If food nourishes the body and art the soul, it follows that — encountered together — the two should prove mutually beneficial. Cafes and restaurants are ubiquitous in galleries and museums, suggesting a day spent pondering the creative endeavours of others leaves us in need of physical sustenance. And this idea of gallery gastronomy works both ways. Many restaurants make a point of celebrating artists by showcasing their work on the walls.
The ploy makes sense from a commercial standpoint as well. With more diners picking restaurants based on their Instagram-friendly appeal, having aesthetically pleasing food as well as decor is an attractive proposition. Plus, in a country filled with some of the best restaurants in the world, it can be hard to stand out.
For this photo essay, we set out to find some of the most quirky artwork displayed in UAE restaurants.
MayaBay Dubai
Look to the ceiling and you’ll spot a host of colourful dolls. The ones at this Jumeirah Al Naseem restaurant are made locally, but are inspired by the centuries-old archetypal Japanese kokeshi dolls that symbolise a love of tradition as well as the importance of friendship. MayaBay also has a ceramics collection etched with vibrant Asian characters and motifs.
Blue Seafood Asia
Inspired by Asian fishermen and lively island fish markets, the decor of this restaurant in the Dubai International Financial Centre was conceptualised by visual artist Gary Yong. Expect azure blue tones reminiscent of the ocean, sea wave decoration, wool lanterns and hand-painted murals.
Reif Japanese Kushiyaki
The original manga mascot Astro Boy takes centre stage at this dar wasl mall restaurant helmed by chef Reif Othman. The character takes the form of an interactive 3D artwork, which is made up of four hand-drawn panels, created by Dubai-resident Lebanese artist Lauris Zailaa.
Coya Abu Dhabi and Dubai
The Peruvian hot spot at the Four Seasons hotels switches up its decor on a regular basis, providing local and international artists with a platform to display their talent as well as offering patrons something new to look forward to. The Pisco Jar Project in Coya Dubai, for example, comprises 10 Pisco jars painted by regional artists such as Farida Abushady and Moza Almansoori.
Little Miss India
As its name suggests, this fine-dining restaurant at Fairmont The Palm will transport you to India, courtesy of its vibrant artworks and installations, from elephants and rickshaws to monuments and mythical birds.
Trove
There is so much to look at in this brightly coloured restaurant at The Dubai Mall. Highlights include a floral throne centrepiece crafted by New York City florist Mr Flower Fantastic and artworks by urban mythology artist duo PichiAvo, who are known for their ancient-looking sculptures and paintings in urban settings.
DRVN by Porsche
The cafe on Bluewaters houses pieces that show off the beloved car brand, by names such as Jeffrey Docherty, Bavz, Chris Labrooy and Johans Lamic (seek out his impressive The Whale Tail Project). The highlight is Dozi Dreams’s artwork. Made up of 500 metallic Porsche miniatures on a canvas, it represents the modern and vintage Porsche 911 models of the artist’s dreams.
Notorious Cafe & Roastery
The cafe in Al Maqta, Abu Dhabi, is replete with frames hanging from the walls and ceiling, all depicting individuals who are either notorious figures in real life or actors playing notorious characters, including a signed piece by Irish mixed martial artist Conor "Notorious" McGregor.
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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
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
more from Janine di Giovanni
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
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Always use only regulated platforms
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Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
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Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
Scores
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
