Mena’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 list to be announced in January in Abu Dhabi


Panna Munyal
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The second Mena's 50 Best Restaurants list will be announced at a grand ceremony in Abu Dhabi on January 30.

The UAE capital has been selected as the host city for a second time, following the release of the debut Mena list by the World's 50 Best group at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers in February.

Scroll through the gallery above to see the UAE restaurants that were part of Mena's 50 Best Restaurants list 2022

Speaking to media at 11 Woodfire restaurant in Dubai on Thursday, William Drew, director of content for the World's 50 Best group, said: "The follow-up Mena list will shine a further spotlight on the Mena region, its diverse cuisines and culinary culture, with the aim to be a positive force for gastronomy and gastro-tourism across borders.

"The restaurants are chosen by a panel of 250 anonymous voters from across the Middle East and North Africa, who get to select seven restaurants each."

William Drew at the awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi in February. Victor Besa / The National
William Drew at the awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi in February. Victor Besa / The National

Next year will also see a line-up of foodie-friendly events in the lead-up to the awards ceremony, including a dinner hosted by Italian chef Massimiliano Alajmo, Singaporean pastry chef Maira Yeo and Japanese chef Hiroyasu Kawate. The 50 Best Signature Sessions will end with the popular #50BestTalks, which will be held a day before the awards ceremony.

From the debut list, 19 restaurants from the UAE made the cut, as well as five each from Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, four from Egypt, three from Morocco and Jordan, two from Bahrain, and one each from Kuwait, Tunisia and Qatar. Six restaurants in Israel were awarded.

Dubai restaurant 3 Fils won top honours, followed by Zuma in Dubai and OCD Restaurant in Tel Aviv.

While it remains to be seen which restaurants make the cut next year, Drew says it is not uncommon for at least 75 per cent of the restaurants to appear on the list in consequent years — at least in other parts of the world.

However, with new restaurants opening weekly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we wouldn’t be surprised if the 2023 list offered foodies and gastro-tourists a whole new range of options to add to the bucket list.

Scroll through the gallery below to see all the restaurants on Mena's 50 Best Restaurants 2022 list

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm

Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm

Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Schedule:

Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)

Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)

Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four

Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai) 

Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)

Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)

Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 28: Final (Dubai)

Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books

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The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

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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
Updated: October 13, 2022, 8:03 AM`