an open buffet — with no fewer than 67 dishes — visit the Abu Dhabi Mall branch or the Downtown branch in Dubai. If you prefer your buffet served to the table, head to the outposts at Yas Mall, The Dubai Mall or City Centre Mirdif. Both include the restaurant’s signature dishes such as mercimek soup, icle heslama kofte, chicken and beef doner and kunefe borma.
From Dh175; 6.30pm-8pm; 02 575 5777 (for Abu Dhabi reservations); 04 380 8090 (for Dubai reservations)
Cafe Beirut
If Arabic food is what you crave at the end of the fasting day, the Lebanese dishes at Cafe Beirut are both delicious and filling, and the ambience is dominated by a traditional ceramic water fountain, olive trees and Burj Khalifa views to boot. The iftar menu begins with dates, dried apricots, olives and lentil soup, followed by hot and cold mezze. While it might be tempting to fill up on the tabbouleh, fattoush, hummus, stuffed vine leaves, batata harra and Lebanese soujouk sausages, save room for the mammoth mixed grill served with rice. The meal also includes a selection of Ramadan desserts, Turkish coffee and cold drinks such as jallab, Vimto, ayran and qamar al deen.
Dh150; 6.30pm-10pm; Al Murooj Complex, Dubai; 04 422 5211, www.cafebeirutdubai.com
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):
Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Match will be shown on BeIN Sports
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
UAE%20FIXTURES
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The biog
Age: 46
Number of Children: Four
Hobby: Reading history books
Loves: Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
A%20MAN%20FROM%20MOTIHARI
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THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PROFILE BOX:
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Rami Salman, Rishav Jalan, Ayush Chordia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Technology, Sales, Voice, Artificial Intelligence
Size: (employees/revenue) 10/ 100,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($800,000)
Investors: Eight first-round investors including, Beco Capital, 500 Startups, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Hala Fadel, Odin Financial Services, Dubai Angel Investors, Womena, Arzan VC
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
SPECS
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Company%C2%A0profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Scoreline
Chelsea 1
Azpilicueta (36')
West Ham United 1
Hernandez (73')
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
The%20specs
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