The Michelin Guide revealed its debut selection of restaurants in Abu Dhabi in November, with three venues receiving a star.
The Abu Dhabi guide came a few months after the UAE received its first red city guide for Dubai.
In this series, called Star-grazing, The National visits the restaurants that won stars in the capital.
Located in the Four Seasons Hotel on Al Marayah Island, 99 Sushi Bar Abu Dhabi is our first stop.
The story behind 99 Sushi Bar Abu Dhabi
99 Sushi opened in the capital in 2017, marking its first location outside Spain. The Dubai outpost launched in 2020.
The restaurant specialises in “haute cuisine”, an expression that traditionally refers to high quality and meticulously prepared French fare, except it's exceptional Japanese food that's on offer here. Accordingly, the menu offers a strong selection of tartars and temaki plus three types of sushi, in addition to bluefin tuna, and Wagyu and Kobe dishes.
A combination of premium products and culinary prowess is responsible for 99 Sushi's Michelin star, explains a note on the Michelin Guide website. “There’s no shortage of finesse and precision in the well-constructed and beautifully presented dishes at this chic Japanese restaurant. Even the more contemporary touches are done with subtlety and care.”
South African head chef Thinus van der Westhuizen says the distinction confirms that 99 Sushi’s methodical yet vibrant approach is paying off.
“We didn't even know the Michelin guide was even coming to Abu Dhabi,” he tells me. “This is actually a blessing in disguise because we always focused on doing what we do.
“There is a certain standard that we must adhere to and the fact that we were awarded for delivering that makes it all the more satisfying.”
Inside the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi hotel, 99 Sushi is also accessible via a lift from the Al Maryah Island promenade. Within, low-key electronic music coos out of the speakers of a dimly lit dining hall, which has an open-plan kitchen, red velvet seats and intricate Spanish floor tiles.
A more intimate dining experience can be found on the waterfront terrace overlooking the promenade.
What's on the Michelin-starred menu?
“What we are doing, really, is going against some of the prevailing trends you can see when it comes to Japanese cooking, which tends to be over the top and more for show,” says van der Westhuizen.
“While we obviously use certain techniques to elevate the dishes, we never lose focus of the product being the star of each dish.”
With that in mind, my dining companion and I begin with the 99 Kobe sando (Dh360), a traditional Japanese sandwich filled with crispy cutlets of Kobe beef and tonkatsu sauce.
It’s a brilliant, melt-in-the-mouth starter. The Japanese milk toast bread is moist and thinly cut to pack in more of the meat. Made in house, the tonkatsu sauce provides peppery aromatics and has a tangy punch.
“The sauce provides the magic,” says van der Westhuizen. “It's a traditional Japanese barbecue sauce made from fermented vegetables. To this I add my own flair, which includes more crushed pepper and mustard, which is not normally within the scope of the traditional recipe.”
The 99 chawanmushi (Dh135) is another example of 99 Sushi’s twist on classic Japanese staples.
The traditional savoury egg custard dish is blended with crab consomme, strips of king crab and caviar, and has a distinctly umami flavour.
It is served lukewarm to appreciate the intricate textures at play. The umami comes courtesy of a frenzied flavour bomb of sweet, sour and salty profiles, while the silky consomme and crabmeat lend the dish a luxurious, sultry feel.
Next up is the okonomiyaki (Dh160) and it tastes as good as it looks.
A playful take on the Japanese pizza, the base is a flamed tortilla topped with elegant layers of toro (the rich and buttery belly cut of the bluefin tuna), jalapeno, onion, truffle and a liberal drizzle of mildly sweet tare sauce.
“This is one of those dishes that people love to share,” van der Westhuizen says. “It is a classic example of our philosophy, as we tend to make our set menus for two. We want people to enjoy these culinary moments together.”
The final main dish is 99 Sushi's statement piece.
Created from scratch for the Abu Dhabi outpost, 99 jewel is an eight-piece plate showcasing the restaurant's finest and most exclusive ingredients.
The sushi rolls are filled with the aforementioned toro and the decadently fatty flavour of akami tuna.
Laced with flecks of black truffle, each roll features a portion of Kaluga caviar (the more expensive beluga caviar is also available) and specks of 24k gold leaf.
Westhuizen describes the dish as the menu’s show-stopper: “We created it to show people we mean business, in that we have top-tier products such as caviar and toro tuna, and we know how to do it well.”
The Kaluga caviar is used for more than just show.
The glossy and firm pearls have a deep and nutty profile with a lingering aftertaste in the best of ways.
We round off the meal with a Japanese souffle (Dh70). The light and fluffy dessert is served with a salted caramel sauce.
It is an elegant send off from an award-winning kitchen that successfully shows how a rich and respected culinary tradition can remain relevant today.
99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant is open from noon to 3.30pm, and 7pm to 11.30pm. Reservations can be made by calling 02 672 3333.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16. first leg
Atletico Madrid v Juventus, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4
Price, base: Dh145,000
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
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Winner Switzerland, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
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Winner Lord Giltters, Adrie de Vries, David O’Meara
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
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Winner Land Of Legends, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
10pm Dubai Dash Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner Equilateral, Frankie Dettori, Charles Hills.
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
